HUD-7967 

WHAT 

WORKS! 

in the 

Empowerment 

lones and 

Enterprise 

Communities 

U.S. Department of Housing U.S. Department 


and Ur~an Development of Agriculture 

Urban Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Conlmunities 


Akron, Ohio, EC 

Albany, Georgia, EC 

Albany, Schenectady, Troy, New York, EC 

Albuquerque, New Mexico, EC 

Atlanta, Georgia, EZ 

Baltimore, Maryland, EZ 

Birmingham, Alabama, EC 

Boston, Massachusetts, EEC 

Bridgeport, Connecticut, EC 

Buffalo, New York, EC 

Burlington, Vermont, EC 

Charleston, South Carolina, EC 

Charlotte, North Carolina, EC 

Chicago, Illinois, EZ 

Clark County/Las Vegas, Nevada, EC 

Cleveland, Ohio, SEZ 

Columbus, Ohio, EC 

Dallas, Texas, EC 

Denver, Colorado, EC 

Des Moines, Iowa, EC 

Detroit, Michigan, EZ 

District of Columbia, EC 

East St. Louis, Illinois, EC 

El Paso, Texas, EC 

Flint, Michigan, EC 

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, EC 

Houston, Texas, EEC 

Huntington, West Virginia, EC 

Indianapolis, Indiana, EC 

Jackson, Mississippi, EC 

Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri, EEC 

Los Angeles, Califurnia, EC 

Los Angeles, California, SEZ 

Louisville, Kentucky, EC 

Lowell, Massachusetts, EC 

Manchester, New Hampshire, EC 

Memphis, Tennessee, EC 

Miami/Dade County, Florida, EC 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, EC 

Minneapolis, Minnesota, EC 

Muskegon, Michigan, EC 

Nashville, Tennessee, EC 

Newark, New Jersey, EC 

Newburgh-Kingston, New York, EC 

New Haven, Connecticut, EC 

New Orleans, Louisiana, EC 

New York, New York, EZ 

Norfolk, Virginia, EC 

Oakland, California, EEC 

Ogden, Utah, EC 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, EC 

Omaha, Nebraska, EC 

Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, EC 

Philadelphia, PA/Camden, New Jersey, EZ 

Phoenix, Ari.zona, EC 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, EC 

Portland, Oregon, EC 

Providence, Rhode Island, EC 

Pulaski County/Little Rock, Arkansas, EC 

Rochester, New York, EC 

San Antonio, Texas, EC 

San Diego, California, EC 

San Francisco, California, EC 

Seattle, Washington, EC 

Springfield, Illinois, EC 

Springfield, Massachusetts, EC 

St. Louis, Missouri, EC 

St. Paul, Minnesota, EC 

Tacoma, Washington, EC 

Tampa, Florida, EC 

Waco, Texas, EC 

Wilmington, Delaware, EC 

Rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 


Accomack-Northampton, Virginia, EC 

Arizona Border Region EC 

Beadle/Spink Dakota, South Dakota, EC 

Central Appalachia, West Virginia, EC 

Central Savannah River Area, Georgia, EC 

Chambers County, Alabama 

City of East Prarie, Mississippi County, Missouri, EC 

City of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, Federal EC 

City of Watsonville/County of Santa Cruz, California, EC 

Crisp Dooly, Georgia, EC 

East Central Arkansas EC 

Fayette CountyjHaywood County, Tennessee, EC 

Greater Portsmouth, Ohio, EC 

Greene and Sumter Counties, Alabama, Rural EC 

Halifax, Edgecombe, Wilson, North Carolina, EC 

Imperial County, California, EC 

Jackson County, Florida, EC 

Josephine County, Oregon, EC 

Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, EZ 

Lake County, Michigan 

Lower Yakima County, Washington, Rural EC 

Macon Ridge, Louisiana 

McDowell County, West Virginia, EC 

Mid Delta, Mississippi, EZ 

Mississippi County, Arkansas, EC 

Mora, Rio Arriba, and Taos County, New Mexico, EC 

North Delta, Mississippi, EC 

Northeast Louisiana Delta EC 

Rio Grande Valley, Texas, EZ 

Robeson County, North Carolina, EC 

Scott/McCreary Area, Tennessee and Kentucky, EC 

Southeast Oklahoma EC 

Williamsburg-Lake City, South Carolina, EC 

EZ: Empowerment Zone EEe: Enhanced Enterprise ComnllUlity 

SEZ: Supplemental Empowerment Zone EC: Enterprise Community 
"The spirit we bring to our work will 

make all the difference. We must be 

committed to the pursuit of opportunity 

for all Americans, responsibility from 

all Americans, in a community of all 

Americans. And we must be committed 

to a new kind of government, not to solve 

all our problems for us, but to give our 

people-all our people-the tools they 

need to make the most of their own lives." 

President Bill Clinton 

State of the Union Address 

February 4, 1997 

"We need to create a climate where 

families can flourish and hope can 

blossom. And after 2 years, we know 

that our Community Empowerment 

Agenda is working to make government 

work better, creating jobs, reducing 

crime, improving infrastructure, and 

building strong communities that endure. 

And that's why the President's budget 

includes the "Community Empowerment 

Act," which would provide for a second 

round of Empowerment Zones as well 

as a tax incentive to encourage the redevelopment of the abandoned brownfield 

industrial sites." 

Vice President AI Gore 

Budget Announcement 

February 6, 1997 
" Jonathan Swift once wrote that 'vision is 

the art of seeing things invisible.' Swift 

may have written it, but nationwide, people 

in Empowerment Zones and Enterprise 

Communities are living it every single day. 

By seeing things invisible-by building new 

partnerships between community leaders, 

local governments, and businesses-we're 

not just creating jobs, revitalizing communities, and stimulating billions of dollars in 

private investment. We're building a new 

foundation of hope and opportunity that 

will last for years to come." 

Andrew Cuomo 

Secretary of u.s. Department of Housing 

and Urban Development 

"USDA is committed to making 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise 

Communities work from the ground up. 

One key in our efforts to strengthen rural 

communities is expanding the network of 

partnerships involving governmental agencies' the private sectof, and nonprofit organizations. The EZ/EC initiative has 

brought local people together to develop 

strategies fOf their communities." 

Dan Glickman 

Secretary of U .S. Department of Agriculture 

Housing Assistance Council Event 

December 2, 1996 
Il1troduction 


President Clinton's Empowerment Zone/ Enterprise 

Community (EZ/EC) initiative, headed by Vice 

President Gore, marks the most significant effort 

launched by the Federal Government in decades on 

behalf of the Nation's distressed rural and urban 

communities. 

In December 1994, six urban areas (Atlanta, Baltimore, 

Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Philadelphia/ 

Camden) and three rural areas (Kentucky Highlands, 

Mid Delta Mississippi, and Rio Grande Valley) were 

designated Empowerment Zones, receiving a combination of ta..x incentives and block grants to implement 

10-year, community-wide strategic plans to promote 

overall revitalization. Two urban Supplemental 

Empowerment Zones (Cleveland and Los Angeles) 

were designated to receive a combination of Economic 

Development Initiative grants, block grants, and new 

ta..x-exempt bond financing . In addition, 65 urban and 

30 rural Enterprise Communities were designated to 

receive block grant funds and tax-exempt bond financing. Four of these (Boston; Houston; Kansas City, 

KS/ Kansas City, MO; and Oakland) were designated 

Enhanced Enterprise Communities and also receive 

Economic Development Initiative grant funds . 

In the 18 months since designation, EZs and ECs have 

begun to translate the goals articulated in their strategic plans into specific activities. The investment strategies are focused primarily on economic opportunity 

and sustainable community development. In a departure from traditional government approaches, the 

selected mechanisms are production-oriented-they 

seek to generate capital and income into the Zone in 

the short run and then provide for new local business 

establishments to respond to the increasing demand for 

.goods and services. 

Each urban EZ was awarded $100 million and 

each rural EZ was awarded $40 million in Title XX 

Social Service Block Grant (SSBG) and Economic 

Development Initiative (EDI) grant funds. SEZs and 

Enhanced ECs received $3 million each in SSBG funds . 

The communities have used these funds to leverage 

additional private investment from foundations, businesses, and other sources. Far from being the only funding support, Federal block grant monies have been used 

as seed money, supporting the communities as they 

build partnerships with a wide variety of organizations 

in both the public and private sector. 

In the EZs, tax incentives have been highly successful at drawing private investment into distressed 

communities. 

• Since designation of the EZs in 1994, the total of 

private and public investment activity commitments 

exceeds $2.6 billion. 

• More than $2 biJlion in private investment has 

been made, indicating that capital investors perceive future opportunities for investment returns 

in the Zones to be equal to or greater than in 

other locations. For every dollar of EZ funds, 

$18 of private investment are leveraged. 

• The overwhelming focus of the new investment­

$1.7 billion-is targeted toward economic opportunities. The focus of economic opportunity 

investment activities includes: business-related 

job retention, expansion, relocation, and creation; 

investment pools for capital access and innovative 

financing needs; job- and occupation-skills training; 

and entrepreneurial and business-support services 

and assistance. 

The EZ/ECs have made significant strides in leveraging resources to attract notable private-sector investment, generate job growth, stimulate new business 

openings and expansions, construct new housing, 

expand homeownership opportunities, and stabilize 

deteriorating neighborhoods. 

These examples of What Works! exemplify these accomplishments. From communities' performance evaluation 

reports and assessments conducted by field and 

iii 
Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

headquarters staff, these projects and programs have 

been selected based on how well they met program 

goals, effectively leveraged resources, and efficiently 

and creatively worked to achieve results. 

The examples of What Works! have been gathered in 

10 key development categories: 

Economic Development: The largest area of activity 

in the EZ/ ECs, economic development includes 

recruiting new businesses and helping existing 

businesses expand; providing access to credit and 

capital through one-stop capital shops, microlending 

programs, and technical assistance services; and growing new businesses inside business incubators and 

entrepreneurial training programs. 

Job Readiness: To be sure that individuals in distressed communities have the skills and support 

services they need to get and keep a job, this section 

includes job preparedness, job training, industryspecific skills training, and vocational mentoring 

programs. 

Job Linkage: Even skilled individuals with vocational 

experience may find it difficult to access a job due to 

lack of information about available positions, lack of 

support through a job search and placement process, 

or lack of transportation . Projects in this category 

provide community job-search networks, electronic 

job and resume databases, counseling and assessment 

to assist in job applications, and transportation services 

to get the resident to the jobsite. 

Housing Development and Homeownership: In 

many urban and rural areas, the dream of homeownership is becoming a reality. Initiatives in this category 

provide new housing construction; rehabilitate existing 

housing projects; and provide counseling, information, 

and technical assistance to individual residents who 

wish to own their own home. 

Family and Youth Development: The EZ/EC project recognizes that healthy communities are made up 

of healthy families. These initiatives offer a _vide variety 

of youth programs, such as preschool programs, afterschool activities, mentorship and tutoring, and family 

support programs such as parenting classes and stress 

management training. Typical of many communities' 

work in this area has been the establishment of family 

centers, which provide a place for informational 

resources as well as for structured activities and 

community-building events. 

Healthcare and Substance Abuse Treatment: 

Several communities have used their EZ/EC funds 

to ensure the health of residents through supporting 

substance abuse-recovery programs and establishing 

community-based healthcare advisers to serve individuals who are otten underserved by traditional health 

providers. 

Community Policing and Public Safety: A critical 

piece of supporting new investment and bringing 

people back to distressed areas has been to ensure that 

communities are safe places to Live and work. A significant focus for EZ/ EC projects highlighted in this area 

is community-based policing through mobile police 

stations and neighborhood watch groups. Some 

projects have combined new poLicing strategies with 

iv 
What Works! 

resident training in conflict resolution and violence 

preven tion. 

Neighborhood and Envirorunental Improvement: 

Whether in the form of clean streets or a new park, 

physical neighborhood improvement has been shown 

to be a powerful symbol of new hope for communities. 

Many of these projects creatively use neighborhood 

cleanups as opportunities to provide job training and 

build relationships between community members. 

Technology and Internet IlUlovations: EZ/ ECs 

are also on the information superhighway, as they 

effectively use technology to enhance their job linkage, 

education, and community-building strategies, all the 

while giving residents computer skills to take into the 

workplace. 

Community-Based Partnerships: Fundamental to the 

success of the EZ/ EC initiative are the collaborative 

connections that have been built between community 

members, groups, and public and private organizations. 

Initiatives discussed in this section are excellent examples of strategies and events used to build partnerships 

on the local, State, and national levels. 

Each program description is followed by a contact 

name and phone number to be used to learn more 

about the initiative. 

As demonstrated by the successes described here, the 

EZ/ EC program succeeds because of its combination 

of extraordinary vision and concrete, measurable 

results. The Strategic Plans submitted by communities 

to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 

Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

in 1994 represented a wealth of innovative thinking 

about how best to address the difficult, and complex, 

problems of America's distressed communities. Now, 

we have begun to see the rewards of such careful planning, community collaboration, and hard work. 

Best of all, this is just the beginning. This document 

offers highlights from more than 100 projects and programs. As examples of What Works!, these initiatives are 

reason to celebrate the successful revitalization of our 

Nation's communities. Even more, as laboratories of 

innovation, these initiatives should serve as models for 

programs throughout the country, helping to bring 

businesses and residents back to America's most distressed areas and giving hope to the people of every 

community. 

v 

Table of Contents 


Economic Development ..... ...... .... .. ........ .. ... ... .... .... ...... 1 


Recruiting Businesses . . .. . . ... . .......... .. . . . ... .. . .. .. . ...... .. .... . . 3 


Urban Communities . . . . ...... ... .......... ... ......... .. .. . ......... . .. .. 3 


Busy-Bee Fast-Food Carryout Used as Training Facility: Charloue, North Carolina, 


Model Industrial Corridors Provide Focus for Development: Chicago, Illinois, 


Hundreds ofJobs Created Through Private Investment at Piston Packaging and Chrysler 


Minority-Owned Business, Walbro Automotive, Brings 350 Jobs: Detroit, Michigan, 


191 New Jobs in Westside Industrial Park: Kansas City, Missouri, 


Business Improvement District Creates Jobs for Homeless: Los Angeles, California, 


Industrial Development Authority Implements Tax-Exempt Bond Financing: 


Walt Disney Company Invests $56 Million in Harlem USA: New York, New York, 


Unique Partnership Between Rite -Aid and Philadelphia Health Systems: 


Figi Enterprises Uses Tax-Exempt Bond Financing To Expand and Retain 227 Jobs: 


Sunrise Pressure Washers Steam Clean Streets and Create Young Entrepreneurs: 


Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center Markets More Tours and Ofl(:rs Youth Apprenticeships: 


Tax-Exempt Bond Businesses Hire 35 Percent Residents: Wilmington, Delaware, 


Recycling Business Creates 265 Jobs: Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone . .... .. . . . . .. . . ...3 


Ecological Industry Park Will Create 1,500 Jobs: Baltimore, Maryland, Empowerment Zone . .....3 


Enterprise Community ...... ... .. . . . ...... .. . . ... ....... ... . .. . . ... . . . . ... . . 3 


Empowerment Zone . . . .... .. . ..... . . . . .. . .. ..... . . .. .. ...... . . . . .. ... . . . .. .4 


17 Brownfields Restored To Make Way for Businesses: Chicago, Illinois, Empowerment Zone .....4 


Engine Plant: Detroit, Michigan, Empowerment Zone . . . .......... . . . . . ........ . . . . . 4 


Empowerment Zone . . . . . . .. . .. . . .. ... .... . .. .. .... ... .. . .. . . . ...... . . . . . . ..5 


MCI Telecommunications Hires 1,545 Workers: El Paso, Texas, Enterprise Community ...... ...5 


Enhanced Enterprise Community .. . ... ... ... . . . . . . .. . . . ... . . . . . ... .. . . ... . .. . . 5 


Supplemental Empowerment Zone .. . .... .. .... ... .......... . . .. . . . .... . . . . . . ..5 


Los Angeles, California, Supplemental Empowerment Zone . ... . . .. ..... . .. . . . . .... ...6 


Empowerment Zone . . . ...... ... . . .. ....... ...... . . ...... . . .... .... . ... . .. .. 6 


International Firms Invest in the Zone: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Empowerment Zone ..... ... .6 


Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Empowerment Zone . . .. ...... . . .... ....... . . .. . .. .....6 


Upper Falls Shopping Center Will Create 350 Jobs: Rochester, New York, Enterprise Community . . 7 


70 Jobs Created by Veterans Enterprises: San Antonio, Texas, Enterprise Community .... ... . . . . 7 


San Diego, California, Enterprise Community . ... ... . . .. .. ..... . . .. .. . . ... . . .... . . 7 


San Francisco, California, Enterprise Community .. ......... .. ........... .. . .. . ... ..7 


San Francisco, California, Enterprise CommLmity .. . . .. .. ... ...... .... . ... ..... . . . . . 8 


Marriott Courtyard Hotel Locates in the EC: Waco, Texas, Enterprise Community ... . ...... ...9 


Enterprise Community .... .. .. ....... ... . . . . ....... ... . .. ....... ..... .. .....9 


vii 
Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

Rural Communities ..... ................................. . . ... . .. . ..... ...9 


Image Entry, Inc., Creates 400 New Jobs: Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone ...9 


200 New Jobs Created With Jackson County Industrial Park Building: 


Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone .... . . . .... . . . ...... . ..........10 


Business and Industry Loans for Catfish Processing Create 436 Jobs: 


Mid Delta, Mississippi, Empowerment Zone ... . ..... . . ... . .. . .... .... ... ... . .. . . 10 


Port Isabel Launches New Ferry Boat Business: Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone .. .10 


Peddinghaus Manufacturing Company Brings 50 New Jobs: Williamsburg County, 


South Carolina, Enterprise Community .... . . .... . .. . . ...... . ... . ...... ...... .. .10 


Providing Access to Credit and Capital ... ... . ....... . . ... ..... ... ... . ....11 


Urban Communities .. ... . ..... ........ ............... .. . ... . . . ....... . . . 11 


Atlanta EZ Establishes $30 Million Community and Individual Investment Corporation: 


Peer Lending and Minority Business Development Center Assists More Than 100 Residents: 


Empowerment Zone Financial Institutions Consortium Approves $286 Million in Loans: 


Eastside Community Fund Makes 120 Loans to Small Businesses: 


Job Development Loans Support More Than 1,000 Quality Jobs for Residents: 


Community Development Bank Capitalized at $740 Million: Los Angeles, California, 


Working Smart Entrepreneurial Training Organization Offers Loans to Graduates: 


One-Stop Capital Shop Serves 580 in First 5 Months: Oakland, California, 


Micro-Enterprise Development Program Disburses $200,000 in Microloans: 


Springfield Working Capital Offers Largest Peer Lending Program With 141 Members: 


27 New Businesses Started Through Good Faith Microloan: 


Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone ....... . . . .. . . . . . . ........ . . . .. . ..... ... .11 


$1.5 Million Community Banking Initiative Established: Baltimore, Maryland, 


Empowerment Zone . . .. . ................... .. . ....... .... . . . . . ... . . . .. . . . . 11 


$1 MiJJion High-Risk Capital Fund Established: Baltimore, Maryland, Empowerment Zone .. . ...11 


First Financial Institution Opens: Birmingham, AJabama, Enterprise Community ..... . . .... . ..11 


Grow Bridgeport Fund Loans to Residents: Bridgeport, Connecticut, Enterprise Community ....11 


Charleston, South Carolina, Enterprise Community . . ... ....... . . ... . ..............12 


Detroit, Michigan, Empowerment Zone .......... . .. . ...... . .. . .... . ...........12 


Indianapolis, Indiana, Enterprise Community .. . ... .. .. .. ... .......... .. . . . . ......12 


Kansas City, Kansas, Enhanced Enterprise Community .. . ..... ... .... . ..... .. ... . . ..13 


Supplemental Empowerment Zone ......... . ... .. ..... . .. ....... . .. . . . .. . . .. . . 13 


Nashville, Tennessee, Enterprise Community .... .... . ......... . ..... . .. . . .. .. .. .. 13 


Enhanced Enterprise Community . .. .. . ... . . ... ........... . ... . . ... . . . ...... . . 14 


Omaha, Nebraska, Enterprise Community ......... .. . ...... ... ... . ... . .. . ... ....14 


Springfield, Massachusetts, Enterprise Community . . . . .... . .. .. . . ..... . .... . .... . ..14 


Tampa, Florida, Enterprise Community ................. .. .... . . . .. .............15 


Rural Communities . ... . ............................. . . . .. ... ............15 


Central Appalachian People's Federal Credit Union Provides Affordable Financial Services: 


Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone ..... . . . .. . . ... . ...... .........15 


vffi 
What Works! 

Development Venture Capital Fund Invests $10 Million: 


Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone ........... . ..... ... .. . . . ......16 


The One-Stop Capital Shop Provides Business Assistance and Capital: 


Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone ............... . ... .. . ... . . ........16 


Growing New Businesses ... . ........................... .... .. .. ..... .. 16 


Urban Communities ... .. ..... . ..... .. .... .... . .. . . .. ...... .. .... ...... .. 16 


Business Empowerment Center Will Reach 300 Businesses in 2 Years: 


Baltimore, Maryland, Empowerment Zone . ... . ........................... . .... .16 


BankBoston's Small Business Program Trains New Business Owners and Provides Computers: 


Niagara Street Market Provides Space for 30 Small Business Owners: 


SmaU Business Development Center Assists 25 Resident Entrepreneurs: 


Unlimited Future, Inc., Is the Only Small Business Incubator To Offer Four Key Elements: 


Business Resource and Investment Service Center Serves More Than 400 Clients: 


Small Business Development Center Business Information Center Targets Women- and 


Boston, Massachusetts, Enhanced Enterprise Community .. . ... . .. .. . ...... . .........17 


Buffalo, New York, Enterprise Community ... .. ...... .. .. . .. .. . .............. .. .17 


East St. Louis, Missouri, Enterprise Community . .. ..... .. ...... . ... . ...... .. ......17 


Huntington, West Virginia, Enterprise Community ................ . .............. .18 


New York, New York, Empowerment Zone ...................... ... ..... . ... .. . . 18 


Minority-Owned Businesses: Providence, Rhode Island, Enterprise Community ........ . . .18 


Rural Communities ................ . ................. . ........... . .......19 


Hugo Heritage Train and Railroad Museum Supports Tourism: 


Minority Business Opportunities Center Assists Formation of Minority-Owned Businesses: 


Laguna Madre Enterprise Center Provides Space for Startups: 


Port Isabel Historical Museum Opens: Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone .. .. .....19 


Southeast Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Enterprise Comml.ll1ity ... . ........................19 


Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone . .. ................................20 


Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone ............. . .... . .. .. ............20 


Job Readiness ..... ........ .. .... .. ... .... ..... ... .... ... ... .... .... 21 


Urban Communities ............................... .. . .. ... . . .. ....... .. .23 


West Enterprise Area Offers Computer Training: 


Construction Trades Apprenticeship Program Trains 45 EC Residents: 


NASA Supports SEZ Businesses and Youth: 


Kirke-Van Orsdel Sets Up Recruitment Program Targeted to EC Residents: 


Charlotte, North Carolina, Enterprise Community .. . .. . .. ...... .. .. .... ..... . .....23 


Charlotte, North Carolina, Enterprise Community ... .... .. ...... .. .... . . . ... ... .. .23 


Cleveland, Ohio, Supplemental Empowerment Zone ............... . ..... . .........23 


Des Moines, Iowa, Enterprise Community ................ . ... ..... . .. .. .. . ......24 


New Beginnings To Create 1,000 Healthcare Jobs: Detroit, Michigan, Empowerment Zone .....24 


ix 
Empowerment lones and Enterprise Communities 

Life Skills Programs Support Transition to Work: 


Houston, Texas, Enhanced Enterprise Community . .... .... .. . . . ... .. .. . .. .. ... ... .24 


Keyboards to Success Offers Simulated Office Experience: 


Building for the Future Trains Inmates in Housing Construction: 


Jayhawk Computer Repair Trains Residents as Technician Assistants: 


40 Youth Run Their Own Store at Phillips Youth Enterprise Center: 


Youth Skilled Trades Initiative Offers Career Counseling to 1,500 Youth : 


Urban Apprenticeship Program Offers Training to 200 Participants and Finds 


Second Chance Provides Job Training to 73 Homeless Men: 


FAST TRACK LA Job and Skills Training Program Places 160 Participants: 


Cornerstone Partnership Provides 150 EC Residents With Marketable Skills: 


Kansas City, Kansas, Enhanced Enterprise Community ..... . . . . . . . ...... . . ... ...... .25 


Memphis/Shelby County, Tennessee, Enterprise Community .. ... ... . . . . .. . .. . ... . ...25 


Memphis, Tennessee, Enterprise Community ... . ... ..... ... . ..... .. . . ... . ..... . ..26 


Minneapolis, Minnesota, Enterprise Community ...... . ......... .... ........ . . . . . . 26 


Minneapolis, Minnesota, Enterprise Community ..... .. ... ... ......... ... .... . ... .26 


More Than 200 Jobs: Norfolk, Virginia, Enterprise Community ... ... ... . . .. .. .. .... ..26 


San Diego, California, Enterprise Community . .... . . . . .. .. . . .. . ,' ... . . ... . . . ... ... 27 


South Central Los Angeles, California, Enterprise Community ... . .... . ... . ...........27 


St. Louis, Missouri, Enterprise Communjty .. .. . . . ... .... .. .... .... .. ... .... ... . . 27 


Partnerships With Local Colleges Support Job Training: Waco, Texas, Enterprise Community ....28 


Rural Communities . ... . ... ... ......... ... .. . ... . ...... ... .... . .... .... ..28 


Jackson County Rehabilitation Industries, Inc., Offers Vocational Training and Creates Jobs: 


Kentucky HighJands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone .. . . . . .. .. ...... .. .. . ..... . . . ..28 


Job Linkage ....... .. ... ....... ... ... ......... ... .. .. ..... ... .... ...29 


Urban Communities . . . .. . . . ... ... .... .. .. ..... . . . ......... . .. . . .. .. ... .. 31 


Six Village Centers Offer One-Stop Services to Neighborhoods: 


Job Resource Center Places 168 in Jobs and Will Place 599 by Year's End: 


Columbus Employment Consortium Provides Job-Locator Service and Has Placed 


Community-Based Mobility Strategies Coorrunates Transportation for Residents: 


Nia Neighborhood Travel and Jobs Center Combines Training and Transport: 


Business and Career Center Registers More Than 250 Residents for Online Job Listings: 


50 EC Older Workers Find Jobs Through Working Seniors: 


Baltimore, Maryland, Empowerment Zone . ............ . ......... . . . .... . . . .....31 


Charlotte, North Carolina, Enterprise Community . .. .... ... ... .... .... .. ... . . .. .. .31 


Job Match Will Place 350 in Jobs: Cleveland, Ohio, Supplemental Empowerment Zone .. ......31 


300 Residents: Columbus, Ohio, Enterprise Community ... .. .......... . . . .. . . . .....31 


Detroit, Michjgan, Empowerment Zone .. ..... . . .. . ..... .. . ..... . .. . .......... .32 


Louisville, Kentucky, Enterprise Community ..... . . .. .... . ..... . . .. . . ...... . ... . . 32 


St. Louis, Missouri, Enterprise Community .... . . .. ...... . ... .. . . . . . .. ...... ... . . 32 


Tampa, Florida, Enterprise Community ....... .. .... . ... .. . .. ... . . . .... . . .. .. . ..33 


x 
What Works! 

Rural Communities .. . ......... . . . .......... .. . .. . ........ . . . .. . .........33 


Project VIDA Administers High-Skills Training Program: 


Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone . ..... . . . . .... ..... . .. . . . . ...... .. .33 


Family and Youth Development ..... ... ... ......... ...... .... .... ...35 


Urban Communities . . .. ... . .................. .. .. . ..... . . . ........ . .....37 


Family Services Specialists Remove Roadblocks to Learning: 


Akron, Ohio, Enterprise Community . . .. . ........... . . . . . ............ . ..... . ...37 


WOMENBUILD II Offers Trades Training to Welfare Mothers: 


Human Services Initiative Supports Welfare-to-Work Transition: 


Village to Child Program Provides Mentors for EC Students: 


Community Self-Sufficiency Centers Serve 175 EZ Families: 


Total Village Project Involves Parents in Their Children's Education: 


5,000 Youth Involved in Community Schools/Healthy Summer Initiative: 


Youth Fair Chance Serves 300 EC Youth Each Week: New Haven, Connecticut, 


Weed and Seed Service Center Serves 460 Homes: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 


Mothers' Centers Support Women's Transition to Work: Pulaski County, Arkansas, 


Success by 6 Program Promotes School Readiness: Pulaski County, Arkansas, 


Black Family Life Enhancement Program Serves 400 EC Parents: 


Burlington, Vermont, Enterprise Community .. ... .. .... .. .... . ... .... . ..... .. . . ..37 


Chicago, Illinois, Empowerment Zone ........... . . . .... . ....... . . . .. . ... . . ... .37 


Columbus, Ohio, Enterprise Community .. ......... . . . ..... ... . . . . .. . .... . . ... . . 37 


Detroit, .Michigan, Empowerment Zone .. .. ..... . .... . . . ...... . .. . .. . . ... . . . ...38 


Huntington, West Virginia, Enterprise Community ........... . ..... . . . .. .. . . . .. ...38 


Lowell, Massachusetts, Enterprise Community ... ... ..... . ..... .. . . ........ . . . ....38 


Enterprise Community .. . . . ...... . .. . . . ..... ... . . ... . ...... . . . . .. . . ... . ....39 


Enterprise Community . . ... . ..... . . . .. . .............. ... .... .. . . ... .. ......39 


Enterprise Community .. .. . . . . ......... ... .......... . . . . .. ............. . . . . 39 


Enterprise Community ..... .. .. . .. . ..... . . . ... .... ... . .. ... . . . ... . . . . .... . .40 


Tampa, Florida, Enterprise Community .... ... . ..... .... . . .. . ..... .... . ... . .....40 


Rural Communities . .... . . . . . .. . . . .... . . . .. .. . .... . . ... . . . .... .. ... . . . ...40 


Community Centers Offer One Stop for Neighborhood Services: 


Central SavafUlah River Area, Georgia, Empowerment Zone .... .. .... . ........ . ... . ..40 


Clinton County 21st Century Learning Center Serves Local Youth: 


Student Summer Program Assists Students at Risk of Gang Involvement: 


Learning for Life Teaches Life Skills to Children: Rio Grande VaHey, Texas, 


Instructional Activities Use Advanced Technologies to Improve Student Performance: 


Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone . . . ... . ..... .. ... ... ........ . . .41 


Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone ....... . ... .... .... . . . . .. .. . .......41 


Empowerment Zone . ... . . . . . ..... .. . .. .. . . . ... . . . . .. .... .... . ...... .. .....41 


Southeast Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Enterprise Community .. .. .... . . .... .. . .. . . . . .... .41 


xi 
Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

Healthcare and Substance Abuse Treatment ........................ .43 


Urban Communities ......... . .. ....... .. ... . . ......... ..... ....... . .... .45 


15 Health Workers Hired Under Community-Based Asthma Prevention Model Project: 


Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone ................................... . .....45 


55 Residents Recruited and Trained as Neighborhood Health Advisers: 


Medical Mall Foundation To Serve Residents and Create 300 Jobs: 


Catholic Charities Campus for Hope Will Treat 3,000 People and Create 1,000 Jobs 


Charleston, South Carolina, Enterprise Community .... ..... ..... . . ... . . .. .. . . .... .45 


Jackson, Mississippi, Enterprise Community .... . . . .............. . ..... . .. ........45 


for Residents: Omaha, Nebraska, Enterprise Community ... .. .. . ..... .. ...... . . .. . . .45 


Rural Communities ......... .... .......... . . ......... . ... . . . ..... . ... .. . .46 


New Ambulances Answer 22 -Year Need: Central Appalachia, West Virginia, 


Health Occupations Training Collaborative Offers Skills to Residents: 


FuJI-Time EMS Services in the EZ: Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone . . ... . ..... .46 


Enterprise Community .. . .. ..... ..... . . ................ ..... . . ... . .. . ..... .46 


Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone ... . .. .. ...... . . .. . . ... . ....... . .. .46 


Housing Development and Homeownership .. ... .......... .... ...... .47 


Urban Communities ..... ..... ...... ...... ..... ...... . .. . . .. .. . ... . . . ....49 


200 New Rental Units and 120 Homes Planned: Albuquerque, New Mexico, 


450 Homes Renovated and 450 Homes Constructed Under Mortgage Assistance Program: 


75 New Homeowners Assisted Through Homeownership Counseling: 


New Homes and Facilities Improvements in Bicentennial Village: 


Project Hope Provides 18 Apartments to Families with Children: 


Enterprise Community . . .. ......... ........ ..... ........ ....... .... . ... . ...49 


Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone ........ .. . .... ........... .. .......... .. .49 


Baltimore, Maryland, Empowerment Zone .... ........ ...... ........ . . ... .......49 


10 Local Companies Assist Families in Buying Homes: Chicago, Illinois, Empowerment Zone ....49 


Cleveland, Ohio, Empowerment Zone . ... ... ... . .. . ... .... .... . . .. .. . ..... ....50 


Huntington, West Virginia, Enterprise Community ....... . .... ........ ... .........50 


Land Bank Offers 60 Properties to Nonprofits: Jackson, Mississippi, Enterprise Community . .....51 


Neighborhood Entrepreneurs: New York, New York, Empowerment Zone ................ . . 51 


Rural Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 


Water Line Extensions Built: Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone ... . . .. .....51 


Fannie Mae Supports Mfordable Housing in the EZ: Rio Grande Valley, Texas, 


Empowerment Zone .... ...... ............. . .... .. . ... . .. . ..... . .. ...... . . . 52 


xii 
What Works! 

Community Policing and Public Safety ...... .. .... ... .. ..... .........53 


Urban Communities ............ .. . ... ............. .. ............... .....55 


Block Watches Organized on Every EC Block: Birmingham, Alabama, Enterprise Community . ...55 


350 Youth Participate in Violence Prevention Program: Chicago, Illinois, Empmverment Zone . ...55 


New Mobile Police Center Serves the EC: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Enterprise Community .. .. .. 55 


400 Residents Participate in VACOP Crime Prevention Groups: Pulaski County 


Arkansas, Enterprise Community .............................. . ...... . . ... ....55 


Neighborhood and Environmentalln1provement .... .... ....... .......57 


Urban Communities ............ . ............................. . ...... . ...59 


Residents Trained to Paint Houses and Remove Asbestos: 


Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone ...... . ............. .... . ... .............59 


EZ Residents Save $88,000 Through Water Conservation Project: 


Permit System for Vacant Lots Encourages Development: Columbus, Ohio, 


Green Institute ReUse Center Reduces Waste While Creating Jobs: 


Urban Greening Projects Initiated in 22 EC Neighborhoods: St. Louis, Missouri, 


Youth-Run Ivy Grow Over Project Discourages Vandalism: San Diego, California, 


Neighborhood Environmental Action Team Finds Long-Term Solutions to Litter, Graffiti, 


Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone ................... . ..... . .......... ... ..59 


Enterprise Community .... ... . .. ................ . . . .............. . ...... ...59 


Minneapolis, Minnesota, Enterprise Community ......... ....... ........ . .........59 


Enterprise Community ............... .... . ......... ...... .. .. .. . .. . ..... ...60 


Enterprise Community .... ... . .. .. . ..... . .. .......... .. ....................60 


and Weeding/Mowing: Tampa, Florida, Enterprise Community ................... . ...61 


Rural Communities .. ........... .. ................ .... .......... . .... .... 61 


Multicounty Recycling and Composting Facility Established: Kentucky Highlands, 


Kentucky, Empowerment Zone ...... ..... . ..... .............................61 


Alternative Crop Venture Fund Offers Loans to Innovative Farmers: 


Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone .. ......... . ............. . .....61 


Technology and Internet Innova'tions ... ...... ...... ......... .. .. ....63 


Urban Communities ... ..................................... .... . . . .... ..65 


Technology Challenge Project Creates Multimedia Electronic Educational Network: 


Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone .. ............... .... ........ . ... . ... . .. .65 


EC Residents Receive Internet Access through BridgeNet: Bridgeport, Connecticut, 


EC Schools Teach Through Computer Mapping Software: Houston, Texas, 


Enterprise Community ....... ........ ............. . ........................65 


Enhanced Enterprise Commlmity ........ ............ . ........... . ..... . ......65 


xiii 
Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

Norfolk Works Maintains Electronic Resume Portfolio and Job Listings: 


Norfolk, Virginia, Enterprise Community . .................. . ............ . ......65 


Partner Program Network: Technology Grants Implemented: Oakland, California, 


Bridge Project Brings E-mail to EZ Residents: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 


Member-Organized Resource Exchange Offers Public Access Computers in the EC: 


Enhanced Enterprise Community .......................... ... . ...............66 


Empowerment Zone ... . .. .. . ....... ..... .... ............. ... . ..... . .......66 


St. Louis, Missouri, Enterprise Community . ... . ...... ........ . ........... ....66 


Rural Communities .... .......... .... ........ .. . .. . ........... ....... .. ..67 


Educational Center Promotes Community-Based Learning: Rio Grande Valley, Texas, 


Library Automation Project Provides Connection to Information Superhighway: 


Library Media Center Provides Internet Services to Community: 


Empowerment Zone ..... . . . .. . .. .. .. ..... . ................................67 


Cyber Ed Visits Empowerment Zone : Kentucky HigWands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone . . ...67 


Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone . ..................................67 


Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone ...... ..... .... ...... . . .. . . ........67 


Community-Based Partnerships .... .... .. ...........................69 


Urban Communities .................................................... .71 


Council of Foundations Receptions Encourage Collaboration: Atlanta, Georgia, 


Neighborhood Associations Find Powerful Ally in Churches: Charleston, South Carolina, 


Community-Based Organizations Trained Through Neighborhood Partnership Academy: 


Neighborhood Innovation Grants Reward EC Pilot Projects: Memphis/Shelby County, 


Partner Program Network Facilitates Community Collaboration: 


$97,000 Marketing Plan Implemented to Recruit New Businesses: Southern Nevada 


Empowerment Zone . .. ............. .... . ..................................71 


Enterprise Community ..... ....... .... .....................................71 


EZ Taps Resources of Local Universities: Cleveland, Ohio, Supplemental Empowerment Zone ...71 


Detroit, Michigan, Empowerment Zone ........................................71 


Tennessee, Enterprise Community .... . ...... ..... ............................ .72 


Oakland, California, Enhanc~d Enterprise Community ............... . ...... .. .... ..72 


Enterprise Community .. .. ....... ....................... . .. . ......... ......72 


Rural Communities . . .... ... . ..... .. . .. . .. . .. . .. ..... ...... . ... .73 


110 Residents to Participate in Strategic Vision and Leadership Training Workshops: 


Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone ..... .. .................. . .... .73 


Resource Page .............. ... ..... .... .. .... .... .. ... ... ... ...... 75 


EI/EC Main Contact List .. .......... .. ....... .... ......... .... ......77 


xiv 
Economic 

Development 

Economic development is the key to successful 

urban revitalization. Whether it be in an urban 

or rural area, Empowerment Zones (EZs) and 

Enterprise Communities (ECs) across America 

are investing time and creativity to develop 

strategies and projects designed to bolster the 

economic activity of their EZ or EC. As a community's economy flourishes, so do the attitudes 

and the pride of its residents, resulting in true 

empowerment. 

Successful projects have taken many forms in 

the communities. While many are focused on 

the recruitment of new businesses through the 

use of wage tax credits and other incentives, 

some projects help already existing local businesses to expand. Other plans include helping 

entrepreneurial residents access financing and 

credit needed for startup, as well as providing 

incubator facilities for new initiatives. Shown 

below are examples drawn from successful 

projects nationwide. These programs support 

the economic development of the community 

by creating jobs, providing access to credit, 

and helping new businesses grow. 

What Works! Economic Development 

Recruiting Businesses 


Urban Communities 

Recycling Business Creates 265 Jobs 

Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone 

Renewal Atlanta, a Boston-based glass and paper recycling company, and Peter Rhodes, Inc., a local generator manufacturer, are locating plants at the long-vacant 

Brown Trucking Company site to take advantage of tax 

incentives offered under the Empowerment Zone 

effort and the new Capitol View Industrial Enterprise 

Zone. Four other companies-Cumming South, a 

diesel engine repair firm; Southern Freight, a trucking 

company; Atlanta Film, a manufacturer of tamperproof bags for food products; and Triple S Pharmaceutical, a pharmaceutical equipment manufacturerhave also decided to remain in the city, attracted by EZ 

tax incentives and employment tax credits. EZ residents 

make up as much as 45 percent of the employees of the 

four companies. 

Renewal Atlanta is a new recycling business established 

on a former industrial site. The newly purchased facility 

wiJl create up to 65 full-time jobs for EZ residents and 

200 temporary jobs for youth. Renewal Atlanta, in 

conjunction with other local businesses, will offer EZ 

youth 2-year internships in various recycling enterprises. Interns will each earn stipends of $4,000 for 

every year of participation. More than $3.5 million in 

private financing is committed to this initiative. 

For more information on Renewal Atlanta, contact 

Paul White, Atlanta EZ Corporation, at 

404-331-4480. 

Ecological Industry Park Will Create 

1,500 Jobs 

Baltimore, Maryland, Empowerment Zone 

The Baltimore Development Corporation is establishing an eco-industrial park in Fairfield to make use of 

more than 1,200 acres ofunderutilized land. A minimum of 10 new businesses are being sought for the 

project. Most interestingly, the park attempts to ensure 

environmentaUy sound industrial development by 

matching businesses that can make productive use of 

one another's waste materials. The objective of this 

park is to attract environmentally sensitive business 

processes through an incubator arrangement using a 

closed loop production system linked to resource 

recovery technology. When the project reaches its full 

potential, 1,500 jobs will be available to EZ residents. 

The project is a collaboration of the Empower 

Baltimore Management Corporation, the Baltimore 

Development Corporation, Cornell University'S Work 

and Environment Initiative, the city of Baltimore's 

public works department, and the State of Maryland. 

Thus far, the Abbey Drum business and the Pasadena 

Forklift have located in the Zone. The eco-park is 

funded with $864,000 in EZ funds and $5 million in 

city funds. 

For more information on Fairfield Industrial Park, 

contact Mike Palumbo, Project Manager, at 

410-837-9310. 

Busy-Bee Fast-Food Carryout Used as 

Training Facility 

Charlotte, North Carolina, Enterprise Community 

Charlotte's Northwest Enterprise Community has just 

begun one of several economic development projects. 

The Northwest Enterprise Community has purchased 

the Busy-Bee fast-food carryout restaurant, which will 

serve as a training facility and model in the food industry. As a result of this project, four jobs have been created with more to come. The Northwest Enterprise 

Community will not only generate funds to sustain 

the EC, but will also provide other opportunities for 

expansion and training once it begins catering from 

this location. The Busy-Bee is located on one of 

Charlotte's most-traveled corridors and is located 

in the heart of the EC. 

For more information, contact Sharlene Abbott, 

Charlotte EC, at 704-336-5577. 

3 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

Modellndus'tl'ial Corridors Provide 

Focus for Development 

Chicago, Illinois, Empowerment Zone 

In 1994, the Chicago Plan Commission designated 

12 industrial corridors in the city's North, West, and 

South sections. Since then the Chicago Department of 

Planning and Development has targeted six corridors 

each year for improvements that may include ctirect 

functing through the Model Industrial Corridor initiative, higher prioritization of improvements in the city's 

capital budget, or seed money to assist locally run 

programs and serve business worker needs. Projects 

include labor force development in key industrial sectors, resident-industry employment linkages, enhancement and implementation of industrial planning, and 

improved transportation access for local residents to 

area jobs. Funding for this initiative totals just over 

$1 million and includes $414,000 in Title XX funds, 

$306,000 in State and local funds, and $357,225 in 

private funds. Strategic plans have been developed 

for six corridors, and plans are being revised for the 

remaining six. Seven of the existing 12 corridors 

overlap the Empowerment Zone. 

For more information about Model Industrial 

Corridors, contact Ron Johnson, Deputy 

Commissioner, City of Chicago Department of 

Planning and Development, at 312-744--4000. 

17 Brownfields Restored To Make Way 

for Businesses 

Chicago, Illinois, Empowerment Zone 

Through the Brownfields Initiative, the city Department of the Environment has begun to recycle existing 

industrial land once deemed unusable due to varying 

degrees of environmental hazards. In 1994, the city 

decticated $2 million to restore five South and West 

Side industrial sites, and in 1995, the city spent $10 

million to clean up a dozen more sites. 

Two examples of the success of the brown fields initiative are Scott Peterson Meats and Mactison Equipment. 

Faced with the need to expand its facilities, Scott 

Peterson Meats was considering relocating out of its 

city location because the only nearby property was 

an environmentally unsafe, abandoned bus barn. But 

under brownfields, the city demolished and cleaned 

up the site and Scott Peterson Meats then spent 

$5 .5 million to expand into the adjacent property. 

This investment retained existing jobs and created 

80 additional full-time jobs. 

Madison Equipment also was ready to relocate its facilities to meet expansion needs. However, the company 

chose to build a facility on a restored property. This 

action retained existing jobs and added seven new jobs 

initially. 

For more information on Chicago's Brownfields, contact Henry Henderson, Commissioner, city of Chicago 

Department of the Environment, at 312-744-8900. 

Hundreds of Jobs Created Through Private 

Investment at Piston Packaging and 

Chrysler Engine Plant 

Detroit, Michigan, Empowerment Zone 

Detroit has been increctibly successful at promoting 

private-sector investment in its Empowerment Zone . 

Hundreds of jobs are being created in Detroit's EZ by 

companies taking advantage of the wage tax credit and 

other tax incentives. These companies include Piston 

Packaging. 

Piston Packaging, a minority-owned company started 

by a Detroit Piston, Vinnie Johnson, is located in a 

former automotive plant on approximately 16.2 acres. 

The firm supplies paper pallets, corrugated boxes, and 

setup boxes, as well as subassembly and sequencing for 

General Motors Corporation (GM). It also assembles 

strut modules and external trim components and performs repackaging and recycling. The firm presently 

employs 135 people. The current investment in the 

faciLity totals more than $1.2 million. 

A new Chrysler Engine Plant, representing an investment of more than $750 million in the Zone, is 

estimated to retain 1,000 workers. In addition, the 

Detroit Medical Center has committed to training 

and placing more than 1,000 residents over a 7-year 

period. 

Two automotive suppliers are forming a joint venture 

to get a multimillion dollar, long-term contract with 

GM that could bring more than 100 new jobs to 

Detroit's EZ. The venture, which involved Johnson 

Controls Automotive Systems Group and Chivas 

Products, Ltd., will produce car seats and interiors for 

various Cactillac models. The deal is expected to generate more than $100 million in revenue a year. 

For more information on Piston Packaging, contact 

Ken Varvatos, at 313-897-1540. 

4 

What Works! Economic Development 

Minority-Owned Business, Walbro Automotive, 

Brings 350 Jobs 

Detroit, Michigan, Empowerment Zone 

Walbro Automotive, a minority-owned fuel systems 

products manufacturer, will soon join with two minority businessmen to build an automotive supply plant on 

a multi-acre industrial site in the Detroit EZ. "We are 

extremely pleased to have this significant new investment in Detroit's Empowerment Zone," said Detroit 

Mayor Dennis Archer. "This venture wiU bring hundreds of quality jobs in high-technology manufacturing 

to the Zone." The plant is expected to bring up to 

350 jobs. Participants in the joint venture expect to 

win parts-supplier contracts from the major auto companies, which have also planted their businesses in the 

Zone. GM and Chrysler have already committed to 

conducting business with the joint venture. Walbro 

currently makes parts for Chrysler, Ford, and GM. 

Walbro received a $13.6 million taJ( credit from the 

Michigan Economic Growth Authority last month to 

produce fuel systems components in the EZ. The State 

tax credit is in addition to the tax breaks the company 

will receive from Federal tax incentives for locating in 

and hiring from the Zone. 

For more information on Walbro, contact Gloria 

Robinson, at 313-224-6389. 

MCI Telecommunications Hires 1,545 Workers 

EI Paso, Texas, Enterprise Community 

MCl has announced that it will locate a telecommunications center in the El Paso Enterprise Community. 

The center represents a $4.6 million investment, creating 1,545 jobs over the next 5 years (124 managerial 

jobs at $33,000; 21 technical jobs at $26,000; and 

1,400 jobs for operators at $19,548 , with benefits and 

opportunities for overtime). MCI expects to be operating in EI Paso by mid-May. Tax abatement was used to 

attract the company. The city will use EC funds to pay 

up to $2,500 per person in customized job training. 

An available work force and EC training funds were 

critical to MCl's decision. MCI will be operating an 

operator network center at the site. The center will 

provide general operator and directory-assistance 

services to customers in both English and Spanish. 

For more information, contact Roberto Franco, at 

915-533--4284. 

191 New Jobs in Westside Industrial Park 

Kansas City, Missouri, Enhanced Enterprise Community 

A 22-acre site of blighted, abandoned railroad property 

in the Westside neighborhood is being redeveloped 

into an approximately 200,000-square-foot light industrial park. A labor-intensive job requirement is written 

into the development agreement to fulfill commitments 

to Enhanced Enterprise Community (EEC) residents. 

The developer is the community-based Hispanic 

Economic Development Corporation and its goal is 

to create 37 5 full-time jobs, at least 191 for EEC residents and at least 38 of those for Westside residents. 

This goal is the minimum, and the performance of the 

developer in meeting it is, by contract, subject to annual review by the city, its lender, and the EEC Executive 

Committee. A finding of noncompliance can result in 

withholding of funds and/ or project default. These 

conditions are unique for this type of public/ private 

project, but all parties have agreed because of the 

extent of public participation and the EEC mandate 

for use of these funds. 

For more information on Westside Industrial Park, 

contact Cal Bender of MARC, at 816--474--4240. 

Business Improvement District Creates 

Jobs for Homeless 

Los Angeles, California, Supplemental 

Empowerment Zone 

To retain and expand apparel industry firms in Central 

Los Angeles, the city adopted a Business Improvement 

District (BID) for the garment industry area of downtown. Under the BID, businesses and firms in the 

s 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

district have elected to provide graffiti removal, security enhancements, street clean cleanups, and shopper information kits . These services have made the 

area much more shopper-friendly and conducive to 

industry-related events. Upon implementation of the 

BID, they created 24 jobs within 2 weeks and 59 jobs 

within 3 months, 52 of which were filled by homeless 

and other low-income persons. The project was 

launched with $150,000 of city of Los Angeles 

Community Development Department funds and 

$200,000 in private contributions. The program has 

continued with approximately $1 million in investments from the local business community. 

For more information on the garment industry BID, 

contact Lisa Wellik, city of Los Angeles, at 

213-485-2952. 

Industrial Development Authority Implements 

Tax-Exempt Bond Financing 

los Angeles, California, Supplemental Empowerment 

Zone 

To address its high unemployment problem, the Los 

Angeles Supplemental Empowerment Zone (SEZ) is 

using its Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to 

issue tax-exempt financing to expanding businesses. 

The IDA coordinates the underwriting of bonds and 

loans for expanding businesses by facilitating and 

approving the loan process. 

The IDA approved applications from two Zone businesses for tax-exempt bond financing to locate and 

expand operations in the SEZ. These applications for 

tax-exempt financing were subsequently approved by 

the State of California, and a total of $7.6 million in 

bonds was issued to the companies. 

One of the approved applicants, Choice One Foods of 

Los Angeles, is an example of this effort. The SEZ 

recruited Choice One to renovate an industrial building across from a local high school. As a direct result 

of investing more than $6 million in the project, 

Choice One has created an additional ll5 jobs. To 

establish a connection between the high school and 

this new business they have also given some money 

to expanding the school-to-work program at the high 

school and Choice One has committed to hiring local 

high school graduates. 

For more information, contact Reynold Blight, city of 

Los Angeles, Program Manager, at 213-485-2952. 

Walt Disney Company Invests $56 Million 

in Harlem USA 

New York, New York, Empowerment Zone 

Walt Disney Company's Disney Store is anchoring 

Harlem USA, a $56 million retail and entertainment complex scheduled to open in 1998 . Gap, Inc., 

has signed a letter of intent to open a stOre in the 

275,OOO-square-foot complex. The entertainment 

complex will also house an ice rink, jazz club, sports 

facility, 12-screen movie theater, and children's recreation program. Offering 500 jobs, it promises to be 

one of the biggest commercial employers in the 

Upper Manhattan EZ. 

For more information about Harlem USA, contact 

Deborah Wright, Upper Manhattan Empowerment 

Zone Development Corporation, at 212-932-1902. 

International Firms Invest in the Zone 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Empowerment Zone 

The Philadelphia EZ succeeded in attracting Global 

Technology Systems (GTS), an India-based water filter 

manufacturer, to the Zone. GTS, which said it will 

invest more than $1 million in the project, hopes to 

export the filters initially to Africa, the Middle East, 

and Latin America. 

Unique Partnership Between Rite-Aid and 

Philadelphia Health Systems 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Empowerment Zone 

New construction of a 10,OOO-square-foot Rite-Aid 

pharmacy at 13th Street and Girard Avenue is under 

way. The $1 .5 million project includes parking spaces 

6 

What Works! Economic Development 

for 60 cars. The store involves a unique partnership 

between Rite-Aid and north Philadelphia Health 

Systems, which has agreed to shift its $100,000-plus 

prescription business from Girard Medical Center to 

the EZ Rite-Aid store . 

For more information about business investment in 

Philadelphia, contact Carlos Acosta, city of 

Philadelphia, at 215-686-9763. 

Upper Falls Shopping (enter Will 

(reate 350 Jobs 

Rochester, New York, Enterprise Community 

The Rochester EC welcomes a new shopping center, 

scheduled to open in the fall of 1997. The new 

Upper Falls Shopping Center will be anchored by a 

25,000-square-foot B-Kwik Market that will be operated by Tops Market, Inc . Tops, which already operates 

nine other B-Kwik fill-line supermarkets in New York 

State, will completely renovate the Bells supermarket 

site. The renovation of this market is part of the economic investment deal announced in September 1996, 

in which Tops announced plans to invest $23 .1 million 

to build or expand five grocery stores in the city of 

Rochester and create 350 jobs. Tops will also offer job 

training and will give hiring preference to neighborhood residents. 

Along with the grocery store, the Upper Falls 

Shopping Center will contain a 6,000-square-foot 

WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Office, a drugstore, 

and a fast-food restaurant. In addition to these services, 

the city and the First National Bank of Rochester have 

reached an agreement in principle to operate a bank 

branch in the shopping center. The Clinton Section 

police station will also relocate to the plaza. 

The owner and operator of the Upper Falls Shopping Center is REDCO (Rochester Economic 

Development Corporation). The total cost of the 

project is $11 .2 million . Funding is being provided by 

a Federal Enterprise Community loan in the amount of 

$3 million, along with $980,000 from the Community 

Development Block Grant (CDBG), $2.2 million from 

the Urban Renewal Trust Fund, $2.2 million in 

REDCO investment, and $2 .8 million in private 

investment. 

For more information about the Upper Falls Shopping 

Center, contact Carolyn Argust, city of Rochester 

Economic Development, at 716-428-7207. 

70 Jobs (reated by Veterans Enterprises 

Son Antonio, Texos, Enterprise Community 

Having just held its ground breaking ceremony, 

Veterans Enterprises plans to construct a corrugated 

box manufacturing plant to create employment opportunities for EC veterans. The nonprofit company will 

be carefully guided in development through a business 

advisory board composed of community leaders. It 

is expected to create more than 70 jobs specifically 

targeted for disabled and homeless veterans, with 

above-minimum-wage salaries. 

For more information about Veterans Enterprises, 

contact Curley Spears, city of San Antonio, at 

210-220-3600. 

Figi Enterprises Uses Tax-Exempt Bond 

Financing To Expand and Retain 227 Jobs 

Son Diego, Colifornio, Enterprise Community 

As of September 1996, the city of San Diego closed a 

$3 million deal to finance land acquisition, building 

construction, and purchase of capital equipment for a 

Figi Graphics, Inc., expansion project using tax-exempt 

bond financing. Figi Graphics is a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of gifuvare and decorative accessories. The firm is building an 85,700-square-foot 

warehouse and office in the Gateway Center East 

Industrial Park in the Mount Hope Redevelopment 

Project area. Approval of the expansion financing 

means Figi will retain 227 people currently employed 

at the firm's existing Gateway Center facility. Figi also 

plans to create an additional 61 jobs over the next 

2 years at the neighboring expansion site. Bond 

financing provides loan funds at an interest rate 

approximately 3.5 percent below prime . The bond 

requires Figi Graphics to commit that at least 35 percent of its employees will be residents of the EC during 

the 20-year duration of the loan. 

For more information about tax-exempt financing in 

San Diego, contact Mark Sullivan, at 619-236-6235. 

Sunrise Pressure Washers Steam Clean Streets 

and Create Young Entrepreneurs 

Son Froncisco, Colifornio, Enterprise Community 

The Mission District of San Francisco is known for its 

high unemployment, particularly among teenagers. At 

the same time , Mission District merchants received 

7 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

more than 462 sidewalk-cleanliness and maintenanceviolation warnings in 1996. In 1995, working closely 

with the San Francisco EC, the Mission District 

Neighborhood Planning Body, made up of residents, 

community organizations, and merchants, was in 

search of some good "two-fers," proposals for projects 

that address more than one need . Recognizing the 

simultaneous need for jobs and for cleaner neighborhoods, the Columbia Park Boys and Girls Club came 

up with a winning proposal. 

The Columbia Park Boys and Girls Club Steam Clean 

Project employs 12 neighborhood youth to provide 

steam-cleaning services for M.ission District merchants. 

Since its beginning, Sunrise Pressure Washers has been 

run entirely by youth. Boys and Girls Club Director 

Jim Richards reports, "From designing a logo and 

developing a marketing strategy to writing an employee manual, the kids have done it alL" Norcal Waste 

Systems, Inc., has donated a steam-cleaning truck for 

the project. Local merchants buy $300 annual memberships for four cleanings over a I-year period. At 

the end of February 1997, they had 20 contracts with 

local businesses and were going after larger jobs. A 

grand opening event in January attracted major media 

attention and was attended by Mayor Brown and both 

corporate and local business representatives. The I-year 

program is targeted to youth who have dropped out 

of high school or are likely to drop out. At the end of 

the year, having gained valuable work experience and 

entrepreneurial skills, they are helped to transition 

into permanent jobs. 

The project was started with $81,000 in EC funds, 

but will soon be a fully operational, for-profit business. 

Profits will be reinvested into youth development 

programming by the Boys and Girls Club. Sunrise 

Pressure Washers is in cooperation with the Clean 

City Coalition, the Department of Public Works, and 

Norcal Waste Systems, Inc. The project has been 

recommended for second-round funding of $80,993 

from the San Francisco Enterprise Community program . It also received $30,000 in funding from the 

1997 Community Development Block Grant program 

administered by the Mayor'S Office of Community 

Development. 

For more information, contact Pamela David, EZ/ EC 

Director, at 415-252-3100. 

Predta Eyes Mural Arts Center Markets More 

Tours and Offers Youth Apprenticeships 

San Froncisco, California, Enterprise Community 

The Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center was initially provided an $80,000 EC grant. The program has targeted 

local youth, ages 15 to 23, from local schools and 

through referrals from community-based organizations. Since the program's inception, Precita Eyes has 

employed six residents of the Mission EC neighborhood. In addition, youth have served as apprentices in 

marketing/publicity, store management, research assistance, mural restoration, and as mural tour docents 

gaining both cultural awareness and practical experi'­

ence. The EC grant has allowed Precita Eyes to move 

more aggressively to market its mural tours to visitors 

and to build more ties to local merchants. It also has 

8 

What Works! Economic Development 

allowed Precita Eyes to expand its mural restoration 

activities, which are critical to sustaining the program. 

In addition, this project was one of several featured in a 

January tour of San Francisco's Enterprise Community 

by the Pacific Region Empowerment Zone/ Enterprise 

Community Board. 

For more information, contact Pamela David, EZ/ EC 

Director, at 415-252-3100. 

Marriott Courtyard Hotel Locates in the EC 

Waco, Texas, Enterprise Community 

Through collaboration and creative financing, the city 

of Waco will offer a new, convention-sized hotel to 

tourists and conventioneers in May 1997. What is more 

important, this initial investment has stimulated interest 

in the downtown Brazos River corridor as other restaurants and another hotel have considered development 

deals. The city of Waco took an innovative financing 

approach to attract the development of a downtown 

hotel. The Marriott Courtyard, in the heart of the 

downtown Brazos River corridor, is in its final construction phase and represents a successful effort 

to use EC bonds for revitalization. The project was 

a collaborative effort of the city of Waco, the Waco 

Independent School District, and State agencies and 

involved a $3 million bond issue. 

For more information about hotel development in 

Waco, contact Charles Daniels, city of Waco, at 

817-750-5690. 

Tax-Exempt Bond Businesses Hire 

3S Percent Residents 

Wilmington, Delaware, Enterprise Community 

The Wilmington Enterprise Community and 

CoreStates Bank have developed a new tax-exempt 

bond program to provide below-market-rate loans to 

EC businesses that hire EC residents. The proceeds of 

the expected $12 million issue of tax-exempt facility 

bonds will be available to local banks that, in turn, will 

pass on the savings to qualified borrowers. Qualifying 

businesses must commit that 35 percent of the jobs 

created with the funds will go to EC residents. 

CoreStates Bank will serve as the underwriter for the 

program and provide a master letter of credit for the 

bond issue . Other local banks will then provide the 

program to their customers by underwriting individual 

loans to CoreStates. The first loans under the program 

are expected to be made during spring 1997. 

For more information, contact James Walker, Executive 

Director, Wilmington Enterprise Community, at 

302-571-4189. 

Rural Communities 

Image Entry, Inc., Creates 400 New Jobs 

Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone 

Image Entry, Inc., a computer-processing company 

located in the Kentucky Highlands Empowerment 

Zone (KHEZ) in London, Kentucky, has hired approximately 300 home-based computer operators from the 

KHEZ for their other facilities. For Wayne County, this 

project could create approximately 400 potential new 

jobs. Image Entry has also agreed to build a new facility in Monticello, located in Wayne County. More than 

150 people are expected to be hired over a 2-year period to work in this new facility. 

For more information, contact James Letcher, 

Kentucky Rural Development Coordinator, at 

606-224-7336. 

9 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

jobs for 150 people and has plans to increase to 200 . 200 New Jobs Created With Jackson County The facility is state of the art, with robotics requiring Industrial Park Building minimum human handling of the fish. The plant turns 

Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone out many thousands of pounds of fish per day. 

The Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone, in 

cooperation with the Jackson County Industrial 

Authority, has completed design on a 25 ,000-squarefoot industrial building and will be bidding on the 

project soon. The Industrial Authority is also using 

$48,000 in EZ funds for infrastructure improvements 

to accommodate a new facility for Image Entry, Inc. 

The company has already created 30 new jobs in 

Jackson County at a temporary location and will 

grow to 200 employees over the next 18 months. 

Image Entry, Inc ., focuses on data entry and 

computer training. 

For more information, contact Jerry Richett, Kentucky 

Highlands, at 606-864-5175. 

Business and Industry Loans for Catfish 

Processing Create 436 Jobs 

Mid Delta, Mississippi, Empowerment Zone 

The Rural Economic and Community Development 

(RECD), now known as Rural Development, through 

the Mid Delta Empowerment Zone Association, 

provided a business and industry loan guarantee to 

Freshwater Farms, a catfish-processing facility in 

Humphrey County in the amount of $2.5 million. 

The facility will provide 236 jobs. 

For more information, contact Jane Jones, Mississippi 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 601-965-5457. 

Port Isabel Launches New Ferry Boat Business 

Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

Business developers, in a joint effort with representatives from the Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone 

(RGVEZ) Committee, are helping a fledgling ferry 

from Port Isabel to Honduras become a success. The 

ARegal Voyager Ferry is viewed by the community as 

an economic link that can be developed to put valley 

businesses in clirect competition with their Houston, 

New Orleans, and Miami counterparts. The community will work with several partners, including 

the University of Texas-Pan American Business 

Opportunities Center Foreign Agricultural Commercial 

Services, CEED Program, Center for Operations and 

Community Service, Port Authority, and others to 

develop markets in Central America. 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

Peddinghaus Manufacturing Company Brings 

SO New Jobs 

Williamsburg County, South Cmolina, Enterprise 

Community 

The Peddinghaus Manufacturing Company \\~ll locate 

in Williamsburg County near Andrews, South Carolina. 

This $7 million facility will add 50 new jobs to 

Williamsburg County. Cooperation between State 

officials, the Williamsburg County delegation, local 

leadership, and representatives from the Williamsburg 

County Enterprise Community made this partnership 

possible. Pedclinghaus will manufacture machine tools 

for the steel industry. Virtually every major construction project in the world involves Peddinghaus equipment. One recent example was the new Olympic 

Staclium built for the 1996 Summer Olympics in 

Atlanta. 

For more information, contact Faith Rivers, Heartland Catfish, Inc., located a new catfish-processing Williamsburg EC, at 803-354-9070. facility in Itta Bena (Leflore County), which provides 

10 

What Works! Economic Development 

Providing Access to 


Credif and Capital 


Urban Communities 

Atlanta EZ Establishes $30 Million Community 

and Individual Investment Corporation 

Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone 

The Atlanta Empowerment Zone is establishing a 

Community and Individual Investment Corporation 

(CnC) in which residents own shares in the investments made in their communities. Initial capitalization 

of approximately $30 million will increase the availability of development credit and encourage capital formation and savings among area residents . As shareholders 

residents have a personal economic stake in the invest- ' 

ments made in their community, increasing local participation and stimulating local support for businesses. 

Of the $35 million total initial capitalization, it is 

proposed that as much as $5 million of Title XX funds 

be allocated to start the cnc. In addition, $5 million 

would be allocated to the cnc from existing city assets 

and $5 million will come from the u.s. Housing and 

Urban Development (HUD) Economic Development 

Initiative funds. A Section 108 loan guarantee of 

$10 million is planned. Approximately $20 million 

could be leveraged against this public investment 

through the sale of notes and bonds. NationsBank, 

SunTrust, Mutual Federal, and other local institutions 

have also expressed interest in exploring possible lending and investment relationships with the Cnc. 

For more information about Atlanta cnc, contact 

Paul White, Atlanta EZ Corporation, at 

404-331--4480. 

$1.S Million Community Banking Initiative 

Established 

Baltimore, Maryland, Empowerment Zone 

Baltimore was one of three recipients of a HUD 

grant to develop a community-based banking initiative. Empower Baltimore Management Corporation, 

the nonprofit company overseeing the EZ, received 

$1.5 million in Economic Development Initiative 

grants and $1.5 million in Section 108 loan guarantees 

to assist new businesses and local residents who do not 

qualify for traditional financing. The funds will be used 

to create a community-based business loan pool. 

Community members may invest their own money in 

the venture and help decide who may borrow the 

money. 

For more information, contact Michael Preston 

Empower Baltimore Management Corporation,' at 

410-783--4455 . 

$1 Million High-Risk Capital Fund Established 

Baltimore, Maryland, Empowerment Zone 

Using $1 million in Title XX funds as seed money, this 

capital fund will make subordinated debt investments 

in EZ businesses that are considered by traditional 

lenders to be undercapitalized. As currently structured, 

individual businesses will be eligible to receive 20 percent of total loan requirements up to $100,000, with 

conventional lenders providing the balance. An additional $1 million investment in the high-risk capital 

loan fund has been committed by NationsBank. 

For more information about the High-Risk Capital 

Fund, contact Diane Bell, Empower Baltimore 

Management Corporation, at 410-783--4400 . 

First Financial Institution Opens 

Birmingham, Alabama, Enterprise Community 

The University Credit Union, an NCAA financial insti­


tution, opened a branch on Eighth Avenue , North, 
 in the heart of the Smithfield business district. The 


credit union was courted by the Enterprise Community 


Board. The credit union is the first financial institution 


to establish an office in this historically African­


American community. Since the branch opened, 


Branch Manager Herman Williams has become 


active in community affairs, particularly the Economic 


Development Committee of the EC Advisory Board . 


For more information, contact Herman Williams 


University Federal Credit Union, at 205-930-50'72. 


Grow Bridgeport Fund Loans to Residents 

Bridgeport, Connecticut, Enterprise Community 

Grow Bridgeport Fund is designed to provide access 

to capital and necessary technical assistance to small 

businesses that have not been able to access conventional credit. The loan fund will be targeted to lowand moderate-income individuals and entrepreneurs 

in Bridgeport. The fund anticipates making a majority 

of its loans in the Enterprise Community. 

11 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

To date, the fund has commitments of approximately 

$7.7 million in funds to be loaned to small- and 

medium-sized businesses and commercial revitalization 

efforts. Recently, the Fund made two loans totaling 

$170,000 that will be used for working capital and 

to purchase equipment for two local businesses. 

For more information, contact Janice Willis or Michael 

McCarthy, at 203-332-5662. 

Peer Lending and Minority Business 

Development Center Assists More Than 

100 Residents 

Charleston, South Carolina, Enterprise Community 

Americans are never short on good ideas and motivation for starting small businesses. Often what they are 

short on is the startup funds for purchasing equipment 

and supplies. An additional obstacle is a lack of collateral or credit history. The Charleston Citywide Local 

Development Corporation (CCLDC) has teamed up 

with Enterprise Community residents to overcome 

these barriers. 

The Peer Lending program was established through 

the receipt of HUD EC funds. The program enables 

local entrepreneurs' ideas to move from possibilities to 

reality. The purpose of the Peer Lending program is to 

provide financial and technical assistance to Enterprise 

Community residents who want to start a business or 

expand an existing business and do not qualifY either 

for commercial loans through a financial institution 

or for other loans administered by the CCLDC. 

Community residents with little or no collateral or 

credit history become eligible for peer loans by joining 

lending groups of 4 to 10 people. Each participant is 

required to attend training sessions, develop a business 

plan, and obtain approval of their business loan from 

the peer group members. Group members review loan 

requests and make recommendations to the peer 

review committee on which members are eligible to 

receive financing. Each borrower must remain current 

on his or her loan for the other group members to 

obtain financing for their business entities. Participants 

are usually loaned an average of $1 ,000 for equipment 

and suppLies. The intention is to increase the maximum 

to $2,000 for new businesses and to $5,000 for businesses with a 3-year track record. 

The Minority Business Development Center has 

assisted both entrepreneurs who have completed Peer 

Lending's training and others demonstrating commitment, in drawing up business plans, seeking finance , 

identifYing a location , and other ways. Thus far, 5 peer 

groups have been established, more than 100 residents 

have received technical training, 42 residents have 

graduated from the program and 23 are eligible to 

apply for loans, 6 businesses are operational, and 

2 businesses have received EC loans. The six businesses 

that are operational are Big E Assembly, Aim High 

Bookstore, Our Place: Family-Style Restaurant, 

Changeable Attire Plus, DuBois of Charleston 

(Community Development Consultants), and Frames. 

For more information about Peer Lending, contact 

Geona Shaw Johnson, Peer Lending Program 

Coordinator, at 803-720-3952. 

Empowerment Zone Finandallnstitutions 

Consortium Approves $286 Million in Loans 

Detroit, Michigan, Empowerment Zone 

Eight Detroit banks and two financial intermediaries 

have formed the Empowerment Zone Financial 

Institutions Consortium (EZFIC) to fund loans to 

Zone residents and businesses. EZFIC exceeded its 

original $76 million lending target for 1995, approving loans totaling $286 million in the Detroit 

Empowerment Zone . Medium-sized and small 

businesses were the primary beneficiaries. 

For more information, contact Brenda Schneider, 

Commercia Bank, at 313-222-5830. 

Eastside Community Fund Makes 120 Loans 

to Small Businesses 

Indianapolis, Indiana, Enterprise Community 

Eastside Community Fund (ECF) was created by 

Eastside Community Investments 5 years ago to 

provide capital to small businesses and microentrepreneurs . The fund has made approximately 120 loans 

and has more than $200,000 in currently outstanding 

loans. Through the capital contribution of $100,000 

in Enterprise Community funds, ECF will extend 

small-business lending to all residents of the Enterprise 

Community and to businesses located in the EC. 

Applicants develop business plans and, if accepted, 

are eligible to borrow up to $2,000. To date, these 

micro businesses have included daycare homes, artists, jewelry makers, a lens grinder, caterers, cleaning 

businesses, contractors, a community-transportation 

business, and tailors. The objective is to support people 

in developing their ideas into plans and understanding 

both market opportunity and whether the ideas can 

12 

What Works! Economic Development 

be developed so that the business owners can support 

their families. ECF also provides loans for up to 

$25,000 to small companies already in business that 

may have difficulty accessing lines of credit. In this 

category, ECF supports small businesses such as contractors, restaurants, collectors, and investigators. 

For more information, contact Mary Kapur, at 

317-327-3601. 

Job Development Loans Support More Than 

1,000 Quality Jobs for Residents 

Kansas City, Kansas, Enhanced Enterprise Community 

A primary goal of the EEC is to develop quality jobs 

for community residents. To accomplish this, new loans 

for existing businesses at favorable rates will be made 

in exchange for a commitment of at least one new job 

for every $35,000 invested. Loan amounts will start at 

$150,000 and will be available for up to 20 years. A 

coalition of job-training and placement agencies, the 

Employment Consortium will work with each business 

to identifY qualified workers who reside in the EEC. 

These agencies will continue to suppOrt the companies 

and the workers after they are hired. Four companies 

are currently in the process of securing loans under 

this plan. More than 1,000 employees will be hired 

once these job developments are completed. 

For more information about loans in Kansas City, 

contact Cal Bender of Mid-America Regional Council 

(MARC), at 816--474-4240. 

Community Development Bank Capitalized at 

$740 Million 

Los Angeles, California, Supplemental 

Empowerment Zone 

The Los Angeles Community Development Bank 

(LACDB) was created to promote a positive investment environment and permanent jobs for residents 

and others within the Los Angeles Supplemental 

Empowerment Zone. LACDB, working in partnership 

with community organizations, traditional lending 

institutions, and business and civic leaders, will provide 

nontraditional loans, technical assistance, and the 

connections that successfully attract, start, and expand 

business opportunities. The bank will make direct 

loans and loans through intermediaries and in partnership with private lending institutions. Founded with 

$430 million in HUD-approved economic assistance 

funds and $310 million in private loan commitments, 

the bank is well on its way to revitalizing the urban 

core of Los Angeles. 

Since its opening, LACDB has funded loans totaling 

$3 million. LACDB made its first two loans to a garment manufacturer and a graphics company. Trinity 

Knitworks and Gold Graphics both received loans that 

will allow them to continue to operate and, in the case 

of the graphic design company, to expand and create 

new jobs. These loans will lead to the creation of 

800 new jobs and the retention of 200 existing jobs. 

For more information, contact Robert Kemp of the 

Los Angeles Community Development Bank, at 

213-759-7759. 

Working Smart Entrepreneurial Training 

Organization Offers Loans to Graduates 

Nashville, Tennessee, Enterprise Community 

The Working Smart Entrepreneurial Training 

Organization provides education for entrepreneurs in 

the Enterprise Community in the areas of business law, 

tax preparation, management, and planning. Working 

Smart is located in the Southside Enterprise Center, a 

focal point of those involved with the economic development of the community. The graduates of this program are eligible for loans from a revolving loan fund 

created by several local banks. Maximum loans are for 

$6,000, which must be repaid into the fund within 

36 months. Working Smart training is administered 

13 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

by the Total Redectication and Commitment smallbusiness trainjng firm. To date, graduates have begun 

hair-braiding and moving services, as well as other 

businesses. 

For more information on Working Smart, contact Pllil 

Ryan, at 615-252-8505. 

One-Stop Capital Shop Serves 580 in 

First 5 Months 

Oakland, California, Enhanced Enterprise Community 

Since the Oakland One-Stop Capital Shop (OSCS) 

opened its doors on December 5, 1996, some 580 

entrepreneurs, business representatives, and community 

residents have received assistance. Of that total, 400 

were startups, either new or with less than 2 years in 

business. To meet the demands for technical information, OSCS staff developed a startup kit with valuable 

information, inducting detailed issues an entrepreneur 

should research when preparing a business plan, how 

to prepare financial statements, useful information on 

financing the startup business, and telephone numbers 

of the various government agencies that regulate smallbusiness activi.ties. Clients are referred either to the 

Small Business Administration Business Information 

Center to complete additional research or to Service 

Corps of Retired Executives Association (SCORE) 

counselors for consulting services. Existing businesses 

are referred to the East Bay Small Business 

Development Center (EBSBDC) for assistance. In 

March, the OSCS Entrepreneur Training Center began 

its workshop series, offering a variety of seminars, 

inclucting Pre-Business Planning, Federal/State and 

Local Contracting, and Y\'hat To Do Y\'hen Your 

Banker Says You Have Bad Credit. Information about 

the workshops is included in a monthly publication, 

which is mailed and ctistributed throughout Oakland. 

The workshops are sponsored in partnership with 

SCORE and EBSBDC. Staff are currently preparing to 

clisburse approximately $22 million in HUD Section 

108/EDI funds to nine major economic development 

flagship projects. 

For mOre information, contact Jean B. Johnson-Fields, 

at 510-238-6459. 

Micro-Enterprise Development Program 

Disburses $200,000 in Microloans 

Omaha, Nebraska, Enterprise Community 

In July 1994, the new community development 

corporation organized the city of Omaha's first microenterprise development program. The purpose of this 

program was to provide training, microloans, and management and technical assistance for microemerprises 

and entrepreneurs. Since the inception of this project, 

more than 130 businesses and individuals have received 

training in microbusiness management. In addition, 

14 microloans for $50,000 have been djsbursed, and 

24 jobs have been created or retained. Based on 

the success of this program, the Omaha Enterprise 

Community association board approved an additional 

$47,355 in new funding. These funds will be used as a 

loan loss reserve fund to leverage adclitional loans and 

financing from area banks. Based on past experiences, 

NCDC is projecting that this grant will leverage an 

additional $150,000 in loans for microbusiness startups and expansions. These rrucroenterprises will 

create and sustain 50 new employment positions in 

the EZ/ EC neighborhoods. 

For more information, contact Scott Knudsen, at 

402-444-5381. 

Springfield Working Capital Offers Largest 

Peer Lending Program With 141 Members 

Springfield, Massachusetts, Enterprise Community 

Springfield Working Capital is a local peer lencting 

group that has clistributed more than 19 business 

loans. The program organizes local entrepreneurs into 

14 

What Works! Economic Development 

groups that evaluate one another's business plans and 

approve loans to each other. In less than a year, the 

program has grown to the largest of its kind in the 

country-41 active members participate in Springfield 

Working Capital. The mayor recently presented a 

$10,000 EC check to successfuJly guide the program 

into the next fiscal year. The Springfield EC, the State 

Office of Economic Development's Office of Minority 

Business Development, and Working Capital (a 

Cambridge-based nonprofit), all contributed funds 

to the venture. 

For more information, contact Tom Morrow, Director 

of Springfield Working Capital, at 413-781-5640. 

27 New Businesses Started Through Good 

Faith Microloan 

Tampa/ Florida/ Enterprise Community 

Modeled after a microloan program designed by thenGovernor Bill Clinton in Arkansas, Good Faith was 

initiated to assist small- to medium-sized businesses 

that have little or no prior experience in obtaining 

commercial bank loans. To be eligible for a microloan, 

a business must be located inside the EC service area 

and operate on a full-time basis. Loan proceeds may be 

used for working capital, facade improvements, plant 

expansion, equipment purchases, and any appropriate 

business need approved by the partnership or the city 

of Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency. 

Under the program, loan applicants receive assistance 

at both the pre application and postapplication stages. 

Before applying, applicants pay a $50 application fee 

and must complete 15 hours of business consultation, 

meeting with a counselor to assess the viability of the 

business and to receive financial advice. Applicants 

must then submit a detailed business plan with their 

application. This business plan forms the basis for the 

loan decision. 

After they are accepted for a loan, participants are 

required to attend a Borrowers Group once a month 

to share with other business owners their successes and 

frustrations, such as problems with vendors, insurers, 

and customers. During the meetings, Good Faith also 

brings in guest speakers to discuss good business practice and techniques. Recognizing that payment into the 

program can be a powerfu~ source of motivation, each 

borrower is required to pay $100 for training and to 

finance 2 percent of the total project costs. 

Twenty-seven ~oans have been approved since March 

1996, with an average loan amount of $15,000. The 

businesses deve~oped include five restaurants, three 

retail stores, an electronic distribution store, computer 

consu~tants and services, immigration services, an 

emp~oyment agency, and an insurance company. 

Currently one- half of the ~oan recipients are existing 

businesses that financed an expansion, and the remaining half are startup businesses. To date, Good Faith 

businesses have employed almost 50 EC residents and 

the program expects to continue growing. 

The Good Faith microloan pool was funded by 

$400,000 in Enterprise Community funds . In addition, 

the program leveraged $393,750 from the city of 

Tampa . 

For more information, contact Ben Stevenson, Tampa 

Urban Planning Supervisor and EZ/ EC Executive 

Director, at 813-242-5359. 

Rural Communities 

Central Appalachian People's Federal Credit 

Union Provides Affordable Financial Services 

Kentucky Highlands/ Kentucky/ Empowerment Zone 

The Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone 

(KHEZ) has awarded $175,000 in equity to the 

Central Appalachian People's Federal Credit Union to 

help them open a branch in Jackson County. The credit 

union provides alternative affordable financial services 

to low-income individuals, financial counseling, consumer education, and a cooperative philosophy for 

their membership. The Empowerment Zone funds 

will be used to finance startup operations ($75,000 ) 

and for equity ($100,000). 

15 

Empowerment lones and Enterprise Communities 

Development Venture Capital fund Invests 

$10 Million 

Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone 

The Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone 

(KHEZ) has established a Development Venture 

Capital Fund, which is designed to fill gaps or areas 

that private and/or public sources are unwilling to 

fill for Zone businesses and startups. Managed by a 

Loan Review Committee, 75 percent of whose members are Zone residents, the fund has approved five 

Empowerment Zone investments totaling $3.1 million. 

This amount is in addition to $6.6 million in private 

capital. The new ventures receiving loan funds have 

already created 156 jobs, with another 103 committed 

for this year. 

For more information about Kentucky's programs, 

contact James Letcher, Kentucky Rural Development 

Coordinator, at 606-224-7336. 

The One-Stop Capital Shop Provides Business 

Assistance and Capital 

Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

The Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone (RGVEZ) 

has announced plans to open a One-Stop Capital Shop 

which will provide business assistance and capital to 

create, retain, and increase businesses and jobs. 

The University of Texas-Pan American Center for 

Entrepreneurship and Economic Development 

(CEED), a community-based organization \vith extensive economic development experience and a working 

knowledge of available local, State, and Federal government assistance, serves as the management team. 

CEED will provide concentrated business technical 

assistance and counseling to individuals and businesses 

in the Zone by coordinating efforts with the following 

service providers: Small Business Administration (SBA), 

Small Business Development Center, Business 

Information Center, SCORE, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) Rural Economic and Community 

Development Office, the Export Assistance Center, 

local 7(a ) lenders, and Community Development companies. The main office will be in Edinburg, with satellites in all Zone communities. The Zone leveraged 

funding from the foHowing sources: $80,000 in 

equipment and $900,000 for operations over a 5-year 

period from SBA and $450,000 for maintenance of the 

facilities from the University of Texas- Pan American 

Center. 

Rural One-Stop Capital Shops have also been implemented successfully in the Southeast Oklahoma EC 

and the Kentucky Highlands EZ. 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

Growing New Businesses 


Urban Communities 

Business Empowerment Center Will Reach 

300 Businesses in 2 Years 

Baltimore, Maryland, Empowerment Zone 

The Business Empowerment Center (BEC) provides 

access to capital and specialized training and technical 

assistance (marketing, entrepreneurship training, etc.) 

specifically for EZ-based businesses and residents. The 

$2.9 million project will be funded in part by an EZ 

grant of $1.35 million, with the remainder from 

SBA, the Minority Business Development Agency, 

NationsBank, Bell Atlantic, and several local colleges 

and universities. SBA also has a One-Stop Capital 

Shop, and an Employ Baltimore Satellite office will 

soon col ocate in the center. BEC will reach 300 businesses and entrepreneurs in the first 2 years of operation. BEC opened in July 1996 in a city-owned 

building. 

For more information about Business Empowerment 

Centers, contact Diane Bell, Empowerment Baltimore 

Management Corporation, at 410-783-4400. 

16 

What Works! Economic Development 

BankBoston's Small Business Program 

Trains New Business Owners and 

Provides Computers 

Boston, Massachusetts, Enhanced Enterprise 

Community 

BankBoston's First Community Bank, in conjunction 

with the city of Boston's Empowerment Training 

Center and the Minority Business Assistance Center 

at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, recently 

announced the sponsorship of "Managing the Growth 

of Your Business," a 20-week educational program for 

small-business owners. Participants can expect to walk 

away from the program with a newly drafted business 

plan, as well as access to an ongoing reference center to 

be used as their businesses continue to grow. In adclition, BankBoston will provide each graduate with 

a personal computer, preloaded with the most widely 

used accounting software for small businesses. In addition to the computers, First Community Bank/Bank 

of Boston will provide the initial funding for the 

program, input on the curriculum, and banking and 

business development professionals for appropriate 

presentations. The University of Massachusetts-Boston 

Minority Business Assistance Center will develop the 

curriculum and provide a number of the instructors for 

the program, and the Empowerment Training Center 

will provide facilities and recruitment assistance. 

For more information, contact Teresa Perlstein of 

BankBoston, at 617-788-781 7, or Bernard Brown of 

First Community Bank, at 617-434-7336. 

Niagara Street Market Provides Space for 

30 Small Business Owners 

Buffalo, New York, Enterprise Community 

A shortage of affordable retail space in the Buffalo area 

for small businesses spurred the creation of the weekend Niagara Street Market for small vendors (pushcart 

vendors and small farmers). The market is a partnership 

between a nonprofit community development corporation and a long-time Lower West Side business to 

create an open air market on Niagara and Maryland 

streets. An agreement has been reached with Sammy's 

Automotive to permit use of the site for 12 years 

in exchange for site improvements. The market had its 

grand opening in June 1996 and operates on Saturdays 

between May and October. More than 30 vendors 

locate in the market. Vendors are chosen based on 

residency and product mix, and pay a minimal fee of 

$30 for the sale offood items and $15 for nonfood 

items. It is intended that at least one- half of the vendors are from the local area so that dollars generated in 

the market will stay in the area economy. Local resident 

Angel Clauclio sells his woodworking along with new 

and used items at reasonable prices at his stand, Angel 

Craft. Dawn Pastva sells handcrafted jewelry, floral 

arrangements, cards, perfumes, soaps, and other handicrafts at her shop, Shooting Star. As reported in the 

Buffalo Alternative Free Press, the market is used as a 

place to incubate new businesses. Most of the vendors 

are frrst-time business owners. Eventually, the market 

hopes to expand to 2 days per week and to operate 

year-round with an inside venue for the winter months. 

The Niagara Street Market is funded with $75 ,000 in 

CDBG funds and is coordinated in cooperation with 

the city of Buffalo and Federal Enterprise Community. 

For more information about the Niagara Street Market, 

contact Paula Rosner, Buffalo Enterprise Development 

Corporation, at 716-842-6923. 

Small Business Development Center Assists 

2S Resident Entrepreneurs 

East Sf. louis, Missouri, Enterprise Community 

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has 

been the first success of East St. Louis EC's Vision 

20/ 20 Strategic Plan. The project has assisted more 

than 25 EC residents in acquiring the necessary knowledge of how to start and maintain their own business. 

The first four loans were approved and those businesses began operation during the spring and summer 

of 1996. One of those businesses is returning to the 

community after a hiatus of 20 years. To date, SBDC 

has conducted two workshops with an average attendance of 30 people . Of those attending the workshops, 

17 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

11 have applied for business loans. SBDC is working 

closely with local lenders to ensure that applicants are 

treated fairly and equitably. 

For more information about SBDC, contact Percy 

Harris, at 618-483-6644. 

Unlimited Future, Inc., Is the Only Small 

Business Incubator To Offer Four Key Elements 

Huntington, West Virginia, Enterprise Community 

UnJimited Future, Inc. (UFJ), a local nonprofit organization, was established to assist and promote businesses 

that are sociaHy, economically, and physica.lly disadvantaged. UFI is recognized by the Ford Foundation as 

the only small business incubator in the Nation to 

offer the four elements of office space, personal business counseling, the Fast-Trac business course, and 

access to capital financing within the same facility. With 

the assistance of $250,000 in EC funds, UFI purchased and renovated its facility to decrease overhead 

expenses and expand its ongoing technical assistance to 

small business entrepreneurs. One of the technical 

assistance elements includes Going Into Business, a 

12-week Fast-Trac II course for potential entrepreneurs. UFI recently began its fourth session of FastTrac II and is looking to further expand its facility to 

accommodate more tenants. Nearly 20 small businesses have been initiated since UFI's inception. 

For more information, contact Tom Bell, Executive 

Director of UFI, at 304-697-3007. 

Business Resource and Investment Service 

(enter Serves More Than 400 (lients 

New York, New York, Empowerment Zone 

The Business Resource and Investment Service Center 

(BRlSC) is designed to stimulate economic growth by 

providing capital and business expertise to small 

and/ or growing ventures in the Zone using the OneStop Capital Shop model. The center comprises bank 

lenders, SBA, and equity and technical assistance equity 

providers. BRISC is anticipated to be funded by leveraging Title XX funds against other public, private, and 

nonprofit resources. 

Since September 1996, BRISC staff has met \vith more 

than 400 clients and has formed partnerships with 

numerous technical assistance and capital access 

providers, including the Harlem Loan Fund, Pace 

Small Business Development Center, Budget Credit 

and Counseling Services, and SCORE. These colocators have also been meeting with clients and assisting 

them with their needs. 

BRlSC has cosponsored four small business information seminars with local banks to introduce BRISC and 

its services to the community. BRlSC has an investment fund of $500,000 targeted to small businesses 

that need $25,000 to $200,000. The center can provide direct loans, leverage other lenders' financing, or 

provide equity. Education and training is also at the 

forefront of the services BRISC provides. 

For more information, contact Herman Velazquez, 

Executive Director, or AJisa Joseph, Deputy Director, 

at 212-866-5640 . 

Small Business Development (enter Business 

Information (enter Targets Womenand Minority-Owned Businesses 

Providence, Rhode Island, Enterprise Community 

The Rhode Island Small Business Development Center 

(SBDC) EC Business Information Center (BIC) provides technical support services to small businesses 

located within the Providence EC, with a specific foClls 

18 

What Works! Economic Development 

on women- and minority-owned businesses. BIC is the 

resuJt of an innovative coLlaboration between Bryant 

College (administrator of the Rhode Island SBDC), 

SBA, Rhode Island Hospital Trust NationaJ Bank, and 

The Providence Plan (lead agent for the Providence 

EC). In addition to being the first BIC nationaLly to 

be located in an EC neighborhood, the Providence 

BIC is characterized by a comprehensive array of business software and consulting services designed to 

increase business opportunities in the EC. 

In its first year of operation, BIC appears to have 

quickly made an impact on the community. One indicator has been the amount of funds leveraged by the 

initiaJ aJlocation of $147,375 in EC funds . To date, a 

total of $869,595 has been leveraged through program 

funds and successful loan approvaJs for BIC-assisted 

businesses. According to the SBA Providence district 

office, loan volume to minority-owned businesses has 

increased 150 percent over the prior year, attributed 

directly to BIe. Also, since its opening in May, more 

than 700 people have come through and utilized BIC 

resources. More than 150 businesses or entrepreneurs 

have received some form of consulting services, equivalent to more than 1,062 consulting hours at no charge 

to the client. From the standpoint of diversity, 48 of 

these businesses or startups are women owned and 98 

are minority owned. In addition to providing access to 

technicaJ assistance and consulting services, BIC has 

assisted 35 businesses and entrepreneurs with loan 

packaging. Twelve of these businesses were successful 

in obtaining financing, estimated at $516,000 in total 

loans. 

For more information, please contact Patrick 

McGuigan or Joe Montiero, Providence Plan, at 

401-455-8880. 

Rural Communities 


Port Isabel Historical Museum Opens 

Rio Grande Volley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

On May 24, 1997, the Port Isabel HistoricaJ Museum, 

located in the Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone 

(RGVEZ), will celebrate its grand opening. The museum, housed in the historic Champion building, is one 

of the oldest standing structures in Port Isabel, dating 

back to the 1890s. The museum is a combined effort 

of the city of Port Isabel and RGVEZ. During the 

opening ceremony, a reenactment of a MexicanAmerican War encampment will be presented. Exhibits 

that tell the story of the Port Isabel area, from which 

both the first volley of the Mexican-American War and 

the last shot of the American Civil War were fired, will 

aJso be presented. The city of Port Isabel expects the 

museum to be a great success arid a welcome asset to 

the cultural and historical tradition of the region . 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252 . 

Hugo Heritage Train and Railroad Museum 

Supports Tourism 

Southeast Oklahoma, Oklahoma, 

Enterprise Community 

The Southeast Oklahoma Enterprise Community 

described tourism as a key element in its economic 

and social revitaJization efforts. David Davies, former 

director of tourism and parks for the State of 

Oklahoma, was named tourism director and immediately went to work to establish partnerships. 

The partnerships established include the Little Dixie 

Community Action Agency (the lead entity for the EC) 

and the Choctaw County Historical Society for the 

operation of the Hugo Heritage Train and Hugo 

Railroad Museum and Depot. Southeast Oklahoma, 

the lead entity, the city of Hugo, and the U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers aJso entered into a partnership for 

the lease of a corps park on Lake Hugo. 

Equally important in the partnership effort was the 

Rural Business Enterprise Grant that made it possible 

19 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

to establish the Lake Hugo Marina. Future plans 

include a motel that will complement the tourism 

theme that is being crafted as a result of the strategic 

plan envisioned by the residents of Southeast 

Oklahoma Enterprise Community. 

For more information, contact Paul Buzbee, Rural 

Coorclinator, at 405-326-3351. 

Minority Business Opportunil'ies (enter Assists 

Formation of Minority-Owned Businesses 

Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

The Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone will coorclinate with CEED, the current management team for 

RGVEZ's One-Stop Capital Shop, to establish and 

manage the Minority Business Opportunity Center 

(MBOC). MBOC will obtain reliable information, 

which can be of assistance to the development and 

implementation of strategies and activities to assist in 

the formation, development, and growth of minorityowned businesses in southern Texas. At the conclusion 

of the project, a report will be given to the Minority 

Business Development Agency (MBDA) and will contain recommendations for facilitating the creation and 

expansion of minority-owned businesses in southern 

Texas. This program is fully funded by MBDA for 

$200,000. 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

Laguna Madre Enterprise (enter Provides 

Space for Startups 

Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

A small business incubator in the Rio Grande Valley 

Empowerment Zone has been approved by the board 

of directors and architectural plans are currently under 

way. This project will provide five to seven adclitional 

locations for small business startup or expansions. The 

23,OOO-square-foot building includes office, warehouse, and manufacturing space. The Laguna Madre/ 

Hidalgo County Subzone has leveraged in-kind contributions provided by the Navigation District for land, 

building maintenance and repairs, building insurance, 

and donated materials for construction that are valued 

at approximately $134,225. 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

20 

Job Readiness 

Community empowerment starts with the citizens. Local residents are the most valuable and 

accessible resources for employers in the communities. Job-training programs have become a 

priority through Els and ECs, which recognize 

that preparing residents for employment directly 

supports the success of local businesses. Some 

programs focus solely on job training, with specific concentration on the expanding industries 

of construction and healthcare, while others 

provide vocational mentorship opportunities in 

skilled-trades apprenticeships. Finally, some 

training programs combine the necessary 

employment preparation, as well as educational and social-support services, with the crucial 

recognition that performing a job requires timemanagement and general life skills, in addition 

to a trade skill. 

Preparing citizens to work is a goal of many 

EI/ECs. Highlighted below are some successful 

ways that the EI/ECs are achieving the goal 

by increasing the job readiness in their areas. 

What Works! Job Readiness 

Urban Communities 

West Enterprise Area Offers Computer Training 

Charlotte, North Carolina, Enterprise Community 

Charlotte's West Enterprise Community has conducted 

its first computer-training program to teach EC residents basic word-processing skills. This 8-week training 

course equips EC residents with skills to compete in 

the workplace. Once students successfully complete 

the training, My Personal Secretary (MPS), a minority 

entrepreneur, places the individuals in jobs paying a 

minimum of $8 an hour, where the learned skills can 

be utilized. At present, 12 students will graduate and 

be placed in jobs demanding their services. Encoding 

is another training module that is taught to individuals 

seeking entry-level employment in the banking industry. Because Charlotte is known for its banking and 

financial centers, the West EC will continue to offer 

this type of job training. 

For more information about the West Enterprise Area 

Training, contact Sharlene Abbott, Charlotte EC, at 

704-336-5577. 

Construction Trades Apprenticeship Program 

Trains 45 EC Residents 

Charlotte, North Carolina, Enterprise Community 

The Charlotte, North Carolina, Enterprise Community 

continues to take positive strides toward preparing residents and linking them to jobs. A partnership between 

the city of Charlotte, the North Carolina Home Builders Association, and the North Carolina Housing 

Finance Agency trains individuals in a 7 -week 

(280 hours) construction apprenticeship program 

and provides them with the opportunity for certification and employment in the carpentry trades. A private 

organization, the North Carolina Home Builders 

Association, trains participants in the construction 

trades to increase their basic skills and qualify them 

for higher paying jobs. This preemployment course 

allows individuals to learn on the job, and students 

gain exposure by applying the applications and techniques learned. Through this partnership, Charlotte 

EC has successfully trained more than 45 students 

and will create 40 or more jobs. 

For more information about the Construction Trades 

Apprenticeship program, contact Sharlene Abbott, 

Charlotte EC, at 704-336-5577. 

NASA Supports SEZ Businesses and Youth 

Cleveland, Ohio, Supplemental Empowerment Zone 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

(NASA) has agreed to share its technology with small 

businesses and introduce a small piece of outer space 

to youth in the Cleveland SEZ. Under the 9-year 

agreement, NASA will transfer its science, computer, 

and math expertise to Zone businesses, enhancing 

small businesses with computer training and accounting 

software. NASA will also bring a MobiJe Aeronautics 

Education Laboratory to the Fairfax, Glenville, and 

Hough SEZ neighborhoods. The mobile lab is a 

55-foot classroom trailer, complete with a wind 

tunnel, flight simulator, virtual reality station, and 

other intriguing equipment to spark youth interest in 

science. NASA wiJl offer specialized science training to 

public school teachers, donate 100 computers to nonprofits and schools, and set aside internships for SEZ 

youth. 

For more information about the Cleveland SEZ, 

contact India Lee, Cleveland SEZ, at 216-664-3083 . 

23 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

Kirke-Van Orsdel Sets Up Recruitment 

Program Targeted to EC Residents 

Des Moines, Iowa, Enterprise Community 

To provide more socioeconomic opportunities in the 

EC, the Chamber Federation formed a task force made 

up of CEOs and vice presidents to recruit businesses 

to relocate or set up offices in the EC and to hire EC 

residents. 

Recently, Kirke-Van Orsdel Incorporated became the 

first company in Iowa to become involved in the program. The insurance company has agreed to take part 

in a pilot project that \vill train three or four individuals to process insurance claims. There will be a 6-week 

paid training program at the company's River Point 

office, and after training is completed, an office will 

be set up within the EC. Steve Kirke set up an office 

branch with 4 to 5 people, and since its opening it has 

grown to more than 35 employees. Kirke hopes to 

expand in the EC as he did in the Perry location, 

employing 12 people in the new office by late spring. 

Of the program, Kirke said, "Perhaps our most important objective is to show the people that if we can do 

it, so can they." 

In addition to training, Kirke has set up an agreement 

with Mercy Hospital to offer medical care to participants and their families. The program is free to 

participants and uses no funds from the EC. 

For more information, contact Kathy Kafela, city of 

Des Moines, at 515-283-4151. 

New Beginnings To Create 

1,000 Healthc:are Jobs 

Detroit, Michigan, Empowerment Zone 

New Beginnings is a collaborative effort to provide 

employment and educational training in the grmving 

field of healthcare services. Residents of the lower 

Woodward Corridor will be enroLled in allied health 

technical coursework that leads to an associate degree 

in nursing, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, or 

pharmacy. Program participants will attend school 

while employed in a healthcare environment. 

New Beginnings' overall objective is to provide medical 

training and employment for 1,000 persons over a 

7 -year period. In its first year, the program has 

40 residents enrolled in community college and 

employed full-time in the health field . New Beginnings 

has helped to change the direction of people's lives. 

New Beginnings participants, who are required to live 

in the Woodward Corridor neighborhood in the Zone, 

begin with a 12-week program that focuses on math, 

science, reading, and critical thinking. The courses are 

intended to prepare participants for jobs as technicians 

or aides in pharmacy, nursing, and respiratory and 

physical therapy. Project Manager Cheryl Slaughter 

said the program has helped welfare recipients find 

jobs and raised the earning potential of unskilled 

workers in the Zone. New Beginnings partners 

include the Detroit Medical Center; Henry Ford 

Health Systems; St. John Health System; Neighborhood and Family Initiative; the Community 

Foundation for Southeastern Michigan; and the city 

of Detroit, Office of Employment and Training. 

New Beginnings has leveraged $1.5 million in city and 

private funds on a Federal commitment of $750,000. 

For more information, contact Cheryl Slaughter, 

Detroit Medical Center, at 313-966-7495 . 

Ufe Skills Programs Support Transition 

to Work 

Houston, Texas, Enhanced Enterprise Community 

Recognizing the difficulty that many residents have 

transitioning to work, the Houston EEC dedicated 

$500,000 (50 percent Social Services Block Grant 

[SSBG], 50 percent in-kind ) to fund life-skills training 

for a period of 3 years offered at various locations 

within the EEC boundaries. 

The Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View 

A&M University and the Community Revitalization 

Corporation focus on developing life-skills proficiency 

in many areas such as etiquette and social skills, drama 

and creative arts, cultural diversity, consumer skills, 

mentor training, career awareness, and youth leadership. Youth also participate in a summer camping 

program, a career awareness and youth leadership 

laboratory event, and a teen health symposium. 

Parental participation is expected. 

For more information about the Life Skills programs 

in Houston, contact Judith Butler, Mayor'S Office, at 

713-247-2666. 

24 

What Works! Job Readiness 

Keyboards to Success Offers Simulated 

Office Experience 

Kansas City, Kansas, Enhanced Enterprise Community 

A 12-week program of computer training and childdevelopment education is now being offered to residents of the Kansas City, Kansas, Enhanced Enterprise 

Community (EEC). El Centro, Inc., and Heart of 

America Family Services received a Title XX grant of 

$258,680 from the Enhanced Enterprise Community 

Committee in February 1996 to expand a computer 

job-training program and to develop chiJdcare training. 

Keyboards to Success is designed to prepare all of its 

graduates to enter the competitive workforce . This 

goal is made possible by simulating an office environment and by requiring professional dress, punctuality, 

and daily attendance. EEC residents who are seeking 

full -time employment in the banking, administrative, 

clerical, or computer fields are eligible to participate. 

Keyboards to Success is different from other traditional 

computer courses because participants receive training 

in an environment with access to case management, 

emergency assistance, and limited transportation 

support. 

All Keyboards to Success participants are taught on 

state-of-the-art equipment. Students often come with 

limited or no computer experience and leave the program proficient in two or three software programs, 

such as WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, and Excel. In 

many cases, nonprofit training programs are limited 

to computer equipment and software because of the 

limited resources. A guiding principle of this program 

is that residents of the EEC must be provided \-vith 

relevant training. 

Since El Centro opened the program in July, 18 residents have graduated and 6 were placed in unsubsidized jobs averaging $7.77 per hour. 

For more information about programs in Kansas City, 

contact Cal Bender of MARC, at 816-474-4240. 

Building for the Future Trains Inmates in 

Housing Construction 

Memphis/Shelby County, Tennessee, 

Enterprise Community 

In Memphis/ Shelby County, incarcerated yo ung men 

are being trained and given work experience in building modular panels and Habitat for Humanity houses. 

The panel plant began production in February 1996. 

The quality is such that other builders in addition to 

Habitat want to purchase them. One person who 

was recently released bought a home that he helped 

construct. 

The people in this program are taught skills that will 

allow them to find and retain jobs upon release from 

prison. One program graduate, a young inmate, was 

quoted as being grateful that he could give something 

back to the community. Although the projection for 

the program was to graduate one class of 12 to 16 participants by August, the program actually trained and 

placed 24 inmates in construction. 

Building for the Future (BFF) is a collaborative partnership that includes several entities: the city of 

Memphis Division of Housing and Community 

Development, Memphis City Schools, County Office 

of Public Defenders, Center for Neighborhoods, 

Habitat for Humanity, and Neighborhood Housing 

Opportunities. The mission behind the effort is to 

2S 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

recruit incarcerated volunteers to do two things: to 

create affordable housing for low- and moderateincome families and to gain employable skills before 

release. The program includes mentoring and job 

placement. BFF will also provide volunteers to build 

homes in the EC. The project includes five homes 

being contracted by Habitat for Humanity and is 

funded in part by Community Development Block 

Grants and the city of Memphis Enterprise Community. 

For more information, contact Vernua Henrahan, the 

Memphis Enterprise Community, at 901-526-6627. 

Jayhawk Computer Repair Trains Residents 

as Technician Assistants 

Memphis! Tennessee! Enterprise Community 

The Jayhawk Computer Repair Technician Assistant 

Program is designed to equip successful graduates 

with the skills necessary to secure employment with 

local companies. The goal of this creative partnership 

between employers and the community is to train 

people in the computer-repair field to secure good, 

paying jobs with benefits. The Computer Repair 

Technician Assistant Program is a 12-week course. 

The first 2 weeks of the training provide an orientation 

to the fundamentals of computer repair in a classroom 

setting. The remaining 10 weeks com bine classroom 

instruction with work-based training. The work-based 

training allows srudents to practice the skills taught in 

the classroom and be paid for the factory experience. 

The first class of 16 people is expected to graduate in 

April 1997. 

For more information, contact Bob Zachary at 

901-775-7300. 

40 Youth Run Their Own Store at Phillips 

Youth Enterprise Center 

Minneapolis! Minnesota! Enterprise Community 

In response to community requests for a more focused 

youth assistance program, and developed in consultation with the Enterprise Community's Teen Advisory 

Board, the Phillips Center was designed to provide 

economical.ly disadvantaged teens in the EC with 

entrepreneurial training. From inside the center, a 

youth-run City Store sells items donated from the 

property and evidence department of the Minneapolis 

Police Department. 

Forty youth are currently involved in the project under 

the leadership of four AmeriCorps volunteers. 

Participants range from 12-year-olds to high school 

seniors. Many of the students receive academic credit 

for their involvement with the program. Beginning in 

October, City Store will train and employ 12 youth in 

a retail store setting. Because the city of Minneapolis' 

funding is restricted to services only, EC funds alone 

enabled the city of Minneapolis to purchase and rehabilitate a building to house the store. 

For more information about the Phillips Center, 

contact Matt Bower, Office of Grants and Special 

Projects, city of Minneapolis, at 612-673-2188 . 

Youth Skilled Trades Initiative Offers Career 

Counseling to 1,500 Youth 

Minneapolis! Minnesota! Enterprise Community 

The Youth Ski.lJed Trades Initiative offers counseling 

beginning in junior high school to srudents interested 

in apprenticeships in the skilled crafts. The Initiative 

offers case management for srudents in selecting their 

high school classes, in acquiring skills training at the 

post-secondary level, and in obtaining summer internships related to their job interests. To date, the program has made presentations to 1,500 youth in the 

EC. Career development workshops were attended 

by 130 students, and 52 completed the skilled trades 

assessment test. In May, 10 youth began 10-week 

apprenticeships. In addition to participating high 

schools, the Initiative also works with the Minneapolis 

Urban League, the Minneapolis Building & Construction 

Trades Council, Hoffinan Engineering, Minneapolis 

Technical College, Minntech Corporation, and 

Stremel Manufacturing. 

For more information about the Youth Skilled Trades 

Initiative, contact Ken Brunsvold, Office of Grants and 

Special Projects, at 612-673-2348 . 

Urban Apprenticeship Program Offers 

Training to 200 Participants and Finds 

More Than 200 Jobs 

Norfolk! Virginia! Enterprise Community 

Norfolk Works, Inc., developed a program that provides a comprehensive combination of individua.lized 

career plans, academic classes, and job training to EC 

residents willing to make a long-term commitment to 

improving their employment skills. The first phase of 

training is a 10-week, 2-nights-per-week course that 

covers life skills, interview techniques, motivation, 

business attire, and other job-readiness issues. The 

26 

What Works! Job Readiness 

Urban Apprenticeship Program (UAP) has conducted 

15 classes to date, reaching nearly 200 participants. In 

addition, a series of luncheons with private-sector executives helps inform the business community about the 

UAP and lays the groundwork for obtaining privatesector commitments to hire graduates of the UAP. To 

date, more than 200 jobs have been committed. 

For more information, contact Eleanor Bradshaw, 

Executive Director, Norfolk Works, Inc., at 

757-624-8650. 

Second Chance Provides Job Training to 

73 Homeless Men 

Son Diego, California, Enterprise Community 

The Second Chance nonprofit offers innovative solutions to homeless ness and urban deterioration. Second 

Chance creates jobs and housing opportunities for 

homeless people through neighborhood revitalization, 

property renovation, and microenterprise development. 

By partnering with businesses, communjty organizations, and support-service agencies, Second Chance 

provides job training; employment placement; and 

affordable, drug- and alcohol-free housing to participants as they rebuild their lives. Second Chance trains 

and employs homeless individuals on property reclamation projects and in the operation of small businesses 

such as advertising specialties and flower carts. Second 

Chance offers valuable job experience and contacts 

for the homeless whjle assisting property owners with 

neighborhood improvement. 

More than 100 people have participated in the Second 

Chance program, and people have been placed in permanent positions with such companjes as Hyatt Hotels, 

La Valencia Hotel, Heritage Security, Point Loma 

Convalescent, and R.L. Electric. Second Chance has 

reclaimed and revitilized 8 housing projects throughout San Diego, creating more than 220 affordable 

housing units and employing more than 100 formerly 

homeless people in the process. 

This program is funded with $158,586 in .Federal 

Enterprise Community funds, 75 percent of which goes 

to fund the salaries of the participants and of the supervisor who gets the workers to the job, supports them 

throughout the placement, and ajds them in the transition to permanent employment. EC funds have allowed 

for job-readiness training to 73 homeless men, of 

whom 41 obtained jobs before or after training. In 

addition, 30 are still employed and 10 have passed the 

6-month mark. 

For more information on Second Chance, contact 

Scott Silverman, Director, at 619-239-1003. 

FAST TRACK LA Job and Skills Training 

Program Places 160 Participants 

South Central Los Angeles, California, 

Enterprise Community 

FAST TRACK LA continues to maintain a significant 

success rate in job placement for its graduates and continues to prepare its students for rugher education. In 

the 1996-97 fiscal year, $45,000 from the EC Title XX 

funds was used to fund a special job- and skills-training 

program. With successful results, FAST TRACK has 

trained more than 212 people with 160 people securing employment. For the 1997-98 fiscal year, approxjmately $300,000 in additional funding for the agency 

will come from other public and private agencies. 

For more information, contact Tim Anusiem, city of 

Huntington Park, at 213-584-6258 

Cornerstone Partnership Provides 1SO EC 

Residents With Marketable Skills 

Sf. Louis, Missouri, Enterprise Community 

The Cornerstone Partnersrup provides people with marketable skills and businesses with enhanced economic 

opportunities. Although there are several components 

27 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

to the services and training provided, the major focus 

is using state-of-the-art technology and processes to 

train youth and unemployed and welfare-receiving 

adults in the manufacturing/ engineering field. 

Cornerstone Partnership collaborated on the development of the curriculum with both industry and academic 

institutions to ensure responsiveness to the competitive 

demands of the marketplace. Massive early exposure to 

the technology in use at the center was brought to all 

middle school and junior high students in the EC 

through the use of a high-tech lab on wheels. 

As a welfare-to-work model, the focus is on those from 

infancy to adulthood. There is an onsite daycare facility 

for the children of participants, and the complex is 

located at the Wellston Metro Link station . Both of 

these features serve to remediate often-cited obstacles 

to employment: affordable, accessible childcare and 

transportation. This project has the broad-based support of $9 million from the private sector and Federal 

and local governments. EC funding of $150,000 is 

paying for 150 EC residents to enter and complete 

the training program. 

For more information, contact Dorothy Dailey, St. 

Louis Development Corporation, at 314-622-3400. 

Partnerships With Local Colleges Support 

Job Training 

Waco, Texas, Enterprise Community 

As part of the EC plan, local educational insti tutions 

have come together to formulate job-training opportunities in their neighborhoods. Three separate curricula 

will be offered as part of the program: computer training, carpentry, and small engine repair. These training 

courses are designed for EC residents and are intended 

to provide progressive steps for individuals to enter or 

reenter the job market with marketable skills. Partners 

in this effort include Mclennan Community College, 

Texas State Technical College, Heart of Texas Council 

of Governments, and Waco Independent School 

District. Each effort has involved financial leveraging 

and community-based planning. If the programs attract 

significant interest, the colleges intend to maintain the 

courses over the long run. 

For more information, contact Charles Daniels, city of 

Waco, at 817-750-5690. 

Rural Communities 

Jackson County Rehabilitation Industries, Inc., 

Offers Voca,tional Training and Creates Jobs 

Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone 

The Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone 

included in its Strategic Plan the establishment of 

two, 100-employee rehabilitation workshops to assist 

disabled workers in developing life and vocational 

skills training. The first workshop was opened in 

November 1995, and has grown to 19 employees. 

The workshop, currently manufacturing Marine Corps 

caps, moved to a newly constructed facility during the 

summer of 1996. This project includes $650,000 in 

Empowerment Zone funds and has received a 

Community Development Block Grant award of 

$300,000 from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 

For more information, contact James Letcher, 

Kentucky Rural Development Coordinator, at 

606-224-7336. 

28 

Job Linl<age 

Anyone who has ever looked for a job knows 

how difficult it may be to find one. Imagine the 

frustration that results when a job is available, 

but an individual lacks the resources to access 

that job. EZ/ECs are seeking to prevent that 

frustration by establishing Job Linkage programs. By providing job networks or electronic 

databases of opportunities, EZ/ECs strive to 

link their residents with gainful employment. In 

addition to providing a network of employment, 

Job Linkage programs provide job-assessment 

and counseling services to assist individuals in 

getting and keeping their newly acquired jobs. 

The EZ/ECs have been innovative and comprehensive in designing programs that succeed. 

The following are examples that show how 

EZ/EC residents have been linked with their 

jobs. 

What Works! Job Linkage 

Urban Con1munities 

Six Village Centers Offer One-Stop 

Services to Neighborhoods 

Baltimore, Maryland, Empowerment Zone 

Village Centers are community-based 501(c)3 nonprofit corporations seeded vvith Title XX funds to create 

job-ready individuals in the EZ neighborhoods. Each 

of the six Village Centers is a coalition of adjoining 

neighborhoods, local businesses, religious organizations, institutions, and agencies. These organizations 

provide access to the full range of neighborhood programs and services available to EZ residents, inducting 

job training, job placement, and neighborhood-specific 

services developed under the ctirection of the coalition. 

For more information about Village Centers, contact 

Diane Bell, Empower Baltimore Management 

Corporation, at 410- 783-4400. 

Job Resource Center Places 168 in Jobs and 

Will Place S99 by Year's End 

Charlotte, North Carolina, Enterprise Community 

The city of Charlotte's Job Resource Center ORC) 

has assisted in committing to place more than 599 

Enterprise Community neighborhood residents in jobs 

by December 31,1997, many of the jobs paying more 

than the minimum wage . Thus far this year, JRC has 

assisted 168 EC residents in obtaining jobs, inducting 

one person at $9 per hour, another at $20,000 (and 

benefits) per year, and another at $15 per hour. 

JRC has sponsored two job fairs at which Enterprise 

Community residents met with employers that had 

jobs available . Participants at one fair that had more 

than 100 employers and 2,000 attendees were also 

able to develop a resume and learn job-readiness skills. 

Seminars with inctividual employers have been held , 

resulting in direct placement of more than 200 people. 

JRC has organized a networking group of the local 

agencies, whose goals are training and placement, to 

meet monthly to share resources for placing people 

in jobs. 

Much of the recruitment for companies setting up in 

the EC, induding Eckerd, Exxon, Food Lion, and Tire 

Aid, will take place at the neighborhood centers. JRC 

has already begun neighborhood-level placement in 

three EC neighborhoods. 

For more information on JRC, contact Sharlene 

Abbott, Charlotte EC, at 704-336-5577. 

Job Match Will Place 3S0 in Jobs 

Cleveland, Ohio, Supplemental Empowerment Zone 

The Cleveland SEZ is funding a job-match program, 

which will place 350 Zone residents in jobs during its 

first year. The effort is being coordinated \vith the 

Hough Area Partners in Progress, the Glenville 

Development Corporation, the Fairfax Renaissance 

Development Corporation, and Vocational Guide 

Services. The program will serve the Glenville, Fairfax, 

and Hough neighborhoods. Residents in these three 

neighborhoods face unemployment rates of between 

50 and 60 percent. Vocational Guide Services is placing 

four-member teams in each neighborhood . Each team 

has a vocational case manager, job developer, and 

instructor to teach residents how to apply for and 

retain jobs. 

For more information, contact Inctia Lee, Cleveland 

SEZ, at 216-664- 3083. 

Columbus Employment Consortium Provides 

Job-Locator Service and Has Placed 

300 Residents 

Columbus, Ohio, Enterprise Community 

The Columbus Employment Consortium creates a 

central job locator for those seeking employment in 

the Enterprise Community ctistrict. Businesses give the 

central control agency information on job openings, 

and individuals are then placed in these openings. This 

job locator has been funded by a $290,000 Federal 

grant and $30,000 in State funds. It has exceeded its 

goal of placing 300 residents by June 1996. 

For more information, contact Jon Beard, Columbus 

Compact Corporation, at 614-251-0926. 

31 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

Community-Based Mobility Strategies 

Coordinates Transportation for Residents 

Detroit, Michigan, Empowerment Zone 

Through surveys and focus groups, this project identified the need to coordinate linkages to Detroit and 

suburban bus routes; connect major commercial, 

industrial, and service centers and employment 

concentrations in and near the Zone; and provide 

regular, dependable transportation for Zone residents. 

This project will design and implement an automated 

scheduling and dispatch system, a computer-controlled, 

demand-responsive service that will coordinate the 

services of the community-based transportation 

providers serving the Zone. A contractor has been 

selected to design the system. The project expects to 

complete design of the system soon and develop a 

strategy for funding and implementing it. 

For more information, contact John Slater at 

313-521-3030 or David Sanders at 313-961-2270. 

Nia Neighborhood Travel and Jobs Center 

Combines Training and Transport 

Louisville, Kentucky, Enterprise Community 

The Nia Neighborhood Travel and Jobs Center forms 

the Louisville Economic Opportunity Campus and is 

located adjacent to the Louisville Community 

Development Bank. The Nia Center will bring 

the LCDDB-Enterprise Group, the Workforce 

Development Partnership, the Small Business 

Information Center, and the Neighborhood Travel 

Center together in one location. Named for the principle of Kwanzaa meanin g purpose, the Nia Center wiU 

provide business-formation and development services, 

access to capital, workforce training, and expanded transit and paratransit services scheduled to open this fall. 

The Workforce Development Partnership designed its 

training model after visiting successful job-training sites 

across the country. It differs from other training programs by providing personalized job assessment, placement, and training at one location and focusing on 

high-skill, family-wage jobs in targeted industries. A 

network of committed employers who pledge real jobs 

will shape the training to ensure that it meets requirements so that candidates can be hired following completion of the training. 

Before renovation of the Nia Neighborhood and 

Travel Center is complete, a new transportation service 

will be offered that \vill increase access for EC residents 

to suburban employment centers. The "Nia Night 

Owl" is an 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. travel service that 

is customized to provide door-to-door service for 

EC residents so they can access second- and thirdshift employment opportunities throughout greater 

Louisville. The first services will provide transportation for 60 to 80 people. 

For more information, contact Carolyn Gatz, at 

502-574-4210. 

Business and Career Center Registers More 

Than 250 Residents for Online Job Listings 

St. Louis, Missouri, Enterprise Community 

The St. Louis EC Business and Career Center assists 

EC residents in self-evaluating their talents to determine how best to prepare for new careers and/ or to 

seize business opportunities. By the end of February, 

more than 250 residents had accessed the center's 

workstations to register with Missouri Works for State 

online job listings. More than 30 residents completed 

full work-experience assessments and evaluations. Four 

residents have found employment by participating in 

job assistance services. Nine businesses (five existing 

and four new) have used the center's services for 

developing business, capital, and financial plans. The 

center is also a business incubator that offers clerical, 

data-processing, and accounting services and support. 

The center receives $233,000 in EC funds and an 

additional $300,000 from various State and Federal 

government agencies and private sector support. 

For more information, contact Dorothy Dailey, St. 

Louis Development Corporation, at 314-622-3400. 

32 

What Works! Job Linkage 

50 EC Older Workers Find Jobs Through 

Working Seniors 

Tampa, Florida, Enterprise Community 

Working Seniors provides job referrals to older workers 

who want to work. Older workers who enroll receive 

diagnostic testing to determine their vocational interests. Before being referred to an employer who is 

hiring, the older worker can receive training in interviewing and completing a job application. They are 

referred to employers who are interested in hiring good 

workers regardless of age. To recruit older workers, 

Working Seniors posted billboard signs in the EZ area. 

They received 50 contacts, halfway to achieving their 

goal of placing 100 older workers in the EZ area. 

For more information, contact Ben Stevenson, city of 

Tampa, at 813-242-5359. 

Rural Communities 

Project VIDA Administers High-Skills 

Training Program 

Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

Project VIDA (Valley Initiative for Development and 

Advancement) in the Rio Grande Valley Empowerment 

Zone, is a high-skiHs training program administered by 

Valley Interfaith and modeled after Project Quest in 

San Antonio. This demonstration project establishes 

and will test new labor-market strategies to reconnect 

low-income unemployed individuals with quality jobs. 

It features a unique approach to engaging private 

employers, provides intensive skills training when 

appropriate, and models an enhanced service-delivery 

process based on a one-stop shopping approach 

designed to better serve both employers looking for 

qualified workers and individuals seeking a variety of 

labor-market services. As such, this demonstration represents a fundamental change in the way workforce services are planned and delivered in the local community. 

The demonstration will offer services encompassing the 

following eight components: employer services, outreach, recruitment, and referral; intake services and 

referral; direct employment services; employability 

development planning; personal counseling; participant 

support and maintenance; and long-term skills training 

and job planning. 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

33 


Family and Youth 

Development 

Investing in the future of the EI/ECs means 

investing in the children and the families that 

reside there. This function of the communities 

sets them apart from other economic development initiatives, because allocated funds are 

aimed solely at benefiting families and children 

within the Els or ECs. Along with SSBG funds, 

foundations and other private sources are 

providing youth programs, educational 

opportunities, and recreational activities to 

the children in these communities. With the 

knowledge that the well-being of children 

starts in the home, focus has also been given 

to building family support through school-based 

services, parenting classes, and family resource 

centers. Community centers offer job assistance, 

community safety, and social-support services. 

The EI/ECs take pride in the service they 

provide to the families and children of their 

communities. Great success has been shown 

in many of the creative programs described 

below. 

What Works! Family and Youth Development 

Urban Communities 

Family Services Specialists Remove 

Roadblocks to Learning 

Akron, Ohio, Enterprise Community 

Akron has dedicated $95,000 of its Enterprise 

Community funds to helping schools in disadvantaged 

neighborhoods. This money goes to fund afterschool 

programs such as magicians' workshops, a model 

builders' club, and a ham radio operator's course where 

pupils can earn their licenses. At some schools, the EC 

funds have been used to initiate a confidential focus 

group by the Community Drug Board, a boys club 

run by Family Solutions, and a girls club run by the 

Catholic Services League. In addition, the money has 

been used to hire family-services specialists who run 

social-services programs and help connect individual 

families to community services. These specialists work 

to remove the roadblocks to learning, providing students and their families with linkages to programs that 

provide food, clothing, and shelter, as well as individual, family, and peer counseling. 

For more information, contact Jerry Egan, city of 

Akron Department of Planning and Urban 

Development, at 330-375-2090. 

WOMEN BUILD II Offers Trades Training 

to Welfare Mothers 

Burlington, Vermont, Enterprise Community 

WOMENBUILD II is a unique collaboration between 

several participating organizations in the Old North 

End Enterprise Community. WOMENBUILD II 

will offer two projects in its second season; one crew 

will train and work in the area of carpentry and weatherization and the other crew will become certified 

lead-paint-removal technicians to work with a leadhazard-reduction contractor. Both crews offer positive 

contributions to the community while utilizing the 

skilled trades labor of eight women who reside in the 

North End. Nonskilled-trades training has proved to 

be an effective tool for transitioning women to economic self-sufficiency. 

For more information, contact Andrea Van Liew at 

802-865-7181 or 800-639-1472. 

Human Services Initiative Supports 

Welfare-to-Work Transition 

Chicago, Illinois, Empowerment Zone 

Wells Community Initiative (WCI ) is proposing a 

welfare-to-work program, which is targeted specifically 

to Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) 

recipients living in Madden Park and Wells and which 

will operate out of the currently existing Family 

Resource Center. The goal is to reach all residents who 

will be affected by the new changes in welfare and 

explain the changes and their options. WCI will develop a computer-based system to inform residents about 

resources regarding employment and/ or fan1ily issues. 

A client-tracking system will be implemented with an 

information system that is being developed at the 

department of human services. The project receives 

100 percent of its $207,000 budget from the EZ. 

For more information, contact Jose Cerda, city of 

Chicago, at 312-744-9623. 

Village to Child Program Provides Mentors 

for EC Students 

Columbus, Ohio, Enterprise Community 

The Village to Child Program gives middJe school 

students the opportunity to be tutored and mentored 

by college and high school students. Mentors meet 

students on a monthly basis, assist the students in study 

sessions, and provide educational counseling and companionship. This relationship exposes the youth not 

only to the world that education has to offer, but to 

37 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

positive role models for them to emulate. This program has received more than $200,000 in funding 

from a variety of sources, such as the Columbus 

Compact Corporation, the city of Columbus, in-kind 

donations from Ohio Dominican College, foundation 

donations, and other in-kind funding. The program 

has already exceeded its original goal of securing 30 

mentors. 

For more information, contact Jon Beard, Columbus 

Compact Corporation, at 612-251-0926. 

Community Self-Sufficiency Centers Serve 

175 EZ Families 

Detroit, Michigan, Empowerment Zone 

These centers target chronicaJly jobless families for 

integration into the local labor market by addressing 

personal, familial, and other barriers to employment. 

These barriers may include poor transportation, inadequate childcare , and family dysfunction. Currently, 

175 families in the EZ are being served and many 

participants are employed. More than $3 million has 

been committed to this initiative. 

For more information, contact Donna Johnson at 

313-571-2800. 

Total Village Project Involves Parents 

in Their Children's Education 

Huntington, West Virginia, Enterprise Community 

The Total Village Project, a center for community 

development and learning, has been developed for 

children and parents at schools within the Enterprise 

Community. The primary goal of the program is to get 

parents and the community involved in the education 

of their children. The Total Village Project draws from 

the African proverb, "It takes an entire village to raise 

a child," and hopes to incorporate its mission into the 

community. The Total Village Project provides adult 

training and literacy programs as well as programs to 

develop the social and mental skills of both parents 

and children. This project has received a $320,000 EC 

grant and is scheduled to be full y operational by 1999. 

For more information, contact Cathy Burns, city of 

Huntington, at 304-696-4486. 

5,000 Youth Involved in Community 

Schools/Healthy Summer Initiative 

lowell, Massachusetts, Enterprise Community 

Lowell is gearing up early for its Healthy Summer II 

campaign. The success of its 1996 summer effort generated so much good will that partners are determined 

to do even better this summer. Last summer, the EC 

was challenged to help pay for the youth summer activities as part of their Community School Initiative (a 

program to transform the public schools into thriving 

resource centers for neighborhood residents). The 

Enterprise Board agreed to assist if all youth providers 

would come to the planning table with their staff, talent, dollars, and resources . The challenge turned into 

Lowell's first Healthy Summer campaign, a broadbased recreational, nutritional, educational, and jobcreation partnership for youth during the summer 

months. 

As a result of this effort, an estimated 5,000 young 

people participated in a variety of educational and 

recreational activities at more than 30 sites in every city 

neighborhood. More than 500 youth were employed 

and 60,000 free meals were served at neighborhood 

locations. Lowell, an immigrant community of 

104,000 residents, discovered that when partnerships 

and leverage come together, more people are served 

and dollars go farther. EC doLlars were leveraged 

11 to 1. With more lead time, Healthy Summer II is 

expected to run for 10 weeks, offer more sites, and 

produce higher numbers on all fronts. 

For more information, contact Sue Beaton, city of 

Lowell, at 508-970-4165. 

38 

What Works! Family and Youth Development 

Youth Fair Chance Serves 300 EC Youth 

Eaell Week 

New Haven, Connecticut, Enterprise Community 

The Youth Fair Chance Initiative provides comprehensive programs and services to youth between the ages 

of 14 and 30 in the Hill and Dwight Enterprise 

Community neighborhood. The programs, which are 

overseen by a youth advisory board, ofter a variety 

of educational, social, and job-training services under 

one roof. The center is colocated with the Transitional 

High School, a school for returning dropouts. Programs include teen clubs; trips; music, sports, and 

recreation activities; cultural arts events; GED/high 

school diploma; a computer learning center; job-skills 

training; health information; and career education. 

The center provides services to approximately 300 EC 

youth each week and is seeking to add to this number 

and include other EC neighborhoods with new programs and services. 

The center has been in existence for 2 years and has 

experienced its share of growing pains; however, it has 

consistently met the goals of the advisory board and 

the neighborhoods in which it serves. 

For more information, contact Vincent Siberon, 

Director, Youth Fair Chance, at 203-867-5074. 

Weed and Seed Service Center Serves 

460 Homes 

Oklahoma City, Oklohoma, Enterprise Community 

The Safe Haven established in the Oak Grove neighborhood' a designated Weed and Seed Site located 

within the Oklahoma City EC, has established a comprehensive service center. The facility provides a variety 

of youth and adult services including a Head Start 

daycare center, a YMCA branch, a 4-H program, 

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and an economictraining/learning center. The learning center serves 

approximately 35 individuals each month and includes 

computer training. An onsite health clinic operated by 

the Oklahoma City/Oklahoma County Health 

Department has also been established. The target area 

serves 285 apartment units and approximately 175 

homes. 

For more information, contact Lakeithia Monroe, at 

405-681-7336. 

Mothers' Centers Support Women's 

Transition to Work 

Pulaski County, Arkansas, Enterprise Community 

Pulaski County EC is establishing two Mothers' 

Centers by identifying and working ,vith mothers in 

low-income neighborhoods who are willing to develop, 

own, and operate their own Mothers' Centers. 

Mothers' Centers provide a place where mothers in the 

community can get information about other opportunities available in the EC; offer mechanisms for building 

extended neighborhood families that can increase the 

sense of community in the neighborhood; offer a public space that is safe for children to play ,vith others; 

provide support and education for teen mothers; and 

support women's efforts to raise children, meet family 

needs, and hold down jobs, especially for parents who 

work in low-paying jobs. The Mothers' Centers also 

provide opportunities for bartering services among 

families; teaching values; education, job-training, and 

parenting courses; launching small businesses colla boratively; starting enterprises to fund centers; and furnishing services to the community such as a network for 

watching latchkey kids. The Mothers' Centers will be 

funded with $142,000 in EC funds, supplemented by 

State and private funds. 

For more information, contact Joyce Williams at 

501-376-7913. 

39 

Empowerment lones and Enterprise Communities 

Success by 6 Program Promotes 

School .Readiness 

Pulaski County, Arkansas, Enterprise Community 

The Success by 6 Program increases the readiness of 

children entering school by fostering in them a sense 

of community commitment and by allowing parents to 

play an active and vital role in the development of their 

child. Children's healthcare is also a key component of 

the program; the Enterprise Community has the lowest 

immunization rate (60 percent) in the State. Success 

by 6 hopes to increase this rate to 90 percent. 

Neighborhood residents will be trained as home visitors, distributing educational toys, books, games, and 

other materials to the children. In addition, home visitors will provide families with counseling on raising 

their children to be successful in school, stressing the 

importance of parental involvement. Information on 

how to contact other government and nonprofit agencies will be provided to families that request further 

assistance. More than 23 community organizations are 

involved in the implementation of this program, 

including Arkansas Children's Hospital, St. Vincent 

Infirmary, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 

Arkansas Department of Health, Head Start, Home 

Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters, and 

United Way. Approximately $117,000 has been collected to implement this program, and several organizations are working together to bring the efforts to 

fruition. 

For more information, contact Delia Moore, Vice 

President, United Way of Pulaski County, at 

501-376-4567. 

Black Family Life Enhancement Program 

Serves 400 EC Parents 

Tampa, Florida, Enterprise Community 

The Black Family Life Enhancement Program seeks 

to support and develop famiLies in the Enterprise 

Community. The community targeted by this program 

has the highest rate of crime (26 percent), unemployment (15.2 percent), dropouts (53 percent), school 

suspensions, and child abuse and neglect in Tampa. 

The program will provide annual parenting classes, 

family mediation, and school ombudsman services to 

100 families in crisis caused by neglect, abuse, or 

family conflict. In 1995, the program recruited 400 

parents and conducted twenty 6-week training sessions. 

This family and youth development program was 

financed by $125,492 from the Tampa Enterprise 

Community and by $1.25 million from United Way. 

For more information about Tampa's programs, contact Ben Stevenson, city of Tampa, at 813-242-5359. 

Rural Communities 

Community Centers Offer One Stop for 

Neighborhood Services 

Central Savannah River Area, Georgia, 

Empowerment Zone 

The Central Savannah River Area Enterprise 

Community has established, with the help of community organizers, a human development center in each 

of its 10 census tracts. Ten community organizers were 

hired to initiate and coordinate programs within the 

local Human Development Centers. Local community 

residents determine specific needs within each center 

using a regional strategic plan as a guide to allowable 

programs under the plan. The center in WacUey 

County is doing particularly well . It is located in an 

old abandoned school building that was renovated 

for the program. The programs and services offered 

include youth leadership training, general equivalency 

degree morning and evening classes, energy assistance, 

Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, 

Higher Hope Girls, food assistance, parenting-skills 

training, expectant-mother resource assistance, and 

city of Wadley support services. Other centers have 

additional programs such as adult literacy training, 

tutoring, and housing counseling. Job-readiness assistance, computer classes, small-business development 

training, childcare, arts and crafts, and Internet/ 

intranet courses are scheduled for the near future. 

40 

What Works! Family and Youth Development 

The Central Savannah River Area Enterprise 

Community awarded $60,000 to the annual operating budget of the first center. The city of Wadley 

donated the school building, facilities, and grounds 

at a value of $1 million. Fifteen public and private 

organizations that are partners in this effort contributed a total of$82,976 in support of the 15 

programs available at the center. The total cash and 

in-kind budget for the center is $1.14 million. 

The centers are the embodiment of the profound 

impact that strategic planning, within the framework of 

the Enterprise Community, has had on local residents. 

The community is still impressed with the fact that 

local people could come together across six county 

rural areas to initiate, approve, and implement this 

program. The centers have generated a sense of hope 

and a feeling that the residents have the capacity to 

improve the quality of their lives through this first 

local concentration of needed services. 

For more information, contact Grady Sampson, CSRA 

Regional Development Center, at 706-554-0342. 

Clinton County 21 st Century Learning Center 

Serves Local Youtl1 

Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone 

The Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zones, 

Clinton County Communjty, has proposed several 

Empowerment Zone projects at a single site to create 

a youth learrung/activity center. The plan includes 

combining an Empowerment Zone Jjbrary, computer 

lab, ampilltheater, and youth center projects at one 

location to make the facility more attractive to local 

youth. In support of this project, Clinton County 

has been awarded a $643,000 CDBG by the 

Commonwealth of Kentucky. 

For more information, contact James Letcher, 

Kentucky Rural Development Coordinator, at 

606-224-7336. 

Student Summer Program Assists Students 

at Risk of Gang Involvement 

Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

In the Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone, the 

Point Isabel Independent School District is providing 

students at risk of gang involvement an opportunity 

to aim their energies in a positive direction through 

community-service projects. In addition, accelerated 

instruction in remedial math and reading \vill be 

provided. A counseling component will address the 

issues of relationships, decisionmaking, drugs, personal 

health, and gang issues. 

AdditionaJiy, EZ funds will cover 100 percent of the 

costs associated with the program, including personnel, 

participant costs, trairung, travel, equipment and materials, and utilities for school district buildings. 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

Learning for Life Teaches Life Skills to Children 

Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

The Boy Scouts of America has been awarded a grant 

to expand its Learning for Life Program into the 

RGVEZ. The in-school program conducts classes 

teaching real-life skills, ethical and moral decisionmaking, and citizenship lessons to children. Tills model is 

being used nationwide as a teaching and counseling 

vehicle in elementary and middle grades. At-Risk Youth 

Outreach, funded by the Zone, will target culturally 

and economically disadvantaged chjldren for inclusion 

in the traditional Cub Scout programs. Special emphasis will be on identifying, trajning, and supporting parents in hard -to-reach areas. 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

Instructional Activities Use Advanced 

Technologies To Improve Student Performance 

Southeast Oklahoma, Oklahoma, 

Enterprise Community 

The Southeast Oklahoma Enterprise Community is 

workjng with the South Central Regional Technology 

Consortium (SCRTC) to provide assistance to improve 

student achievement through the integration of 

advanced technologjes into instructional activities. The 

model emphasizes a strong collaborative relationship 

41 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

among the States as well as functional working relations among the States and universities, the State education agency, and local education agencies. SCRTC, 

funded by the U.S. Department of Education, is committed to providing special assistance to schools located 

in designated Empowerment Zones and Enterprise 

Communities. 

For more information, contact Paul Buzbee, Rural 

Coordinator, at 405-326-3351. 

42 

Healthcare and 

Substance Abuse 

Treatment 

Recovery and rehabilitation seem to be themes 

that pervade all aspects of EI/EC liFe . In addition to recovering BrownFields or rehabilitating 

dilapidated buildings, attention has been given 

to residents who desire to rehabilitate their 

liFestyles. Healthcare For these individuals 

has been made a priority in many of the 

communities by enlisting the assistance of 

health advisers and establishing recovery 

centers. By providing this treatment in the 

local communities, residents can beneFit From 

the support of their neighbors and the security 

of staying close to home. 

What Works! Healthcare and Substance Abuse Treatment 

Urban Communities 

15 Health Workers Hired Under CommunityBased Asthma Prevenl'ion Model Project 

Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone 

This program is designed to reduce the number of 

childhood premature asthma attacks by hiring 15 

health workers to assist families in making the 

necessary indoor environmental changes to reduce 

the severity of asthma in children. The project also 

offers the Atlanta Empowerment Zone Corporation 

the opportunity to develop a community-based model 

that supports corporate funding of public health issues 

and involves community participants in discussion and 

decision making. The program involves the Morehouse 

School of Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention, Southwest Hospital, Fulton County, 

Grady Hospital, Rolljns School of Public Health 

(Emory University), Prudential Health Plans, Kaiser 

Permanente, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services. Funrung 

for this project includes $2 million from the Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention and $3 milljon 

from private sources, inclurung health majntenance 

organizations. 

For more information on asthma prevention, contact 

Paul White, Atlanta EZ, at 404-331-4480. 

55 Residents Recruited and Trained as 

Neighborhood Health Advisers 

Charleston, South Carolina, Enterprise Community 

The Enterprise/ MUSC Neighborhood Health 

Program works to recruit neighborhood residents 

to act as advisers to the staff of the Merucal University 

of South Carolina and as resource people in Charleston 

to educate local residents about medical problems 

and avajlable treatment. The program has recruited 

55 neighborhood health advisers from14 neighborhoods. Priority is given to identifying neighborhood 

residents who are already provirung health activities 

or leadership and to assisting those individuals in 

improving the health or obtaining needed services for 

their communities. These volunteers have helped to 

provide health professionals with high levels of information and acceptance throughout the EC. 

For more information, contact Eric Loewe at 

803-973-7285 or Pat Crawford at 803-724-3766. 

Medical Mall Foundation To Serve Residents 

and Create 300 Jobs 

Jackson, Mississippi, Enterprise Community 

The largely vacant Jackson Mall is located within 

the heart of the Enterprise Community. Contajning 

900,000 square feet and nearly 60 acres of surface 

parking space, this facility holds the potential to 

become either a service or employment center for 

the community. The process is under way to make the 

abandoned mall a merucal facility, providing healthcare 

services to inner-city residents and creating more than 

300 jobs. Currently, financing has been secured and 

the rehabilitation process has begun. 

For more information about the Medical Mall 

Foundation, contact Willie Cole at 601-960- 1055 

or Ryane Anderson at 601-960-2073. 

Catholic Charities Campus for Hope Will 

Treat 3,000 People and Create 1,000 Jobs 

for Residents 

Omaha, Nebraska, Enterprise Community 

Catholic Charities plans to use an EC grant to help 

build the Campus for Hope. The campus will treat 

those inruviduals suffering from the disease of chemical 

dependency who are indigent, homeless, or near homeless. Campus for Hope \vill provide 22 detoxification 

beds, 10 civil protective custody beds for those individuals who are a danger to themselves or others, 28 beds 

for short-term residential care (21 to 28 days), and 

26 beds for extended care for those individuals who 

need long-term care (3 months to 12 months). The 

campus will treat more than 3,000 persons annually 

and have onsite medical dependency evaluations and 

45 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

outpatient treatment. The campus will have onsite 

medical care through the Charles Drew Health Clinic, 

dental care through onsite volunteer dentists, and legal 

assistance through onsite volunteer attorneys. The 

Campus for Hope will provide job training and will 

assist in employment for more than 1,000 individuals 

living in the EZ. The Camplls for Hope is funded 

with $745,290 EZ grant money and an additional 

$4 million from various private sector supporters 

and State and Federal government grants. 

For more information, contact Scott Knudsen at 

402-444-5381. 

Rural Comn1ul1ities 

Full-Time EMS Services in the EZ 

Rio Grande Volley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

In October 1995, the Rio Grande Valiey Empowerment Zone provided approximately $77,000 in startup 

assistance funding to Mr. Vaiz to start a new business, 

Advanced Cardiac and Trauma Emergency Medical 

Services (EMS), located in Edcollch, Texas. Mr. Vaiz 

started the business with his wife and another partner. 

The company has had an immediate impact on the area 

and has demonstrated that this neglected area was 

indeed able to bear the presence of a full-time EMS. 

Mr. Vaiz's business has created 12 new jobs and has 

served more than 1,500 clients in its first year of service. The business will now employ the wage-tax 

benefits of an Empowerment Zone and has leveraged 

$252,000 in other funds. These funds include service 

contracts that were previously held by companies 

that were from outside the Zone and would take up 

to 2 hours to arrive at a call. 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

New Anlbulances Answer 22-Year Need 

Central Appalachia, West Virginia, Enterprise 

Community 

A dedication ceremony was held at Spencer Hospital to 

celebrate the arrival of a new ambulance in the Newton 

area of the Central Appalachia Enterprise Community. 

The community has been trying to establish an ambulance service for 22 years. Owing to a grant from the 

Central Appalachia Enterprise Community, their 

patience has finally been rewarded. 

For more information, contact James Anderson, Rural 

Coordinator, at 304-965-2712. 

Health Occupations Training Collaborative 

Offers Skills to Residents 

Rio Grande Volley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

A shortage of healthcare providers in the Rio Grande 

Valley Empowerment Zone exists. The Independent 

School Districts (ISD) of Edcouch -Elsa, La Villa, 

and Monte Alto, in cooperation with South Texas 

Community College, will establish a joint secondary / 

postsecondary program designed to develop skills 

necessary for employment in healthcare, geriatric care, 

and education/childcare. The training collaboration 

is designed to serve both in-school and out-of-school 

youth and will target at-risk/challenged youth and 

provide them with an alternative to dropping out of 

school. In-kind funding by the district totals $1.1 million and includes construction costs and contributions 

to personnel, travel, and equipment costs. The South 

Texas ISD will assume full operation of the facility in 

the third year of the project. 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

46 

Housing 

Development and 

Homeownership 

The EZs and ECs have invested a maiority of 

their time and funding in rehabilitating housing 

for low-income residents of the communities. 

Tearing down old, dilapidated housing proiects 

to put newer, more modern units in their place. 

Initiatives were designed by neighborhoods to 

assist in the renovations and ensure that the 

new homes were bought by local residents. 

Also assisting in the programs were communitybased organizations geared toward counseling 

and informing residents of the benefits of homeownership. Employers have also ensured that 

their employees are informed and supported 

in their desire to own a home. For many, the 

dream of owning a home became an opportunity, and eventually, a reality. Represented 

below are a selection of EZ/EC proiects in 

which new units are built, historical buildings 

are restored, and homeownership is made 

possible. 

What Works! Housing Development and Homeownership 

Urban Communities 

200 New Rental Units and 

120 Homes Planned 

Albuquerque, New Mexico, Enterprise Community 

Using CDBG funds, Metropolitan Redevelopment 

Funds, and city bond funds, several acres have been 

acquired for high-density rental housing development. 

A developer has been hired to construct approximately 

200 units of new rental housing on this property. In 

addition, 30 new units created for affordable homeownership projects have been completed, allowing 

low- and moderate-income homebuyers to realize the 

dream of homeownership. An additional 120 homes 

are in the planning stage, through various community, 

private, and government partnerships. 

For more information about new rental housing in 

Albuquerque, contact Michael Passi, Associate 

Director, Department of Family and Community 

Services, city of Albuquerque, at 505-768-2860. 

450 Homes Renovated and 450 Homes 

Cons·truded Under Mortgage 

Assistance Program 

Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone 

This program provides "soft second mortgage" 

downpayment assistance to first-time homebuyers. 

Some 450 homes will be purchased and renovated, 

and 450 new homes will be constructed under the 

program. Zone residents will receive first priority for 

mortgage assistance. This program uses SSBG funds 

of $7.2 miJlion. 

For more information about Summerhill and 

Mortgage Assistance, contact Paul White, Atlanta 

EZ Corporation, at 404-331-4480. 

75 New Homeowners Assisted Through 

Homeownership Counseling 

Baltimore, Maryland, Empowerment Zone 

Some $1.25 million in non-EZ resources will be 

devoted to advise and counsel EZ residents about 

homeownership opportunities. The funders include 

Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, the 

city's Department of Housing and Community 

Development, Fannie Mae, several area colleges 

and universities, and several private mortgage lenders. 

Through several existing homeownership programs, 

Empower Baltimore Management Corporation expects 

to assist 75 EZ residents a year in the purchase of their 

own homes. 

For more information about Baltimore's programs, 

contact Diane Bell, Empower Baltimore Management 

Corporation, at 410-783-4400. 

10 Local Companies Assist Families in 

Buying Homes 

Chicago, Illinois, Empowerment Zone 

The Chicago EZ is beginning implementation of a 

housing program that will support and promote 

homeownership in targeted west side neighborhoods. 

Working with local employers to encourage and facilitate home purchases by employees through a structured approach using financial incentives, homebuyer 

education and counseling, and homeowner training, 

the program will leverage funds from employers 

with those of developers and private-sector lenders 

to achieve homeownership for working families. 

The program proposes to rehabilitate 50 rental housing units and market 20 housing units. Twenty-five 

employees will purchase homes and 10 companies will 

participate in the program, utilizing wage credits for 

20 employees. Mortgage funds totaling $2.5 million 

will be committed. The project is funded by $145,000 

in EZ funds and $800,000 in private funds from participating employers. 

For more information about Bethel New Life, contact 

Mary Beth Nelson, at 773-826-5540. 

49 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

New Homes and Facilities Improvements 

in Bicentennial Village 

Cleveland, Ohio, Empowerment Zone 

In celebration of its bicentennial, Cleveland has 

initiated a partnership between the public and private 

sectors and the residents of the neighborhood. The 

initiative has sparked an unprecedented level of private 

investment in a very short period of time. Fairfax, 

the eastside Cleveland neighborhood in which 

Bicentennial Village is located, is also in Cleveland's 

designated Supplemental Empowerment Zone . The 

new construction component of Bicentennial Village 

received an Acquisition and Development Loan 

through Cleveland's Empowerment Zone program. 

Investment in 1996 has focused on the following 

activities: 

New housing construction. Construction of 41 of 

proposed 49 homes, of which 33 will be market-rate 

homes built by private builders \vith base prices ranging from $96,900 to $128,900. In 1996, 16 homes 

will be built by Greater Cleveland Habitat for 

Humanity, their partner families, and hundreds 

of Greater Cleveland volunteers. 

Rehabilitation/home repair and painting. Moderate 

and major rehabilitations of 100 owner-occupied, 

absentee landlord, and vacant houses through home 

weatherization and interior/exterior improvements. 

Minor improvements will occur on 100 additional 

owner-occupied houses through touchup painting, 

yard-light instaUation, and landscaping/fencing. 

Institutional/commercial improvements. 

Completion of a minimum of five storefront renova ­

tions and/or commercial expansions will occur in 

Phase 1. The Inner-City Nursing Home will be 

expanded by 100 beds. An Olivet/University 

Hospitals Medical Center and a United House of 

Prayer will be built. 

Streetscape and public improvements. Activities 

include widening existing streets and building a 

new cut-through street called "Bicentennial Place," 

installation of brick pavers, street resurfacing, and 

beautification improvements. 

For more information about Cleveland's programs, 

contact Jon Beard, at 614-251-0926. 

Project Hope Provides 18 Apartments to 

Families With Children 

Huntington, West Virginia, Enterprise Community 

A new transitional housing facility near downtown 

Huntington will soon provide decent housing and 

self-sufficiency training to the area's fastest growing 

homeless population-families with children. The 

bricks are being laid on Project Hope, a new residential 

housing complex where 18 two- and three-bedroom 

apartments, facing an inner green courtyard, will provide decent housing and educational opportunities for 

families with children. Eligible families will reside at 

Project Hope for up to 2 years while learning life skills 

and employment training. This witl enable them 

to transition successfully to self-sufficiency and independent living by moving into private apartments or 

their own home after the 2-year period. The project is 

expected to be completed by the end of the year with 

occupancy slated for early 1997. Each of the 18 apartments will be individually furnished through the 

Mission's "Adopt a Room" campaign, in which 

civic and other groups, as well as individuals, donate 

funds to fully furnish each apartment. In addition to 

$400,000 in EC funds, Project Hope was also financed 

so 

What Works! Housing Development and Homeownership 

with a Supportive Housing grant, local CDBG and 

HOME funds, and private contributions. 

For more information, contact Anita Unger, Director 

of Development, Tri-State City Mission, at 

304-523-0293. 

Land Bank Offers 60 Properties to Nonprofits 

Jackson, Mississippi, Enterprise Community 

The Land Bank will take tax-forfeited, dilapidated, and 

unwanted properties and market them to nonprofit 

housing organizations. The bank will identify organizations that are interested in owning and improving the 

properties and then turn over the nonproductive tracts 

of land to organizations that have developed a plan to 

improve and maintain the properties. Properties will be 

placed on tax rolls and the land transferred to the bank 

at an affordable rate. Provided that the properties are 

in the Land Bank, taxes wilJ be abated. 

AU parties involved in the Land Bank project benefit; 

local governments put unproductive land back on their 

tax registers, and neighborhood organizations are able 

to access land at affordable rates. Currently, there are 

more than 60 properties in the Land Bank, the vast 

majority of which are located in the Ee. 

For more information about the Land Bank, contact 

Willie Cole at 601-960-1055 or Ryane Anderson at 

601-960-2073. 

Neighborhood Entrepreneurs 

New York, New York, Empowerment Zone 

Created by New York City'S Department of Housing 

Preservation and Development and the New York 

City Housing Partnership to accelerate redevelopment 

and privatization of more than 50,000 units of cityowned housing in low-income neighborhoods, 

Neighborhood Entrepreneurs was designed to attract 

experienced for-profit property managers based in 

communities with high concentrations of city-owned 

property and to shift ownership from the city to 

private neighborhood-based owners. Mter a competitive application process, Helping Develop Our 

Community (HDC Corporation) was named the 

Neighborhood Entrepreneur for the Central Harlem 

EZ project. HDC will contract for the rehabilitation, 

management, and maintenance of the buildings for up 

to 2 years, during which title will be held by a nonprofit corporation and operated by the New York City 

Housing Partnership. 

The Housing Partnership provides technical assistance 

to owners/ managers and tenants. Once redevelopment 

is substantially completed and performance criteria have 

been met, Neighborhood Entrepreneurs will take title 

to the buildings. 

In the EZ, Citi bank has provided a $13 .6 million 

construction loan for the first phase of an innovative 

community development program that coordinates the 

efforts of city agencies, nonprofit organizations, and 

private financial institutions to address the need for 

affordable housing. The Citibank loan will be used 

to rehabilitate 169 units of housing in 13 formerly 

city-owned buildings in the Central Harlem EZ. The 

loan represents part of Citibank's commitment of 

$24 million to the Neighborhood Entrepreneurs 

program. 

For more information about Neighborhood 

Entrepreneurs, contact Deborah Wright, Upper 

Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development 

Corporation, at 212-932-1902 . 

Rural Communities 

Water Line Extensions Built 

Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone 

In the Kentucky Highlands Empowerment Zone, the 

city of Monticello secured $1.7 million in RECD 

Empowerment Zone set-aside funds, matched by a 

$500,000 CDBG award to Wayne County, to extend 

water to 335 households in the county. In addition, 

the Jackson County Water Association was awarded 

$1.9 million in RECD EZ set-aside funds, along with 

$490,000 in CDBG funds, to add 265 new 

customers to the system. 

51 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

For more information, contact James Letcher, 

Kentucky Rural Development Coordinator, at 

606-224-7336. 

Fannie Mae Supports Affordable Housing 

in the EZ 

Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

The Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone has joined 

with Fannie Mae to form AHomes in the Rio Grande 

Valley. This locally targeted initiative will provide greatly needed affordable housing opportun.ities to families 

living in the south Texas major trade-route areas. 

Partners include mortgage lenders, real estate professionals, non profits, and local housing agencies. 

Products of the partnership include flexible hOllsing 

costs, downpayments, closing costs, and unsecured 

downpayments. 

Program participants include Willacy and Hildalgo 

Counties Community Home Improvement, Hildalgo 

County First-Time Home Buyer Program, Flexible 97 

for South Texas, and McAllen New Construction Lot 

Equity Mortgage. 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

52 

Community Policing 

and Public Safety 

Before a business or individual will invest in a 

community, the safety and security of the area 

must be apparent. As Els and ECs recognize 

this, many efforts have been made on the side of 

community policing and public safety. By making 

sure that police are a part of the community and 

that community watch groups are active, EI/ECs 

are investing in the success and development of 

their future. Initiating conflict resolution and nonviolence training into some areas and calling for 

cleanups of known drug areas results in communities that are safe enough for families and secure 

enough for businesses. Many of the following are 

examples of how EI/ECs are achieving this end. 

What Works! Community Policing and Public Safety 

Urban COnlmuni1'ies 

Block Watches Organized on Every EC Block 

Birmingham, Alabama, Enterprise Community 

The Enterprise Community's Block Watch Community 

program officially began in July 1996. Patterned after 

nationally celebrated Block Watch programs, it aims 

to organize a Block Watch element in every block 

within the EC. EC blocks are organized under the 

direction of police department teams consisting of a 

sworn officer and a crime-prevention officer. The 

project is managed by the Urban Development Group, 

Inc. The Block Watch goal is to reduce crime in the 

targeted areas, prepare citizens, and improve ties to 

local police . The effort establishes a strong, ongoing 

dialog between the police department and the residents 

of the Enterprise Community. Committed to the idea 

of community policing, the EC advisory board has purchased cel1ular telephones and 911 service for Block 

Watch captains. Bicycles are being purchased for Block 

Watch patrol officers and crime-prevention officers. 

For more information, contact Willie Huff, Director 

of the Urban Development Group, Inc., at 

205-320-3010, or John Gemmill, Director of 

Community Enterprises Division, at 205-254-2870 . 

350 Youth Participate in Violence Prevention 

Program 

Chicago, Illinois, Empowerment Zone 

The Chicago Commons Innovative Human Services 

program will use education, one-on-one relationships, 

and positive activities to communicate the values of 

nonviolent resolution of conflicts, mutual respect, and 

cooperation in human interaction. Some 350 young 

people between the ages of 9 and 17 will participate in 

the program . The program will include workshops and 

community forums for young people to learn to understand the role of violence in their lives and to learn 

alternatives in a variety of contexts. Activities such as 

sports, art classes, and field trips wiH be available to 

participants. In addition , 15 young people will have 

ongoing, one-on -one mentoring and counseling in 

the first year. The EZ funds 100 percent of the 

$55,251 budget. 

For more information on Violence Prevention, contact 

Jose Cerda, City ofChjcago, at 312-744-9623. 

New Mobile Polic$) Center Serves the EC 

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Enterprise Community 

The Harrisburg EC purchased a mobile police center. 

that will increase visibibty / surveillance within the 

EC and improve police effectiveness in specific highcrime-incident areas. Expanded police services within 

the EC will deter repeat offenders, provide a quicker 

response time, and reduce the overall crime rate . The 

unit wilJ provide a wide variety of prevention as well 

as enforcement services, stabilizing the neighborhood 

and making it a better place for businesses and 

residents. 

For more information, contact Terri Martin at 

717-255-6423. 

400 Residents Participate in VACOP Crime 

Prevention Groups 

Pulaski County, Arkansas, Enterprise Community 

The Volunteer Assisted Community Organizing 

Project (VACOP ) was founded to assist EC residents in forming crime-prevention groups and to 

facilitate partnerships among EC residents, police, 

and code enforcement agencies of Little Rock and 

North Little Rock, private businesses, and neighborhood associations. Through a project coordinator, 

ss 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

EC residents and student interns create a system to 

develop crime-prevention groups, establish a community network, and create effective means of communication between all partners in VACOP. Through 

VACOP, it is expected that 400 EC residents will 

directly benefit from this 2-year program through 

enhanced organizational and implementation skills and 

increased knowledge and use of existing community 

resources. VACOP uses $125,000 in EC funds and 

$25,000 in private in-kind contributions. 

For more information about VACOP and Citizen 

Patrol, contact Henry McHenry, EC Committee 

Board, at 501-340-5675. 

S6 

Neighborhood and 

Environmental 

Improvement 

The viability and vitality of a neighborhood are 

reflected in its cleanliness and beauty. To maintain their community-and as a result, the 

health of their environment-many EZs and ECs 

are designing neighborhood cleanup efforts. In 

addition to improving the environment, these 

proiects provide structure for youth activities 

and, most importantly, build a feeling of community among residents as they strive toward a 

common goal. 

What Works! Neighborhood and Environmental Improvement 

Urban Communities 

Residents Trained To Paint Houses and 

Remove Asbestos 

Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone 

This project coordinated the efforts of the city of 

Atlanta's Housing Department, the National Painters 

Union, and Sherwin Williams Paint Company to 

recruit and train volunteers to paint 250 houses for 

low-income residents in the Zone . Some homeless 

individuals and some residents of public housing were 

trained as professional painters and will become members of the local Painters Union. The second phase of 

the project is under negotiation. A total of $2.5 million 

was leveraged from the private sector for the project. 

The Asbestos/Lead Abatement project provides 

asbestos/lead paint/radon training to residents of 

the Atlanta Zone. As of March 1997, 13 residents 

have completed the training and through a partnership 

with a local developer, 100 percent of the trainees have 

secured permanent employment. The Project includes 

$125,000 in Title XX funds. 

For more information on house painting, contact 

Joseph Reed, Mayor's Office, at 404-853-7372, and 

for more information on lead abatement, contact 

Mickey Feltus at 404-331-4480. 

EZ Residents Save $88,000 Through Water 

Conservation Project 

Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone 

Through a private/ public partnership including the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 

city of Atlanta, and several private firms, approximately 

1,000 ultra-low-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads 

were distributed free of charge to EZ residents. 

Volunteers from the AmeriCorps program and from 

the Summerhill, Reynoldstown, and Betmar LaVilla 

neighborhoods assisted in the distribution and installation of the water-saving devices. A memorandum from 

Paul White, executive director of the EZ, suggests 

potential savings of 25 million gallons of water and 

$88,000 in water bill savings. Participating EZ households can expect to save $120 each year. H.]. Russell 

Company, Monogram Credit Card Bank, CTSI 

Corporation, Bell South, and Atlanta Renaissance 

Hotel are among the sponsors that raised $135,000 

in funding and in-kind services. 

For more information, contact Paul White, Atlanta EZ 

Corporation, at 404-331-4480. 

Permit System for Vacant Lots 

Encourages Development 

Columbus, Ohio, Enterprise Community 

Research has begun on the feasibility of establishing a 

permit system for the owners of vacant lots within the 

Enterprise Community. The cost of a permit increases 

the expense of owning a vacant lot for an extended 

period of time, thereby creating incentives to develop 

the land. 

For more information, contact Jon Beard, Columbus 

Compact Corporation, at 614-251-0926. 

Green Insl'itute ReUse Center Reduces Waste 

While Creating Jobs 

Minneapolis, Minnesota, Enterprise Community 

The center is reducing waste and creating jobs at 

the same time . Using $300,000 in EC funds, this 

26,000-square-foot store sells used materials donated 

by individual do-it-yourselfers or contractors and manufacturers. The goal is to encourage homeownership 

improvements in an economical way while saving and 

reusing materials. The center is an attempt to reduce 

the 40-percent solid-waste stream that is made up of 

59 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

discarded building materials. The store employs six 

part-time and eight full-time workers. 

For more information, contact Ken Brunsvold, Office 

of Grants and Special Projects, at 612-673- 2348 . 

Urban Greening Projeds Initiated in 22 EC 

Neighborhoods 

St. Louis, Missouri, Enterprise Community 

The Enterprise Community Greening Program is a 

greening and beautification program exclusively for 

groups in the Enterprise Community. This program 

assists neighborhood groups in implementing greening 

projects, such as trees, flower beds, neighborhood 

entrances, and vacant lots. The goals of the project are 

to fund each of the 22 EC neighborhoods at a level of 

$2 ,300 as well as three larger scale projects at $5,000; 

to encourage neighbors to work together on common 

projects and get to know one another better' to increase the tangible investment of a cross-section of 

the community, thereby reducing any likelihood of 

vandalism; and to improve the residents' slciJls and 

capacity for team-building. 

The Enterprise Community Greening Program is a 

collaborative effort between the Urban Gardening 

Partnership (Gateway to Gardening, the Missouri 

Botanical Garden, and the Extension Center of 

University of Missouri) and Operation Brightside. 

Collectively, these organizations bring their experience with urban projects to the neighborhoods 

within the EC. 

For more information, contact Dorothy Dailey, 

St. Louis Development Corporation, at 

314-622-3400. 

Youth-Run Ivy Grow Over Projed Dis(oul'ages 

Vandalism 

San Diego, California, Enterprise Community 

The overall goal of Operation Embrace is to motivate 

residents of Barrio Logan, a community blighted with 

drug and gang graffiti, to improve their surroundings 

while involving themselves in community activities. 

Community youth and adults form Neighborhood 

Watch groups to identify increases in graffiti and areas 

where ivy can be planted to cover it. Ivy plantings 

are an alternative to painting over offending graffiti 

because they virtually eliminate the need for additional 

painting. Currently, 49 youth are involved with the 

Neighborhood Watch groups and plantings, and 

28 adults are receiving leadership training. Twentythree sites have been planted . Operation Embrace is 

funded by $158,586 in Federal funds and $10,000 in 

private contributions. 

For more information, contact Rachael Ortiz, Barrio 

Station, at 619-238-0314. 

60 

What Works! Neighborhood and Environmental Improvement 

Neighborhood Enviromnental Action Team Finds 

Long-Term Solutions to Litter, Graffiti, and 

Weeding/Mowing 

Tampa, Florida, Enterprise Community 

To assist merchants and residents in the Tampa EC 

to find long-term solutions to their litter, weed, 

mowing, and graffiti problems, the Neighborhood 

Environmental Action Team (NEAT) educates the 

community on such methods for reducing graffiti 

problems as the installation of thorny shrubs, droughttolerant plants, vines, textured walls, and murals, and 

on low-cost ways to remove graffiti. NEAT also trains, 

equips, and hires 16- to 21-year-old youth from the 

EC to remove weeds, mow, caulk, cold asphalt, remove 

graffiti, and install graffiti-prevention methods. These 

youth must stay in school to be part of the program. 

After graduating from high school, these youth are 

interviewed by the Parks Department for part-time 

jobs. Some of the youth may be helped to set up their 

own lawn-mowing or graffiti-removal businesses. 

Business cards, door hangers, and fliers are paid for by 

the program. Finally, NEAT works with the neighborhood associations to organize special community 

cleanup days, hire youth team members to mow the 

lawns of elderly residents, and put pressure on deadbeat property owners to improve their property. 

For more information, contact Ben Stevenson, city of 

Tampa, at 813-242-5359. 

Rural Communities 

Multicounty Recycling and Composting 

Facility Established 

Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone 

Clinton and Wayne Counties have jointly begun the 

first phase of a proposed multicounty recycling project 

that will include $2 million ofKHEZ financing. A citizen project group conducted a national search and has 

selected a consultant group to complete a feasibility 

and operational study. The project group meets twice 

monthly and expects the feasibility study to be completed soon . 

Alternative Crop Venture Fund Offers Loans 

to Innovative Farmers 

Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, 

Empowerment Zone 

Managed by a 20-person Loan Review Committee, 

the Alternative Crop Venture Fund encourages KHEZ 

farmers to experiment with new crops, growing methods, or livestock production . A primary goal of the 

initiative is for Zone farmers to become less reliant on 

tobacco production . The program offers a loan of up 

to $2,500 per year, per farm, that must be matched 

with $2,500. The loan becomes a grant if the experiment fails . Regardless of success, the farmers are 

required to share information with other producers. 

During the first year of operation, 9 loans were 

approved, and 15 loans are planned for this season. 

For more information on Kentucky's programs, contact 

James Letcher, Kentucky Rural Development 

Coordinator, at 606-224-7336. 

61 


Technology 


and Internet 


Innovations 


Technological advancement in the EZs and 

ECs has quickly been recognized as a priority 

for the communities. With the support of 

Federal sources and private-sector investments, 

new technologies such as the Internet have 

become accessible to residents in the communities. These advancements serve many purposes, 

from posting iob opportunities and community 

services to allowing students the chance to 

access information from all over the world. 

Students are also made aware of the needs 

and programs of their neighborhood through 

HUD's newly available computer-mapping 

software. As a result, residents and students 

have the opportunity to participate in 

planning the future of their community. 

What Works! Technology and Internet Innovations 

Urban Communities 

Technology Challenge Project Creates 

Mull'inledia Electronic Educational Network 

Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment Zone 

The Atlanta Public Schools propose to create a multimeclia electronic educational network (interactive for 

grades K through 12) to link school, home, and community. This network will provide easy access to the 

administrative and instructional staffs of the local 

schools and administrative personnel as well as provide 

access to local, national, and global resources. Funding 

includes $9,000 from the U.S. Department of 

Education and at least $27,000 from private sources. 

At one Zone middle school, almost $2 million in services and equipment have been donated. The mayor and 

the school superintendent recently accepted a national 

award for the effort at this school, which included a 

$10,000 payment to continue technology efforts. 

For more information, contact Paul White, Atlanta EZ 

Corporation, at 404-331-4480. 

EC Residents Receive Internet Access 

Through BridgeNet 

Bridgeport, Connecticut, Enterprise Community 

The city of Bridgeport has entered into a subcontract 

with BridgeNet, a local initiative that will train and 

provide access to the Internet for EC residents. The 

goal of BridgeNet is to provide access to the information and communications resources of the Internet 

for Enterprise Community residents of Bridgeport. 

BridgeNet seeks to develop interactive Web sites that 

will bring people together to build informational structures, provide resources for residents, and establish 

internal communication with one another for the 

benefit of the community. 

For more information, contact Janice Willis or Michael 

McCarthy at 203-332-5662. 

EC Schools Teach Through Computer-Mapping 

Software 

HOllston, Texas, Enhcmced Enterprise Community 

Houston's EEC middle and high schools are the first 

of the EZs, SEZs, and EECs to receive free computermapping software with a prototype lesson plan. The 

software package integrates a database of federally 

funded HUD projects and U.S. Census Bureau information, such as unemployment rates, income levels, 

and ethnic concentrations. The combination of the 

two programs will allow students to zoom in on 

specific streets, see the connection between their 

neighborhoods and government, and learn where 

and how HUD dollars are being spent. HUD plans 

to provide copies of the software package to middle 

and high school students in every EZ, EEC, and SEZ. 

For more information, contact Juclith Butler, mayor's 

office, at 713-247-2666. 

Norfolk Works Maintains Electronic Resul11e 

Portfolio and Job l.istings 

Norfolk, Virginia, Enterprise Community 

Norfolk Works, Inc. (NWI), dedicated to job creation 

and job placement, maintains electronic bulletin boards 

for residents' and employers' use in the job-placement 

process. For residents, NWI has secured commitments 

from many area employers to publicize jobs through a 

job bank. This service enables potential employees who 

are screened and placed in job training to be matched 

with actual jobs for which they can apply. The roster 

of employers who are participating in the job bank 

includes more than 50 businesses. Employers can make 

use of the program's electronic registry of potential 

employees in any given service area. Data on each 

participant in the NWI program are entered into a 

database listing an inclividual's assessment, qualifications, training, education, and work experience. 

This electronic portfolio allows employee clients an 

65 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

opportunity to develop a resume, which serves as an 

effective marketing tool for future job searches. 

For more information, contact Eleanor Bradshaw, 

Executive Director, at 757-624-8650 . 

Partner Program Hetwork: Technology 

Grants Implemented 

Oak:land, California, Enhanced Enterprise Community 

The branch libraries and 25 nonprofit organizations 

in the EEC areas that were the recipients of U.S. 

Department of Education and HUD information 

technology grants have all started the implementation 

of their programs. State-of-the-art computers with 

Internet access have been installed at each organization, and staff have been trained by university student 

liaisons who have been trained and assigned to provide 

training and technical assistance . The students are 

assisting each organization with the development of 

its own technology plan and Web page . In addition, 

the student liaisons are implementing communityand client-training sessions on resume development, 

electronic mail, job search, and other applications of 

interest to the EEC. 

For more information, contact Eiissa Brown at 

510-238-3089. 

Bridge Project Brings E-mail to EZ Residents 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Empowerment Zone 

Funded by the Telecommunication and Information 

Infrastructure Assistance Program of the u.s. 

Department of Commerce, the project will establish 

three community-access computer labs in the EZ and 

a mobile van with computer equipment aboard. Free 

Internet access and E-mail accounts will be provided to 

the EZ residents. The Internet system also includes a 

Web page, which connects to online resources within 

the Philadelphia-Camden Empowerment Zone. The 

Institute for the Study of Civic Values developed 

"EZTools," a Web homepage that connects each broad 

goal in the Empowerment Zone plan to a menu of 

online resources in the area and to a page that lists 

the Empowerment Zone projects associated with the 

goal. The Bridge Project Web site may be found at 

http://www.libertynet.org:80/-In-ntia. Total cost 

for the Bridge Project is $852,000 ($400,000 from 

Commerce and the remainder from the Mayor's Office 

of Community Services, the Free Library, LibertyNet, 

and WHYY Public TV). 

For more information, contact Carlos Acosta, city of 

Philadelphia, at 215-686-9763 . 

Member-Organized Resource Exchange Offers 

Public Access Computers in the EC 

St. Louis, Missouri, Enterprise Community 

The Member-Organized Resource Exchange (MORE) 

program is a public-access computer network designed 

to disseminate information about social services. Grace 

Hill Neighborhood Services, a nonprofit agency located in the EC, developed a database of services and a 

user-friendly touch-screen format for accessing the 

database. In addition, Grace Hill maintains a connection between its server and the Missouri Employment 

Security Divisions database of job openings. Grace Hili 

will place approximately 30 public-access computers 

in disadvantaged areas in the St. Louis metropoLitan 

area . EC funding is being used to place computers in 

12 additional locations in the EC. Grace Hill sites are 

attended by volunteer mentors, who help new users 

to access the system. The volunteers are paid a small 

stipend for training and agree to volunteer a certain 

number of hours. Volunteers receive "MORE Dollars" 

or credits which can be used to purchase services from 

other Grace Hill neighbors. Grace Hill has received 

$70,000 in EC funds. 

For more information, contact Dorothy Dailey, St. 

Louis Development Corporation, at 314-622-3400. 

66 

What Works! Technology and Internet Innovations 

Rural Communities 

Educal'ional Center Promotes CommunityBased Learning 

Rio Grande Volley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

Lyford Independent School District, located within 

RGVEZ, in cooperation with the Texas A&M Colonias 

Project, a 21st Century Learning Grant, and the 

Sebastian community, has been awarded a grant to 

develop a community-based education center. The educational project will establish a literacy center, develop 

a Students Using Powerful Enrichment Resources 

(SUPER) tutoring program, develop a Summer 

Learning Involves Functional Education Program, and 

renovate the Sebastian Elementary Arrnex. EZ funds 

will complete renovation, purchase supplies and equipment, and conduct operations for the first 2 years of 

the project. The school district has leveraged an additional $828,309 to support the overall program and 

will continue funding for the educational center after 

Zone funds have been spent. 

For more information, contact David Gonzalez, Texas 

Rural Development Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

Cyber Ed Visits Empowerment Zone 

Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone 

On May 7,1996, a big 18-wheel rig named Cyber Ed 

rolled into the parking lot at Jackson County High 

School. The truck remained in the KHEZ for an entire 

week. Cyber Ed is a key element of the Cyber Ed 

Program, an unprecedented effort to bring technology 

training directly ro teachers, students, and community 

leaders. Hands-on Internet and advanced online communications training were provided. Cyber Ed was created in support of the White House initiative to foster 

public-private partnerships to improve educational 

resources in economically disadvantaged areas. 

Throughout the summer, the Cyber Ed Program visited schools in 15 designated EZs across the country. 

Kentucky Highland's Educational Technology Task 

Force met on May 24, 1996. Representatives from all 

four school districts-Clinton, Wayne, Jackson, and 

Monticello-were present. Also on hand were representatives from KHEZ and the Kentucky Center for 

Rural Development. They reviewed the highly successful Cyber Ed visit and decided to work on the educational technology initiative as a group rather than as 

separate districts. In addition to reviewing the Cyber 

Ed visit, the group began making plans for implementation of the initiative once computers become 

available . 

For more information, contact James Letcher, 

Kentucky Rural Development Coordinator, at 

606-224-7336. 

Library Automation Project Provides 

Connection to Infornlation Superhighway 

Rio Grande Volley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

The use of technology to offset the isolation in rural 

communities is key to the empowerment of rural communities. In a joint community project by the city of 

Port Isabel and RGVEZ, library users will benefit from 

the automation of library operations, such as the 

Online Catalog with advanced searching features, 

access to the latest in multimedia materials, and connection to the Information Superhighway. The goal of 

the Port Isabel Public Library Automation Project is 

to provide services that will contribute to the economic 

development and vitality of the Port Isabel Community 

and surrounding areas. The subzones have partnered 

with the Texas Community Development Program 

and city matching funds totaling $1.1 million. 

The matching funds include contributions of land, 

facilities, furniture, books, architectural and engineering fees, and professional services. 

For more information about Texas programs, contact 

David Gonzalez, Texas Rural Development 

Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

Library Media Center Provides Internet 

Services to Community 

Rio Grande Volley, Texas, Empowerment Zone 

In RGVEZ, the South Texas Independent School 

District (ISD) will construct a valleywide library/ media 

center for data dissemination, educational training, and 

linkage to Internet by providing services to school districts, public libraries, business industries, and community patrons. The center will also provide involvement 

in family literacy and educational opportunities for 

adults and out-of-school youth. Empowerment Zone 

funding makes it possible for rural satellite students to 

have a library facility. In-kind funding by ISD totals 

$1.7 million and includes construction costs of 

67 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

$1.5 million and contributions to personnel, travel, 

and equipment costs. South Texas ISD will assume full 

operation of the facility during the third year of the 

project. 

For more information about Texas programs, contact 

David Gonzalez, Texas Rural Development 

Coordinator, at 210-618-1252. 

68 

Community-Based 

Partnerships 

Community connections have laid the foundation for the EI/EC program. Networks between 

agencies, private-sector entities, communitybased organizations, and communities contribute to the overall success of the EI/EC 

program. Relying on community-led boards to 

direct the activities of the neighborhoods has 

led to creative ways of involving other organizations. Receptions and information clearinghouses link residents with broad networks of 

community resources. The following are efforts 

that represent some effective techniques that 

bring people together to build and strengthen 

true partnerships based in the communities. 

What Works! Community-Based Partnerships 

Urban Communities 

Council of Foundations Receptions 

Encourage Collaboration 

Atlanta, Georgia, Empowerment lone 

The Empowerment Zone Corporation (EZC) hosted a 

reception for members of the Council of Foundations. 

Information packages were provided to members to 

develop an interest in EZ initiatives. This activity was 

designed to foster better relationships between the 

EZC and various foundations whose focus is providing 

services to youth and families. The development of 

this collaboration is intended to utilize those private 

resources to leverage Empowerment Zone dollars to 

enhance or expand programs. No SSBG funds are 

involved. Participating agents are the Community 

Empowerment Advisory Board, NationsBank, and 

Georgia Power. 

For more information about Atlanta partnerships, 

contact Paul White, Atlanta EZ Corporation, at 

404-331--4480. 

Neighborhood Associations Find Powerful 

Ally in Churches 

Charleston, South Carolina, Enterprise Community 

Some Charlestown EC neighborhoods are now 

developing closer ties with neighborhood churches. 

Neighborhood associations are planning to host meetings with groups of their own neighborhood churches. 

The Upper Peninsula Revitalization Association 

(UPRA) is made up of North Central and the surrounding neighborhoods. Together these groups have 

tackled a major eyesore and a street drug market and 

have turned them into an asset, creating affordable 

rental housing for residents in the neighborhood. 

The New Israel Reformed Episcopal Church borrowed 

more than $1.5 million to acquire properties that had 

been part of the problem and, with the close cooperation of the police, enforce the trespassing laws. UPRA's 

continual pressure helped to turn the tide . UPRA's 

presence was also pivotal in bringing a 35,OOO-squarefoot supermarket, Food Lion, into a distressed EC 

shopping mall. 

For more information, contact Eric Loewe at 

803-973-7285 . 

EZ Taps Resources of Local Universities 

Cleveland, Ohio, Supplemental Empowerment lone 

A new partnership between Case Western Reserve 

University, Cleveland State University, and Cayuga 

Community College created the Cleveland Community 

Outreach Partnership Center (CCOPC). The three 

entities have joined to combine resources and apply 

innovative ideas in support of the EZ initiative. By 

providing technical assistance, human development 

assistance, community leadership development, and 

other resources, CCOPC wiJl enhance the services 

provided by various social-service and communitybased organizations. Most recently, a survey of small 

businesses was conducted by CCOPC to assess the 

needs of small-business owners. 

For more information, contact Angela Lowder, 

at 216-368-3191. 

Commul1ity-Based Organizations Trained 

Through Neighborhood Partnership Academy 

Detroit, Michigan, Empowerment lone 

The Neighborhood Partnership Academy (NPA) will 

provide training and technical assistance to communitybased organizations in the Detroit EZ. The Local 

Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) established NPA 

to provide groups with the skills they need to make 

their depressed communities more sound, such as 

organizational capacity-building, economic development, financial management, and legal assistance. The 

program is expected to be a stabilizing force in the 

community. NPA will help people return their neighborhoods to what they used to be. Total project costs 

are more than $2.5 million. 

For more information, contact Victor Abla at 

313-965-9848. 

71 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

Neighborhood Innovation Grants Reward 

EC PiI'ot Projects 

Memphis/Shelby County, Tennessee, Enterprise 

Community 

The Memphis/Shelby County EC rewards neighborhood groups for innovative thinking. The EC is offering $20,000 grants to neighborhood groups that have 

good short-term, highly visible, pilot project ideas and 

the ability to raise $10,000 in matching funds. The 

city is particularly interested in projects that deal with 

youth and workforce development and community 

capacity building. 

For more information, contact Shirley Collins, Center 

for Neighborhoods, at 901-526-6627. 

Partner Program Network Facilitates 

Community Collaboration 

Oakland, California, Enhanced Enterprise Community 

The Partner Program Network currently has 150 nonprofit organization members. Last year's activities 

included workshops on grant writing, legal issues, 

collaboration building, volunteer management, 

fund development, and insurance . Forty-five Partner 

Programs have received extensive management consultation from University of California at Berkeley masters 

in business administration students. Partner Programs 

have also received individual fund-development, information technology, and board-development assistance 

at no cost. Partner Programs have collaborated on 

a $361,000 grant from the HUD Early Child 

Development program, which will train 25 residents 

of public housing as family daycare providers, offering 

them free business training, free support groups, minigrants to start their own businesses, information on 

resources and services for parents, and grant funds to 

subsidize their parents' child care while they participate 

in job training. Partner Programs also provide training 

and internship opportunities to the communitybuilding team participants. 

For more information, contact Jean B. Johnson-Fields 

at 510-238-6459. 

$97,000 Marketing Plan Implemented To 

Recruit New Businesses 

Southern Nevada Enterprise Community 

This marketing strategy is a highlight to the SNEC. 

Few cities currently have such a program and many are 

interested in starting one. The following efforts have 

gone into the marketing plan: 

• 	 A marketing packet will highlight the benefits 

provided by the Federal Government, State of 

Nevada, Clark County, Las Vegas, and North Las 

Vegas for businesses to locate in the EC boundaries. A designer has been chosen and a budget 

has been set. Completion of the packet is 

expected in March. 

• 	 A video has been designed as an informational 

piece educating viewers about the EC and its 

partners. 

• 	 A radio show has been planned through a 

6-month agreement that has been signed by the 

SNEC and a nonprofit radio station located in a 

predominantly African-American portion of the 

EC. Each Friday during the 6-month period, 

30 minutes of airtime is devoted to discussing 

the EC's programs. The first show premiered on 

Friday, January 10, with great success, to introduce 

the loan guarantee program. The producers of the 

show receive many phone calls inquiring about the 

program. The schedule for the 6 months has been 

pl~ned out, and if the 6-month pilot period 

72 

What Works! Community-Based Partnerships 

continues with success, the show may branch out 

to other radio stations, such as predominantly 

Hispanic stations. 

For more information, contact Jennjfer Padre, SNEC, 

at 702-455-5025. 

Rural Communities 

110 Residents To Participate in Strategic 

Vision and Leadership Training Workshops 

Kentucky Highlands, Kentucky, Empowerment Zone 

KHEZ has been awarded a $45,140 grant from 

the Appalachian Regional Comrrussion to conduct 

Leadership Training and Strategic Vision Building 

Workshops for EZ residents. The grant, matched 

by $11,285 in local funds, will provide trairung to 

110 Zone residents on how to work together and 

take control of and responsibility for the projects 

currently ongoing in their communities. The training, 

to be conducted by The Pacific Institute, will take 

3 to 4 days and be directed at groups that are not 

familiar or comfortable with being in charge. 

For more information, contact James Letcher, 

Kentucky Rural Development Coordjnator, at 

606-224-7336. 

73 


Resource Page 


u.s. Department of Housing and Urban Development 

Andrew Cuomo, Secretary 

Office of Community Planning and Development 

451 7th Sueet Sw. 

Room 7100 

Washington, D.C. 20410 

Phone: 202-708-2690 

Fax: 202-708-3336 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities Website 

http://www.ezec.gov 

Community Connections 

For information on programs to help you build your commWlities: 

P.O. Box 7189 

Gaithersburg, MD 20898-7189 

Phone: 800-998-9999 

E-Mail: comcon@aspensys.com 

u.s. Department of Agriculture 

Dan ' Glickman, Secretary 

Office of Community Development 

300 7th Sueet Sw. 

Reporters' Building 

Suite 701 

Washington, D.C. 20024 

Phone : 800-645-4712 

Fax: 202-401-7420 

E-Mail : ocd@rurdev.usda.gov 

75 


EZjEC Main Contact List 


Urban Communities 

EMPOWERMENT ZONES 

GA, Atlanta 

Mr. Paul White 

Atlanta EZ Corporation 

101 Marietta Street 

Eleventh Floor 

Atlanta, GA 30303 

404-331-4480 (phone) 

404-331-4515 (fax) 

IL, Chicago 

Ms. Bridgett Brown (Ac ting Director) 


City of Chicago 


20 North Clark Street, 28th Floor 


Chicago, 1L 60602 


312-744-9454 (phone) 


312-744-9696 (fax) 


KY, Louisville 

Ms. Carolyn Gatz 

Empowerment Zone Community 

601 West Jefferson Street 

Louisville, KY 40202 

502-574-4210 (phone) 

502-574-4201 (f~x) 

MD, Baltimore 

Ms. Diane Bell 

Empower Baltimore Management Corporation 

III S. Calvert Street, Suite 1550 

Baltimore, MD 21202 

410-783-4400 (phone) 

410-783-0526 (fax) 

MI, Detroit 

Ms. Gloria W. Robinson 

City of Detroit Planning and Development 

2300 Cadillac Tower Building 

Detroit, M1 48226 

313-224-6389 (phone) 

313-224-1629 (fax) 

NJ, Camden 

Mr. Richard Cummings 

Camden Empowerment Zone Corporation 

412 North Second Street 

Camden, NJ 08104 

609-541-2836 (phone ) 

609-541-8457 (fax) 

NY, New York (Main Contact) 

Ms. Kimberly D. Hardy, Esq. 

Special Counsel and Corporate Secretary 

New York Empowerment Zone Corporation 

633 3rd Avenue 

New York, NY 10017 

212-803-3240 (phone ) 

212-803-3294 (fax) 

NY, New York (Bronx) 

Mr. Kevin Nunn 

Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation 

198 East 161st Street 

Second Floor 

Bronx, NY 10451 

718-590-3549 (phone ) 

718-590-5814 (fax) 

NY, New York (Upper Manhattan) 

Ms. Deborah Wright, Director 

Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone 

Development Corporation 

Powell Office Building 

163 West 125th Street, Suite 1204 

New York, NY 10027 

212-932-1902 (phone) 

212-932-1907 (fax) 

PA, Philadelphia 

Mr. Carlos Acosta 

City of Philadelphia 

1600 Arch Street, GaUery Level 

Philadelphia, PA 19103 

215-686-0483 (phone ) 

215-686-0412 (fax ) 

TX, Dallas 

Mr. Mark Obeso 

Empowerment Zone Manager 

1500 Marilla, 2B South 

Dallas, TX 75201 

214-670-4897 (phone) 

214--670-0158 (fax) 

WA, Tacoma 

Mr. Christopher Andersen 

Tacoma Empowerment Consortium 

2501 East D Street, Suite 209 

Tacoma, WA 98421 

206-572-2120 (phone) 

206-572-2625 (fax) 

71 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

SUPPLEMENTAL EMPOWERMENT ZONES 

(A, Los Angeles 

Mr. Parker C. Anderson 

City of Los Angeles 

Community Development Department 

215 West 6th Street, Third Floor 

Los Angeles, CA 90014 

213-485-1617 (phone ) 

213-237-0551(fax) 

OH, Cleveland 

India Lee, Director 

Cleveland Empowerment Zone 

601 Lakeside Avenue 

City Hall, Room 335 

Cleveland, OH 44114 

216-664-3803 (phone) 

216-420-8522 (fax) 

ENHANCED ENTERPRISE COMMUNITIES 

(A, Oakland 

Kofe Bonner 

City of Oakland 

One City Hall Plaza, Third Floor 

Oakland, CA 94612 

510-238-3303 (phone) 

510-238-6538 (fax) 

KS, Kansas (ity, and MO, Kansas (ity 

Mr. Cal Bender 

MARC 

600 Broadway 

300 Rivergate Center 

Kansas City, MO 64105-1554 

816-474-4240 (phone) 

816-421-7758 (fax) 

MA, Boston 

Mr. Reginald Nunnally 

Boston Empowerment Center 

20 Hampden Street 

Boston, MA 02119 

617-445-3413 (phone) 

617-445-5675 (fax) 

TX, Houston 

Ms. Judith Butler 

900 Bagby Street 

City Hall Annex 

Mayor's Office, Second Floor 

Houston, TX 77002 

713-247-2666 (phone) 

713-247-3985 (fax) 

ENTERPRISE COMMUNITIES 

AL, Birmingham 

Mr. John H. Gemmill 

City of Birmingham 

710 N. 20th Street 

City Hall, Room 224 

Birmingham, AL 35203 

205-254-2870 (phone) 

205-254-2541 (fax) 

AR, Pulaski (ounty 

Mr. Henry McHenry 

Enterprise Community Committee Board 

300 South Spring, Suite 800 

Little Rock, AR 72201-2424 

501-340-5675 (phone) 

501-320-5680 (fax) 

AI, Phoenix 

Mr. Ed Zuercher 

City of Phoenix 

200 West Washington Street, 12th Floor 

Phoenix, AZ 85003-1611 

602-261-8532 (phone) 

602-261-8327 (fax) 

(A, San Diego 

Ms. Bonnie Contreras 

City of San Diego 

202 C Street, MS 3A 

San Diego, CA 92101 

619-236-6846 (phone) 

619-236-6512 (fax ) 

(A, San Francisco 

Ms. Pamela David 

City ofSan Francisco 

San Francisco Enterprise Community Program 

25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 700 

San Francisco, CA 94102 

415-252-3167 (phone) 

415-252-3110 (fax) 

(0, Denver 

Ms. Cathy Chin 

Community Development Agency 

216 16th Street, Suite 1400 

Denver, CO 80202 

303-640-4787 (phone ) 

303-640-7120 (fax) 

Mr. Ernest Hughes 

City of Denver 

216 16th Street, Suite 1400 

Denver, CO 80202 

303-640-7128 (phone) 

303-640-7120 (fax) 

78 

What Works! 

Cl, Bridgeport 

Ms. Janice Willis 


City of Bridgeport Office of Grant Administration 


City Hall 


Bridgeport, CT 06604 


203-332-8662 (phone ) 


203-332-5656 (fax ) 


Cl, New Haven 

Ms. Serena Neal-Williams 


City of New Haven 


165 Church Street 


New Haven, CT 06510 


203-946-7707(phone) 


203-946-7808 (fax) 


DC, Washington 

Ms. Judy Cohall 

District of Columbia EC Program 

51 N Street, NE. 

Suite 300 

Washington, DC 20001 

202-535-1366 (phone) 

202-535-1559 (fax) 

DE, Wilmington 

Mr. James Walker 

Wilmington Enterprise Community 

Louis L. Redding City j County Building 

800 French Street, 9th Floor 

Wilmington, DE 19801 

302-571-4189 (phone ) 

302- 571-4102 (fax ) 

FL, Miami/Dade County/Homestead 

Mr. Tony E. Crapp, Sr. 


Office of Economic Development 


140 West Flagler, Suite 1000 


Miami, FL 33130-1561 


305- 375-3431 (phone ) 


305- 375-3428 (fax) 


FL, lampa 

Mr. Benjamin Stevenson 

City of Tampa 

1310 9th Avenue 

Tampa, FL 33605 

813-242-5359 (phone) 

813-242-5381 (fax ) 

GA, Albany 

Mr. Anthony Cooper 

Department of Community & Economic Development 

230 South Jackson Street 

Suite 315 

Albany, GA 31701 

912-430-7867 (phone ) 

912-430-3989 (fax ) 

lA, Des Moines 

Ms. Kathy Kafela 


City of Des Moine 


602 East First Street 


Des Moines, IA 50309 


515-283-4151 (phone ) 


515-237-1713 (fax ) 


IL, East Sf. Louis 

Mr. Percy Harris 


City of East St. Louis 


301 River Park Dr. 


East St. Louis, IL 62201 


618-482-6644 (phone) 


618-482-6648 (fax) 


IL, Springfield 

Ms. Jacqueline Richie 


Office of Economic Development 


231 South Sixth St. 


Springfleld,IL 62701 


217-789-2377 (phone ) 


21 7-789-2380 (fax ) 


IN, Indianapolis 

Ms. Mary Kapur 

2560 City County Building 

200 East Washington Street 

Indianapolis, IN 46204 

317-327-3601 (phone ) 

317-327-5271 (fax ) 

Mr. Mark Young 

Community Development and Human Services 

1860 City County Building 

Indianapolis, IN 46204 

LA, New Orleans 

Ms. Thelma H. French 

Office of Federal and State Programs 

1300 Perdido Street, Room 2EI0 

New Orleans, LA 70112 

504-565-6414 (phone ) 

504-565-6976 (fax) 

LA, Ouachita Parish 

Mr. Ken Newman 

2115 Justice Street 

Monroe, LA 71201 

318-387-2572 (phone ) 

318-387-9054 (fax) 

MA, Lowell 

Ms. Sue Beaton 

375 Merrimack Street, City Hall 

Lowell, MA 01852 

508-970-4165 (phone ) 

508-970-4007 (fax) 

79 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

MA, Springfield MS, Jackson 

Mr. Jim Asselin Mr. Willie Cole 

Community Development Department Office of City Planning/ Minority Busi.ness 

36 Court Street 218 South President Street 

Springfield, MA 01103 Jackson, MS 39205 

413-787-6050 (phone) 601-960-1055 (phone) 

413-787-6027 (fax ) 601-960-2403 (fax) 

MI, Flint NC, Charlotte 

Mr. Larry Foster Ms. Charlene Abbott 

Township of Mount Morris Neighborhood Development Department 

G- 5447 Bicentennial Parkway 600 East Trade Street 

Mount Morris Township, MI 48458 Charlotte, NC 28202 

810--785-9138 (phone) 704-336-5577 (phone ) 

810--785-7730 (fax ) 704-336-2527 (fax) 

Ms. Nancy Jurkiewicz 

City of Flint 

11 01 South Saginaw Street 

Flint, MI 48502 

810-766-7436 (phone ) 

810--766-7351 ( fax ) 

NE, Omaha 

Mr. Scott Knudsen 

City of Omaha 

1819 Farnum Street 

Suite 1100 

Omaha, NE 68183 

MI, Muskegon 

Mr. Jim Edmonson 

402-444-5381 (phone) 

402-444-6140 (fax ) 

City of Muskegon 

Economic Development Department 

933 Terrace Street 

Muskegon, MI 49443 

616-724- 6977 (phone ) 

616-724-6790 (fax) 

Ms. Fleta Mitchell 

Department of Planning and Community Development 

NH, Manchester 

Ms. Amanda Parenteau 

City of Manchester 

889 Elm Street, City Hall 

Manchester, NH 03101 

603-624-2111 (phone ) 

603-624-6308 (fax) 

2724 Peck 

Muskegon Heights, MI 49444 

616-733-1355 (phone) 

616-733- 7382 (fax) 

NJ, Newark 

Ms. Angela Corbo 

Department of Administration 

City Hall, Room B-16 

MN, Minneapolis 

Mr. Ken Brunsvold 

Office of Grants & Special Project 

350 South Fifth Street 

920 Broad Street 

Newark, NJ 07102 

201-733-4331 (phone ) 

201-733-3769 (fax ) 

City Hall, Room 200 

Minneapolis, MN 55415 

612-673-2348 (phone) 

612-673-2728 (fax ) 

NM, Albuquerque 

Ms. Sylvia Fettes 

Family & Community Services Department 

One Civic Plaza, NW. 

MN, St. Paul 

Mr. Jim Zdon 

City of St. Paul 

Albuquerque, NM 87103 

505- 768-2860 (phone) 

505-768-3204 (fax ) 

Planning and Economic Development 

25 West Fourth Street 

St. Paul, Minnesota 55105 

612-266-6559 (phone ) 

612-228-3314 (fax) 

NV, Las Vegas 

Ms. Yvonne Gates 

Clark County Commissioners Office 

500 South Grand Central Parkway 

P.O. Box 551601 

MO, St. Louis 

Ms. Dorothy Dailey 

St. Louis Development Corporation 

Las Vegas, NV 89155-1601 

702-455- 3239 (phone ) 

702-383-6041 (fax ) 

330 North 15th Street 

St. Louis, MO 63103 

314-622-3400 (phone) 

314-622-3413 (fax) 

80 
What Works! 

Ms. Jennifer Padre 

Southern Nevada Enterprise Community 

500 South Grand Central Parkway 

P.O . Box 551212 


Las Vegas, NV 89155- 1212 


702-455-5025 (phone ) 


702-455-5038 (fax ) 


NY, Albany/Troy/Schenectady 

Mr. Kevin O'Connor 

Center for Economic Growth 

One Key Corp Plaza 

Suite 600 

Albany, NY 12207 

518-465-8975 (phone ) 

518-465-6681 (fax ) 

NY, Buffalo 

Ms. Paula Rosner 

Buffalo Enterprise Development Corporation 

620 Main Street 

Buffalo, NY 14202 

716- 842-6923 (phone ) 

716-842- 1779 (fax ) 

NY, Newburgh/Kingston 

Ms. Allison Lee 

City of Newburgh, Community Development 

83 Broadway 

Newburgh, NY 12550 

914-569-7350 (phone) 

914-569-7355 (fax) 

NY, Rochester 

Ms. Carolyn Argust 

City of Rochester Economic Development 

30 Church Street 

City Hall, Room 205A 

Rochester, NY 14614 

716-428-7207 (phone) 

716-428-7069 (fax ) 

OH, Akron 

Mr. Jerry Egan 

Department of Planning & Urban Development 

166 South High Street 

Akron, OH 44308-1628 

330-375-2090 (phone ) 

330-375-2387 (fax) 

OH, Columbus 

Mr. Patrick Grady 

Economic Development Administrator 

99 North Front Street 

Columbus, OH 43215 

614-645-7574 (phone ) 

614-645-7855 (fax ) 

Mr. John Beard 

Columbus Compact Corporation 

815 East Mound Street, Suite 108 

Columbus, OH 43205 

614-251-0926 (phone) 

614-251-2243 (fax) 

OK, Oklahoma City 

Mr. Carl Friend 

Oklahoma City Planning Department 

420 West Main Street, Suite 920 

Oklahoma City, OK 73102 

405-297-2574 (phone) 

405-297-3796 (fax ) 

OR, Portland 

Ms. Regena S. Warren 

City of Portland 

421 SW Sixth Street, Suite 700 

Portland, OR 97204 

412-487-9118 (phone ) 

412-255-2585 (fax ) 

PAr Pittsburgh 

Ms. Bev GiJJot 

City of Pittsburgh 

4433 Laurel Oak Drive 

A.ilison Park, PA 15105 

412-487-9118 (phone ) 

412-255-2585 (fax ) 

PA, Harrisburg 

Ms. JoAnn Partridge 

City of Harrisburg 

Department of Building and Housing Development 

MLK City Government Center 

10 North Second Street 

Harrisburg, PA 17101-1681 

717-255-6424 (phone) 

717-255-6421 (fax ) 

RI, Providence 

Mr. Joe Montiero 

Providence Plan 

56 Pine Street, Suite 3B 

Providence, Rl 02903 

401-455-8880 (phone ) 

401-331-6840 (fax ) 

Mr. Patrick McGuigan 

Providence Plan 

56 Pine Street, Suite 3B 

Providence, Rl 02903 

401-455-8880 (phone) 

401-331-6840 (fax ) 

SC, Charleston 

Ms. Patricia W. Crawford 

Housing/ Community Development 

75 Calhoun Street 

Division 615 

Charleston, SC 29401-3506 

803-724-3766 (phone ) 

803- 724-7354 (fax) 

81 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

TN, Memphis 

Ms. Vernua Hanrahan 

Center for Neighborhoods 

619 North Seventh Street 

Memphis, TN 38107 

901-526-6627 (phone) 

901-526-6627 (fax) 

TN, Nashville 

Mr. Phil Ryan 

Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency 

701 South Sixth Street 

Nashville, TN 37206 

615-252-8505 (phone ) 

615-252-8559 (fax) 

TX, EI Paso 

Ms. Deborah G. Hamlyn 

City ofEI Paso 

#2 Civic Center Plaza, 9th Floor 

El Paso, TX 79901 

915-541-4643 (phone) 

915-541-4370 (fax) 

TX, San Antonio 

Mr. Curley Spears 

City of San Antonio 

419 South Main, Suite 200 

San Antonio, TX 78204 

210-220-3600 (phone) 

210-220-3620 (fax) 

TX, Waco 

Mr. Charles Daniels 

City of Waco 

P.O. Box 2570 

Waco, TX 76702-2570 

817-750-5690 (phone) 

817-750-5880(f~x) 

UT, Ogden 

Ms. Karen Thurber 

Ogden City Neighborhood Development 

2484 Washington Boulevard 

Suite 211 

Ogden, UT 84401 

801-629-8943 (phone) 

801-629-8902 (fax) 

VA, Norfolk 

Ms. Eleanor R. Bradshaw 

Norfolk Works 

201 Granby Street 

Norfolk, VA 23510 

757-624-8650 (phone) 

757-622-4623 (fax) 

VT, Burlington 

Mr. Brian Pine 

Office of Community Development 

City Hall, Room 32 

Burlington, VT 05401 

802-865-7232 (phone) 

802-865-7024 (fax) 

WA, Seattle 

Mr. Cha.rles Depew 

City of Seattle 

Seattle Municipal Building 

Third Floor 

Seattle, WA 98104-1826 

206-684-0208 (phone) 

206-684-0379 (fax) 

WI, Milwaukee 

Ms. Una Vanderval 

Department of City Development 

809 North Broadway 

Milwaukee, Wi 53202 

414-286-5900 (phone) 

414-286-5467 (fax) 

WV, Huntington 

Ms. Cathy Burn 

Community Development and Planning 

800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 14 

P.O. Box 1659 

Huntington, WV 25717 

304-696-4486 (phone) 

304-696-4465 (f~x) 

82 

EZjEC Main Contact List 


Rural Communities 

EMPOWERMENT ZONES 

KY, Kentucky Highlands 

Mr. Jerry Rickett 

Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation 

362 Old Whitley Road 

London, KY 40741 

606-864-5175 (phone ) 

606-864-5194 (fax ) 

Kentucky@www.ezec.gov (e-mail) 

MS, Mid Delta 

Mr. Harry Bowie, Mr. Mark Manning, and Mr. Alan Gumbel 

Mid Delta Empowerment Zone Al.liance 

819 Main Street 

Greenville, MS 38701 

601-335-5291 (phone ) 

601-335-5295 (fax ) 

TX, Rio Grande Valley Empowerment lone 

Ms. Bonnie Gonzalez 

Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone 

301 South Texas 

Mercedes, TX 78570 

210-514-4000 (phone ) 

210-514-4007 (fax ) 

ENTERPRISE COMMUNITIES 

AL, Chambers County 

Mr. David Shaw 

East Alabama Regional Planning and 

Development Commission 

P.O. Box 2186 


Anniston, AL 36202 


205-237-6741 (phone) 


205-237-6763 (fax ) 


AL, Greene and Sumter Counties 

Mr. John Zippert 

Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund 

County Road 21 

Epes, AL 35460 

205-652-9676 (phone) 

205-652-9678 (fax ) 

jzippert@aol.com (e -mail ) 

AR, Mississippi County 

Mr. Sam Scruggs 

Greene, Sumter Counties, Arkansas EOC, Inc. 

205 South Second Street 

Former Eaker Air Force Base 

Blytheville, AR 72316 

501-532-2348 (phone ) 

501-532-2625 (f;LX) 

areco@www.ezec.gov ( e-mail ) 

AR, East Central 

Ms. Willette Romius 

East Central Arkansas Economic Development Corporation 

125 North Grant Street 

Forrest City, AR 72335 

501-633-7686 (phone) 

501-633-8752 (fax ) 

ecentar@www.ezec.gov (e-mail) 

AI, Arizona Border Region 

Mr. Joel Viers 

AZ Border Region EC 

118 Arizona Street 

Bisbee, AZ 85603 

520-432-5301 (phone ) 

520-432-5858 (fax ) 

azec@www.ezec.gov (e-mail) 

CA, Imperial County 

Ms. Maria Matthews 

Imperial County Community Economic Development 

836 Main Street 

El Centro, CA 92243 

619-337- 7814 (phone ) 

619- 337-8907 (fax) 

CA, City of Watsonville/County of Santa Cruz 

Mr. Carlos Palacios 

City of Watsonville 

215 Union Street 

Second Floor 

Watsonville, CA 95076 

408-728-6011 (phone ) 

408-761-0736 (fax ) 

FL, Jackson County 

Mr. William Rimes 

P.O. Box 130 


4288 Lafayette Street 


Marianna, FL 32447 


904-526-4005 (phone ) 


904-482- 8002 (fax) 


jcdc@digitalexp.com (e-mail ) 


GA, CSRA Regional 

Mr. Grady Sampson 

CSRA Regional Development Center 

P.O. Box 40 


4729 Quaker Road, Suite C 


Keysville, GA 30816 


706-554-0342 (phone ) 


706-554-6626 (fax) 


csra@www.ezec.gov (e-mail) 


83 

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities 

LA, Northeast Louisiana Delta 

Mr. Moses Junior Williams 

400 East Craig Street, Suite B 

Tallulah, LA 71282 

318-574-0995 (phone) 

318-574-0995 (fax) 

tallulah@www.ezec.gov (e-mail) 

LA, Macon Ridge 

Mr. Buddy Spillers and Mr. Chip Rogers 

Macon Ridge Economic Development Region, Inc. 

903 Louisiana Avenue 

P.O. Drawer 746 


Ferriday, LA 71334 


318-757-3033 (phone) 


318-757-4212 (fax) 


maconridge@www.ezec.gov (e-mail) 


MI, Lake County 

Ms. Mary L. Trucks 

FiveCap Inc . 

302 North Main Street 

Scottville, MI 49454 

616-757-3785 (phone) 

616-757-9669 (fax) 

MO, City of East Prarie, Mississippi County 

Ms. Martha Ellen Black 

Epworth Bootheel Family Learning Center 

207 North Washington Street 

East Prairie, MO 63845 

314-649-3734 (phone) 

314-649-5028 (fax) 

MS, North Delta 

Ms. Queen Booker 

North Delta Enterprise Community 

Development Corporation 

P.O. Drawer 419 


Lambert, MS 38643-0419 


601-497-1968 (phone) 


601-487-3595 (fax) 


agpolsci@aol.com (e-mail) 


NC, HaliFax, Edgecombe, Wilson 

Mr. Barry Richardson 

HaliFax/Edgecombe/Wilson Empowerment Alliance 

P.O. Box 99 


Hollister, NC 27844 


919-586-4017 (phone) 


919-586-3918 (f~x) 

NC, Robeson County 

Ms. Cammie Fluery 

Lumber River Council of Governments 

4721 Fayetteville Road 

Lumberton, NC 28358 

910-618-5533 (phone) 

910-618-5576 (fax) 

jbp@lrcog.maildst.nc.us (e-mail) 

NM, Mora, Rio Arriba, and Taos County 

Ms. KeJJey Fahey 

La Jicarita Enterprise Community 

c/o Helping Hands, Inc . 

P.O. Box 777 


Mora, NM 87732 


505-387-2293 (phone) 


505-387- 2289 (fax) 


OH, Greater Portsmouth 

Mr. Alex Maksimovic 

City of Portmouth Community Development Department 

740 Second Street 

Portmouth, OH 45662 

614-354-5673 (phone) 

614-353-4583 (fax) 

OK, Southeast Oklahoma 

Mr. Bob Yandell 

Little Dixie Community Action Agency, Inc. 

502 West Duke Street 

Hugo, OK 74743 

405-326-6441 (phone ) 

405-326-6655 (~x) 

OR, Josephine County 

Ms. Teal Kinamun 

Josephine County Community ServiceCommunity Action Agency 

317 Northwest B Street 

Grants Pass, OR 7526 

503-474-5448 (phone ) 

503-474-5454(~) 

PA, City of Lock Haven 

Ms. Maria Boileau 

City of Lock Haven 

20 East Church Street 

Lock Haven, PA 17745 

717-893-5903 (phone) 

717-893-5905 (fax) 

lockhaven®WWW.ezec.gov (e-mail) 

SC, Williamsburg-Lake City 

Ms. Faith Rivers 

Williamsburg Enterprise Community 

147 West Main Street 

Kingstree, SC 29556 

803-354-9070 (phone) 

803-354-2106 (fax) 

SD, Beadle/Spink Dakota 

Mr. Robert Hull 

Northeast South Dakota Community Action Program 

414 Third Avenue 

Sisseton, SD 57262 

605-698-7654 (phone) 

605-698-3038 (fax) 

nesdcap@tnics.com (e-mail) 

84 

What Works! 

TN, Fayette County/Haywood County 

Mr. John Sicola 

The Fayette Haywood Enterprise Community 

Steering Committee 

157 Poplar Road 

Room BlS0 

Memphis, TN 38103 

901-576-4610 (phone) 

901-576-3519 (fax) 

TN/KY, Scott/McCreary Area 

Ms. Leslie Winningham 

Scott McCreary Area Revitalization Team (SMART) 

407 Industrial Lane 

Suite 2 

Oneida, TN 37841 

423-569-6380 (phone) 

423-569-5710 (fax) 

lwinningham@highland.net (e-mail) 

VA, Accomack-Northampton 

Mr. Monte Penney 

The Economic Empowerment & Housing Corporation 

P.O. Box 814 

Nassawadox, VA 23413 

804-442-4509 (phone) 

804-442-7530 (f~x) 

veseehc@esva.net (e-mail) 

WA, Lower Yakima County 

Mr. Dave Fontara 

Yakima County 

128 North Second Street 

Yakima, WA 98901 

509-574-1500 (phone) 

509-574-1501 (fax) 

WV, Central Appalachia 

Mr. Terrell Ellis 

Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone 

174 Main Street 

P.O. Box 176 


Clay, WV 251215 


304-587-2034 (phone) 


304-587-2027 (fax) 


WV, McDowell County 

Mr. Cliff Moore 

McDowell County Action Network 

Route 103 

Wilcoe, WV 24895 

304-448-2118 (phone) 

304-448-3287 (fax) 

85 



u.s. Department of Housing 

and Ur~an Development 

Andrew Cuomo, Secretary 

Office of Community Planning 

and Development 

u.S. Department 

of Agriculture 

Dan Glickman, Secretary 

Office of Community Development