Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 73 /Thursday, April 16, 1998 / Notices 19143

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

Notice Inviting Applications for

Designation of Rural Empowerment

Zones

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice inviting applications.

SUMMARY: This Notice invites

applications from state and local

governments, Indian tribal governments,

regional planning agencies, non-profit

organizations, community-based

organizations, or other locally-based

organizations on behalf of rural areas

nominated for designation as

Empowerment Zones (EZs) as this term

is defined in this Notice and in an

interim rule published elsewhere in

today’s Federal Register. An application

may be prepared and submitted by any

one of a broad range of entities;

however, the rural area in question must

be nominated for designation by the

state, local and Indian tribal

governments having jurisdiction over

the nominated area. The interim rule

provides guidance which is

supplemental to that provided in this

Notice and which is necessary for

completion and submission of

applications.

DATES: Application due date: The

deadline for receipt of a complete

application is 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight

Savings Time, October 9, 1998.

Applications received after this date

will not be considered. Applications

may not be submitted prior to 30 days

from the date of publication of the

interim rule.

ADDRESSES: Application materials may

be obtained from U.S. Department of

Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development

Offices listed in appendix A to this

Notice or by sending an Internet Mail

message to

‘‘round2.rural@www.ezec.gov’’.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Deputy Administrator, USDA Office of

Community Development, EZ/EC Team,

Reporters Building, Room 701, STOP

3203, 300 7th Street, SW, Washington,

DC 20024–3203, telephone 1–800–851–

3403, or by sending an Internet e-mail

message to

‘‘round2.rural@www.ezec.gov’’ to

obtain information. Information may

also be obtained at the following

website: ‘‘http://www.ezec.gov/

round2’’.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

The information collection

requirements contained in this Notice

have been approved by the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) on an

emergency basis through August 31,

1998 and assigned control numbers

0570–0026 (Application burden) and

0570–0027 (Reporting burden). See the

interim rule on ‘‘Designation of Rural

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise

Communities’’ published elsewhere in

this issue of the Federal Register for

additional information on this subject,

including the opportunity to comment

on the burden of the information

collections.

I. Background

One of the core items of President

Clinton’s economic proposals is the

need to empower America’s distressed

rural and urban communities. His

Empowerment Zone proposal represents

a new approach to the problems of

distressed communities. It emphasizes a

bottom-up community based strategy

rather than the traditional top-down

bureaucratic approach. It is a strategy to

address economic, human, community,

and physical development problems

and opportunities in a comprehensive

fashion.

Title IX of the Taxpayer Relief Act of

1997 authorized the Secretary of the

U.S. Department of Agriculture

(Secretary) to designate up to five rural

Empowerment Zones (‘‘Round II’’) in

addition to those rural empowerment

zones and enterprise communities

designated by the Secretary in December

1994 pursuant to title XIII of the

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of

1993 (‘‘Round I’’). Notice of the Round

I designations was published on May

10, 1995 (60 F.R. 24828). This Notice

invites applications from State and local

governments, Indian tribal governments,

regional planning agencies, non-profit

organizations, community-based

organizations, or other locally-based

organizations on behalf of rural areas

nominated for designation as

Empowerment Zones in this second

round.

The program is intended to combine

the resources of the Federal Government

with those of State and local

governments, educational institutions

and the private and non-profit sectors to

implement community-developed

strategic plans for economic

development. The Federal Government

has taken steps to coordinate Federal

assistance in support of the

Empowerment Zones, including

expedited processing and priority

funding. To that end, President Clinton

issued an Executive Memorandum

dated September 9, 1993 establishing a

Community Empowerment Board

chaired by Vice President Al Gore to

ensure the success of the Empowerment

Zone initiative.

The first round of Empowerment

Zone and Enterprise Community

designations made in 1994 featured

grants from the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services to States for

the designated Empowerment Zones

and Enterprise Communities. While

similar grant funds have not been

authorized for the Round II

Empowerment Zones, we anticipate that

funding may become available in Fiscal

Year 1999.

II. Eligibility

The authorizing legislation specifies

certain criteria that must be satisfied in

order for an area to be eligible for

Empowerment Zone designation,

including population, general distress,

geographic size and boundary

configuration, and poverty rate by

census tract (or by block numbering

areas when the community is not

delineated by census tracts; nominated

areas in Alaska and Hawaii have the

option of qualifying by block groups).

The details of these requirements are

described in the interim rule published

elsewhere in today’s Federal Register

(interim rule). Unless specified

otherwise, the terms used in this Notice,

inclusive of the appendices, shall be

defined as set forth in the interim rule.

All section references refer to the

interim rule.

This information must be provided in

the application. USDA will accept

certifications of the data by the state and

local governments, subject to further

verification of the data prior to

designation as an Empowerment Zone.

III. Designation Factors

The statute specifies three factors to

be considered by the Secretary in

designating Empowerment Zones: (1)

The effectiveness of the strategic plan;

(2) the effectiveness of the assurances

provided in support of the strategic

plan; and (3) other criteria to be

specified by the Secretary. Each of these

factors is discussed in greater detail in

the interim rule. The required form and

content of the application and the

strategic plan are elaborated upon in

this Notice.

IV. Timing and Location of Application

Submissions

Application materials may be

obtained from USDA Rural

Development offices listed in the

appendix to this Notice or by sending an

Internet e-mail message to:

‘‘round2.rural@www.ezec.gov’’. They

are also available at the following

website: ‘‘http://www.ezec.gov/
19144 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 73 /Thursday, April 16, 1998 / Notices

round2’’. An application may be

submitted not earlier than 30 days after

the date of publication of the interim

final rule governing Round II. The

deadline for receipt of the complete

application is 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight

Savings Time, October 9, 1998.

Applications received after that time

will not be accepted, and will be

returned to the sender. As the

applications require certifications from

the state and local governments, we

cannot accept applications sent by FAX

or through the internet system. The

original application and two paper

copies should be sent to: U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Office of

Community Development, Reporters

Building, 300 7th Street, SW, Room 701,

Washington, DC 20024.

Applicants will be notified in the

event of an incomplete application.

Provided that the application is received

at the above address with sufficient time

before the deadline, applicants will be

given an opportunity to provide the

missing information to USDA.

V. Notice of Intent To Participate

Prospective applicants should

complete and submit a Notice of Intent

to Participate substantially in the form

provided in appendix B to this Notice.

A Notice form is included in the

application materials; it may also be

obtained by sending an Internet e-mail

message to

‘‘round2.rural@www.ezec.gov’’.

Applicants may also submit the notice

via the internet by filling out the form

on-line at the following website: ‘‘http:/

/www.ezec.gov/round2’’. Applicants

and other participants may wish to

submit the form in order to be placed on

the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise

Community mailing list. While the

notice is not mandatory for participation

in the program, USDA encourages the

submission of the notice as it will

permit the Department to provide

prospective applicants with updated

information on program requirements as

well as information on technical

assistance.

VI. Application Materials

A. Application materials available

from USDA consist of the following:

(1) Round II application form.

(2) Round II application guide.

B. The Application to be submitted on

behalf of nominated rural areas shall

include the following (‘‘Application’’):

(1) A nomination package including:

(a) Round II application form parts I

through IV; and

(b) The required certifications and

written assurances contained in

§ 25.200(b) of the interim rule which are

not otherwise included in part III of the

Round II application form;

(2) A strategic plan which meets the

requirements of the interim rule and the

form and content requirements specified

in section VII of this Notice; and

(3) Maps. Attach a copy of the 1990

census map that shows the boundaries

of:

(a) The local governments discussed

in part I of the Application Form

(Nomination);

(b) The nominated area; and

(c) Developable sites, if any.

VII. Strategic Plan

A. The strategic plan to be submitted

on behalf of the nominated area shall

conform with the requirements

contained in § 25.202 and § 25.303 of

the interim rule. Each major section of

the strategic plan should address how

the plan will achieve the four key

principle objectives contained in

§ 25.202.

B. The strategic plan must be

organized into two separate volumes.

Each volume should prominently

identify the nominated area and be

organized and labeled in the following

sections and specified sequence.

C. Volume I of the Strategic Plan

(‘‘Documentation’’). Volume I must

include the following sections and

content:

(1) Section 1—Participants.

(a) Applicant and Lead entities: the

name, address, description and primary

contact person for the entity that will be

the lead managing entity for the

proposed Empowerment Zone. Clarify

whether the applicant is different from

the proposed lead managing entity; if so,

provide the same information for the

applicant entity;

(b) Participating entities: a list of and

descriptions of the specific groups,

organizations, and individuals

participating in the production of the

strategic plan, and descriptions of the

history of these groups in the

community; and

(c) An explanation of how

participants in the planning process

were selected and evidence that the

participants, taken as a whole, are

broadly representative of the entire

community.

(2) Section 2—The Planning Process.

(a) Descriptions of how the

participants created and developed the

strategic plan;

(b) Identification of two or three

topics addressed in the strategic plan

that caused the most serious

disagreements among participants and a

description of how those disagreements

were resolved; and

(c) An explanation of how the

community residents and key

organizations participated in choosing

the area to be nominated and why the

area was nominated.

(3) Section 3—Eligibility.

(a) Include information not otherwise

provided in the application form, or use

this section if additional space is

needed to provide eligibility

information; and

(b) Maps and a general description of

the nominated area.

(4) Section 4—Economic and Social

Conditions. Detailed statistical

information, including tabular and

graphical information, not included in

volume II, should be included in this

section.

(5) Section 5—Implementation. This

section should include:

(a) Descriptions of the roles which

each participating entity, identified in

volume I, section 1, will have in

implementing the strategic plan; and

(b) Evidence that key participating

entities have the capacity to implement

the strategic plan.

(6) Section 6—Public Information.

This section should include newspaper

clippings, photographs, news releases

and other materials relating to the

community and its strategic planning

process.

(7) Section 7—Letters of Support.

Letters of support which are submitted

as part of the Application should be

grouped in this section of the strategic

plan.

(8) Section 8—Other Attachments.

Any other materials, including nonstandard items such as videotapes,

should be included in this section, or

where, impractical, should be listed in

this section and attached as separate

items.

D. Volume II of the Strategic Plan

(‘‘Plan’’), Part I. Volume II must contain

four major subparts of which part I must

include the following sections and

content:

(1) Section 1—Vision and Values. The

community’s strategic vision for

change—a statement of what the

community would like to be like in the

future together with a statement of the

community’s values which guided its

planning process and which will guide

its implementation of the strategic plan.

(2) Section 2—Community

Assessment. A comprehensive

assessment of existing conditions and

trends in the nominated area in two

subsections:

(a) Assessment of Problems and

Opportunities. A description and

assessment of problems and

opportunities. This subsection must

identify those baseline conditions

which the community wishes to

improve as a result of the strategic plan.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 73 /Thursday, April 16, 1998 / Notices 19145

It may include priority rankings by the

community of problems and

opportunities to be addressed by the

strategic plan.

(b) Resource Analysis. An assessment

of the resources available to the

community, including financial,

technical, leadership, volunteerism,

skills and other community assets

which may be tapped in implementing

the strategic plan.

(3) Section 3—Goals. A statement of a

comprehensive and holistic set of goals

to be achieved through implementation

of the strategic plan throughout the 10-

year implementation period. This

section should also include an index of

topics and related benchmark activities

which are incorporated in the strategic

plan (education, criminal justice,

economic development, housing, health

care, water and sewer, etc.) so as to

facilitate the sharing of information

across Federal agencies such that they

may more readily recognize how they

may be able to support the

Empowerment Zone during the

implementation phase.

(4) Section 4—Strategies. A statement

of the strategies the community

proposes to use to achieve its strategic

plan, in particular, the principal

objectives of economic opportunity and

sustainable community development

contained in § 25.202 (a)(3) and (a)(4).

E. Volume II of the Strategic Plan

(‘‘Plan’’), Part II. The second major

subpart of volume II must include the

following sections and content:

(1) Section 1—Phase I work plan. The

information required pursuant to

§ 25.403(c)(1) for the initial two years of

the designation period.

(2) Section 2—Phase I operational

budget. The information required

pursuant to § 25.402(c)(2) for the initial

two years of the designation period.

(3) Section 3—Uses of EZ/EC SSBG

grants: A detailed explanation of how

the applicant proposes to use any

Empowerment Zone/Enterprise

Community Social Services Block Grant

(EZ/EC SSBG) funds that become

available to States for use by designated

rural Empowerment Zones. General

guidelines concerning uses of EZ/EC

SSBG funds are included in appendix C

to this Notice and on the Internet at

http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/progsys/

HHSguide.htm. Applicants are

encouraged to review the guidelines.

F. Volume II of the Strategic Plan

(‘‘Plan’’), Part III. The third major

subpart of volume II should be titled

‘‘Continuous Quality Improvement

Plan’’. Part III should present the

community’s plan for evaluating and

learning from its experiences. It should

also detail the methods by which the

community will assess its own

performance in implementing its

benchmarks and the process it will use

for revising its strategic plan and

benchmark goals. Part III should include

the following sections and content:

(1) Section 1—Participation. The

proposed procedures for assuring

continuous, broad based community

participation in the implementation of

the strategic plan;

(2) Section 2—Incorporation of

experiences. The methods proposed for

incorporating learning from experience

gained during implementation of the

strategic plan and from information

obtained from other sources into

revisions of the strategic plan,

benchmark goals and implementation

methods and procedures;

(3) Section 3—Benchmark review. The

proposed procedure for reviewing

benchmark progress within the

community; and

(4) Section 4—Benchmark

amendment. The proposed procedure

for amending and revising benchmark

goals and benchmark activities.

G. Volume II of the Strategic Plan

(‘‘Plan’’), Part IV. The fourth major

subpart of volume II should be titled

‘‘Administration Plan’’. Part IV should

present the community’s plan for

administering the implementation of the

strategic plan. It should include the

following sections:

(1) Section 1—Lead entity. The name

of the proposed lead entity organization,

its existing and planned future legal

status and authority to receive and

administer funds pursuant to Federal

and state and other nonprofit programs;

(2) Section 2—Capacity. Evidence,

including an audited financial statement

as of the most recent fiscal year, that the

lead entity and other key organizations

implementing the strategic plan have

the capacity to implement the strategic

plan. If the lead entity is not yet

established, provide evidence of its

proposed capitalization;

(3) Section 3—Board membership.

The membership of the proposed

Empowerment Zone board and the

selection procedures;

(4) Section 4—Partnerships. The

relationship between the EZ board and

local governments and other major

regional and community organizations

operating in the same geographic area;

(5) Section 5—Public information.

The proposed methods by which

citizens of the Empowerment Zone and

partnership organizations will be kept

informed about the Empowerment

Zone’s activities and progress in

implementing the strategic plan;

(6) Section 6—Public participation.

The methods and procedures by which

the Empowerment Zone proposes to

implement the principal objective of

community based partnerships pursuant

to § 25.202(a)(2).

VIII. Counties Which Meet the

Outmigration Test for Purposes of

§ 25.104(b)(2)(iii) of the Interim Rule

For purposes of volume I, section 3—

Eligibility, counties which meet the

outmigration test for purposes of

§ 25.104(b)(2)(iii) of the interim rule are

listed in appendix D to this Notice.

IX. Round I and Round II Champion

Communities

Round I and Round II applicants

which have been granted the status of

Champion communities will be notified

in writing by USDA.

X. Memorandum of Agreement

It is expected that a Memorandum of

Agreement (MOA) will be entered into

relating to each designated Round II

Empowerment Zone. The MOA shall

conform in all material respects to the

form of MOA provided in appendix E to

this Notice.

XI. Miscellaneous

Empowerment Zone designation does

not constitute a Federal action for

provisions of the Uniform Relocation

Act. However, any activity constituting

a Federal action that may result from

such a designation may be subject to the

provision of this Act, as well as any

other statutory or regulatory provisions

governing the particular Federal action.

All designation reviews will be

conducted in compliance with Federal

civil rights laws.

Dated: April lll, 1998.

Dan Glickman,

Secretary of Agriculture.

List of Appendices

A—Rural Development State EZ–EC State

Contacts

B—Notice of Intent to Participate

C—EZ/EC SSBG Guidance from HHS

D—Counties which meet the Outmigration

test

E—Form of Memorandum of Agreement

Appendix A: EZ/EC State Contacts

Alabama

Chris Harmon, Rural Development, Sterling

Center, 4121 Carmichael Road/Suite 601,

Montgomery, AL 36106–3683, phone: 334–

279–3400, fax: 334–279–3403

Alaska

Frank A. Muncy, Rural Development, 800 W.

Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645–

6539, phone: 907–745–2176, fax: 907–745–

5398

Arkansas

Shirley Tucker, Rural Development, Federal

Building, Room 3416, 700 W Capitol, Little
19146 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 73 /Thursday, April 16, 1998 / Notices

Rock, AR 72201, phone: 501–324–6284,

fax: 501–324–7351

Arizona

Dennis Daniels, Rural Development, 2585

North Grand Avenue, Suite #5, Nogales,

AZ 85621, phone: 520–281–1068 (voice),

phone: 602–609–0699 (cellular), fax: 520–

281–1460

California

Gina Briley, Rural Development, 194 W Main

Street/ Suite F, Woodland, CA 95695,

phone: 530–668–2000, fax: 530–668–2055

Colorado

Vic Crain, Rural Development, 655 Parfet,

Room E–100, Lakewood, CO 80215, phone:

303–236–2801 Ext. 134, fax: 303–236–2854

Delaware/Maryland

Joseph E. O’Neil, Rural Development, 5201

South Dupont Highway, P.O. Box 400,

Camden, DE 19934, phone: 302–697–4304,

fax: 302–697–4390

Florida/Virgin Islands

Glenn Walden, Rural Development, 4440

N.W. 25th Pl., PO Box 147010, Gainesville,

FL 32614–7010, phone: 352–338–3440, fax:

352–338–3452

Georgia

Donnie Thomas, Rural Development, 355 E.

Hancock Ave., Stephens Federal Building,

Athens, GA 30601–2768, phone: 706–546–

2162, fax: 706–546–2152

Hawaii

Ted Matsuo, Rural Development, Federal

Building, Room 311, 154 Waianuenue

Ave., Hilo, HI 96720, phone: 808–933–

3009, fax: 808–933–6901

Idaho

Dale Lish, Rural Development, 745 W.

Bridge/Suite H, Blackfoot, ID 83221,

phone: 208–785–5840, fax: 208–785–6561

Illinois

Charles Specht, Rural Development, 1817 S.

Neil Street, Suite 103, Champaign, IL

61820, phone: 217–398–5412, fax: 217–

398–5337

Indiana

Joseph Steele, Rural Development, 5975

Lakeside Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46278,

phone: 317–290–3109, fax: 317–290–3127

Iowa

Dorman Otte, Rural Development, 210

Walnut Street, Federal Bldg./Room 873,

Des Moines, IA 50309, phone: 515–284–

4152, fax: 515–284–4859

Kansas

Larry Carnahan, P. O. Box 386, Altamont, KS

67330, phone: 316–784–5319, fax: 316–

784–5900

Kentucky

James Letcher, Rural Development, 771

Corporate Dr., Suite 200, Lexington, KY

40503, phone: 606–224–7326, fax: 606–

224–7347

Louisiana

Mike Taylor, Rural Development, 3727

Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302,

phone: 318–473–7811, fax: 318–473–7829

Maine

Alan C. Daigle, Rural Development, 444

Stillwater Ave., Suite 2, P. O. Box 405,

Bangor, ME 04402–0405, phone: 207–990–

9168, fax: 207–990–9165

Massachusetts

Richard J. Burke, Rural Development, 451

West St., Amherst, MA 01002, phone: 413–

253–4300, fax: 413–253–4347

Michigan

Reginald Magee, Rural Development, 1101 E.

Washington, P. O. Box 220, Baldwin, MI

49304, phone: 616–745–8364, fax: 616–

745–8493

Minnesota

Deborah Slipek, Rural Development, 410

Farm Credit Services Bldg, 375 Jackson

Street, St. Paul, MN 55101–1853, phone:

612–602–7799, fax: 612–602–7824

Mississippi

Jane Jones, Rural Development, 100 W

Capital St., Suite 831, Jackson, MS 39269,

phone: 601–965–5457, fax: 601–965–4257

Missouri

D. Clark Thomas, Rural Development, 70 W.

Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO

65203, phone: 573–876–9319, fax: 573–

876–0984

Montana

Anthony Preite, Rural Development, 900

Technology Blvd. Suite B, P. O. Box 850,

Bozeman, MT 59771, phone: 406–585–

2580, fax: 406–585–2565

Nebraska

Dale T. Wemhoff, Rural Development,

Norfolk Area Office, 1909 Vicki Lane/Suite

103, Norfolk, NE 68701, phone: 402–371–

6193, fax: 402–371–8930

Nevada

Mike Holm, Rural Development, 1390 South

Curry St., Carson City, NV 89703–5405,

phone: 702–887–1222, fax: 702–885–0841

New Hampshire/Vermont

William W. Konrad, Rural Development, 501

South Street, Bow, NH 03304, phone: 603–

226–9331, fax: 603–226–9338

New Jersey

Michael P. Kelsey, Rural Development,

Tarnsfield Plaza, Suite 22, 790 Woodland

Rd., Mt. Holly, NJ 08060, phone: 609–265–

3640, fax: 609–265–3651

New Mexico

Bill Culbertson, Rural Development, 6200

Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109,

phone: 505–761–4973, fax: 505–761–4976

New York

Marge Evanek, Rural Development, Center

Ithaca, Box 142, 171 East State Street,

Ithaca, NY 14850, phone: 607–272–3023,

fax: 607–275–9624

North Carolina

Debra Nesbitt, Rural Development, 4405

Bland Rd, Suite 260, Raleigh NC 27609,

phone: 919–873–2042, fax: 919–873–2075

North Dakota

William Davis, Rural Development, P. O. Box

1737, Bismarck, ND 58502, phone: 701–

250–4781, fax: 701–250–4670

Ohio

Allen L. Turnbull, Rural Development,

Federal Building, Room 640, 200 North

High Street, Columbus OH 43215, phone:

614–469–5400, fax: 614–469–5758

Oklahoma

Sally Vielma, Rural Development, 100 USDA,

Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074–2654,

phone: 405–742–1039, fax: 405–742–1101

Oregon

Jack Ware, Rural Development, 1101 Ellen

Ave., Medford, OR 97501, phone: 541–

776–4293, fax: 541–776–4295

Pennsylvania

Nancy Brewer, 36 Spring Run Road, Rm. 103,

Mill Hall, PA 17751, phone: 717–726–

3196, ext. 203, fax: 717–726–0064

Puerto Rico

Julio Chevres, Rural Development, P. O. Box

366106, San Juan, PR 00936–6106, fax:

787–281–4993

South Carolina

William Molnar, Rural Development, 1835

Assembly Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC

29201, phone: 803–253–3249, fax: 803–

765–5633

South Dakota

Robert Bothwell, Rural Development, Federal

Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth Street SW,

Huron, SD 57350–2477, phone: 605–352–

1142, fax: 605–352–1146

Tennessee

Tom Mayberry, Jr., Rural Development, 3322

West End Ave., Suite 300, Nashville, TN

37203–1071, phone: 615–783–1308/783–

1409, fax: 615–783–1301/1394

Texas

David Gonzalez, Rural Development, 4400 E.

Hwy 83, Rio Grande City, TX 78582,

phone: 956–487–5576, ext. 202, fax: 956–

487–7882

Utah

A. Richard Osmond, Rural Development,

Federal Bldg Room 5438, 125 South State

St., Salt Lake City, UT 84138, phone: 801–

524–3248, fax: 801–524–4406

Vermont/New Hampshire

William W. Konrad, Rural Development, 501

South Street, Bow, NH 03304, phone: 603–

226–9331, fax: 603–226–9338

Virginia

Reginald Rountree, Rural Development, 1606

Santa Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229,

phone: 804–287–1557, fax: 804–287–1786

Washington

Karen Bailor, Rural Development, 1835

Blacklake Blvd. SW, Suite B, Olympia, WA

98512, phone: 360–704–7750, fax: 360–

704–7742

Wisconsin

David Gibson, Rural Development, 4949

Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481,

phone: 715–345–7676, fax: 715–345–7669
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 73 /Thursday, April 16, 1998 / Notices 19147

West Virginia

James Anderson, Rural Development, 4510

Pennsylvania Ave., Big Chimney, WV

25302, phone: 304–965–2712, fax: 304–

965–2715

Wyoming

John Cochran, Rural Development, 100 East

B, Federal Bldg. Room 1005, Casper, WY

82602, phone: 307–261–6319, fax: 307–

261–6327

Appendix B—Notice of Intent To Participate

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural

Development, Office of Community

Development Room 701, 300 Seventh

Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20024

Note: Rural entities may:

(1) Fax this notice to (202) 690–1395;

(2) Submit this notice via e-mail to

‘‘round2.rural@www.ezec.gov’’; or

(3) Submit it electronically via the

following website: ‘‘http://

www.ezec.gov/round2’’

This Notice of Intent to Participate in the

Rural Empowerment Zone application

process is submitted by the following

participating entity:

Location of Nominated Area (list state and

counties proposed to be included):

lllllllllllllllllllll

lllllllllllllllllllll

Name & Address of Participating Entity:

lllllllllllllllllllll

lllllllllllllllllllll

Contact & Phone Number, Fax Number and

E-mail address:

lllllllllllllllllllll

l Nominating Entity (check here if

applicable)

l Nominating Entity (if other than named

above) (City, State):

lllllllllllllllllllll

lllllllllllllllllllll

Appendix C

The text of this Appendix which follows

was provided by the U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services:

(1) Background

This appendix includes general guidance

about allowed uses of any Round II EZ/EC

SSBG funds that may be made available for

Round II Empowerment Zones (EZs). It is

based on the assumption that any Round II

EZ/EC SSBG funding will be subject to the

same statutory restrictions as the Round I EZ/

EC SSBG grants. The U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services (HHS) will issue

further guidance regarding any Round II EZ/

EC SSBG funds soon after it is authorized to

award the funds.

(2) Awards to States

(a) HHS will award Round II EZ/EC SSBG

grants to each State that nominated a

designated Round II EZ. HHS will award the

funds for each Round II EZ to the State

agency that typically receives Social Services

Block Grants, unless the EZ Lead Entity and

its State request HHS to award them to a

different agency.

(b) The HHS Terms and Conditions of the

Round II EZ/EC SSBG grants will direct the

recipient State agency to provide the funds

to the appropriate Round II EZ Lead

Entity(ies) for activities specified in the EZ’s

strategic plan and benchmarks. It is expected

that the EZs will revise their plans and

benchmarks from time to time.

(3) Allowed Uses of Round II EZ/EC SSBG

Funds

(a) The Round II EZs may use Round II EZ/

EC SSBG funds for a wide variety of

programs, services and activities directed at

revitalizing distressed communities and

promoting economic independence for

residents. Allowed programs, services and

activities include, but are not limited to:

• Community and economic development

programs and efforts to create employment

opportunities;

• Job training and job readiness projects;

• Health programs such as public health

education, primary health care, emergency

medical services, alcohol and substance

abuse prevention and treatment programs,

and mental health services;

• Human development services such as

child, youth and family development

programs, services for the elderly, and child

care services;

• Education projects such as after-school

activities, adult learning classes, and schoolto-work projects;

• Transportation services;

• Environmental clean up programs;

• Policing and criminal justice projects

such as community policing efforts and

youth gang prevention programs;

• Housing programs;

• Projects providing training and technical

assistance to the EZ Lead Entity, its board

and committee members, and other

organizations; and

• Projects to finance community-focused

financial institutions for enhancing the

availability of credit such as loan funds,

revolving loan funds, and micro-enterprise

loan funds as well as other activities for

easing financial barriers faced by social

services entities, housing organizations and

other organizations serving EZ residents.

(b) Round II EZs may use the Round II EZ/

EC SSBG funds for projects supported in part

with other federal, state, local or private

funds, and they may allocate a portion of the

funds to the State grantee agency for its

administrative and grant oversight costs.

Round II EZs may not use the funds as the

source of local matching funds required for

other federal grants.

(c) Round II EZs must ensure that each

proposed use of Round II EZ/EC SSBG funds

is: directed at one or more of the EZ/EC SSBG

statutory goals; included in the strategic plan;

structured to benefit EZ residents; and in

compliance with all applicable federal, state

and local laws and regulations.

(d) EZ/EC SSBG Statutory Goals: The

statutory goals for uses of EZ/EC SSBG funds

are as follows:

(1) Achieving and maintaining economic

self-support for residents, to help them

develop and retain the ability to support

themselves and their families economically;

(2) Achieving and maintaining selfsufficiency for residents, to enable them to

become and remain able to care for

themselves in daily activities and in the longterm; and

(3) Preventing Neglect and Abuse and

Preserving Families, to protect children and

adults, who are unable to protect themselves

from neglect, abuse or exploitation, and to

preserve, rehabilitate or reunite families

living in the designated neighborhoods.

(e) Strategic Plan: All programs, services

and activities financed in whole or in part

with Round II EZ/EC SSBG funds must be

included in the strategic plan and

benchmarks. Each project description must

indicate the EZ/EC SSBG statutory goal it is

attempting to achieve and how it will benefit

EZ residents.

(f) Resident Benefit: All programs, services

and activities financed in whole or in part

with Round II EZ/EC SSBG funds must be

structured to benefit EZ residents; the

programs, services and activities may also

benefit nonresidents.

(g) EZ/EC SSBG Statutory Program

Options: To the extent consistent with the

local strategic vision, localities may use

Round II EZ/EC SSBG funds to finance

programs, services and activities for

addressing any of the following broad statutebased ‘‘program options.’’ EZs that use the

funds for any of the program options will

have more flexibility in uses of funds. (See

section (h) below). The EZs are not required

to use the funds for the program options, and

may use Round II EZ/EC SSBG funds to

finance programs, services and activities

addressing other issues. The program options

are as follows:

(1) To provide residential or nonresidential

drug and alcohol prevention and treatment

programs that offer comprehensive services

for residents, particularly for pregnant

women and mothers and their children;

(2) To support:

(A) Training and employment

opportunities for disadvantaged adults and

youths in construction, rehabilitation, or

improvement of affordable housing, public

infrastructure, and community facilities; and

(B) Nonprofit organizations such as

community and junior colleges providing

short-term training courses for disadvantaged

adults and youths about entrepreneurism and

self-employment, and other types of training

that will promote individual self-sufficiency

and the interests of the community.

(3) To support projects designed to

promote and protect the interests of children

and families outside of school hours,

including keeping schools open during

evenings and weekends for mentoring and

study.

(4) To support:

(A) Services designed to promote

community and economic development and

job support services such as skills training,

job counseling, transportation services,

housing counseling, financial management,

and business counseling;

(B) Emergency and transitional housing

and shelters for families and individuals; or

(C) Programs that promote home

ownership, education, and other routes to

economic independence for families and

individuals.

(h) To the extent a program, service or

activity in the strategic plan and benchmark
19148 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 73 /Thursday, April 16, 1998 / Notices

document is a statutory program option listed

in section (g) above, the EZ may use the

Round II EZ/EC SSBG funds to implement

that activity including to:

(1) purchase or improve land or facilities;

(2) make cash payments to individuals for

subsistence or room and board;

(3) make wage payments to individuals as

a social service;

(4) make cash payments for medical care;

and

(5) provide social services to

institutionalized persons.

(i) To the extent a program, service or

activity in the strategic plan and benchmark

document is not a statutory program option

listed in section (g) above, the EZ may use

Round II EZ/EC SSBG funds for the following

purposes as a component of that activity only

after receiving approval from the U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services:

(1) purchase or improve land or facilities;

(2) make cash payments to individuals for

subsistence or room and board;

(3) make wage payments to individuals as

a social service;

(4) make cash payments for medical care;

or

(5) provide social services to

institutionalized persons.

(j) To the extent a program, service or

activity in the strategic plan and benchmark

document is not one of the program options

listed in section (g) above, the plan must

include a statement explaining why the

locality chose that project.

Appendix D

Counties (including other geographic areas,

as applicable) which have demonstrated

outmigration of not less than 15 percent over

the period 1980–1994 as reported by the U.S.

Bureau of the Census.

Alabama

Conecuh County

Dallas County

Greene County

Lowndes County

Macon County

Perry County

Wilcox County

Alaska

Aleutians West Census Area

Bristol Bay Borough

Southeast Fairbanks Census Area

Wade Hampton Census Area

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area

Arizona

Greenlee County

Arkansas

Arkansas County

Chicot County

Desha County

Lee County

Mississippi County

Monroe County

Phillips County

St. Francis County

Woodruff County

Colorado

Baca County

Conejos County

Jackson County

Kiowa County

Lake County

Logan County

Mineral County

Moffat County

Otero County

San Juan County

Sedgwick County

Washington County

Florida

Hardee County

Georgia

Calhoun County

Early County

Miller County

Randolph County

Terrell County

Turner County

Idaho

Bear Lake County

Butte County

Caribou County

Clark County

Clearwater County

Elmore County

Shoshone County

Illinois

Alexander County

Mason County

Pulaski County

Stark County

Warren County

Indiana

Miami County

Iowa

Adams County

Audubon County

Buchanan County

Cherokee County

Chickasaw County

Clay County

Clinton County

Crawford County

Emmet County

Fayette County

Floyd County

Franklin County

Greene County

Grundy County

Hancock County

Humboldt County

Jackson County

Kossuth County

Lyon County

Osceola County

Palo Alto County

Pocahontas County

Shelby County

Webster County

Kansas

Barber County

Barton County

Decatur County

Doniphan County

Geary County

Gove County

Graham County

Haskell County

Jewell County

Morton County

Ness County

Osborne County

Rawlins County

Rice County

Rooks County

Rush County

Scott County

Sheridan County

Sherman County

Stanton County

Trego County

Wallace County

Wichita County

Kentucky

Bell County

Breathitt County

Floyd County

Fulton County

Hardin County

Harlan County

Leslie County

Letcher County

Martin County

Perry County

Pike County

Louisiana

Cameron Parish

Catahoula Parish

Concordia Parish

East Carroll Parish

Iberville Parish

Madison Parish

Morehouse Parish

Red River Parish

Richland Parish

St. Mary Parish

Tensas Parish

Vernon Parish

Maine

Aroostook County

Michigan

Iosco County

Luce County

Marquette County

Minnesota

Big Stone County

Cottonwood County

Faribault County

Freeborn County

Jackson County

Kittson County

Lac qui Parle County

Lake County

Lincoln County

Pennington County

Red Lake County

Redwood County

Renville County

Swift County

Traverse County

Wilkin County

Yellow Medicine County

Mississippi

Adams County

Bolivar County

Claiborne County

Coahoma County

Holmes County

Humphreys County

Issaquena County

Jefferson County

Leflore County

Noxubee County

Quitman County
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 73 /Thursday, April 16, 1998 / Notices 19149

Sharkey County

Sunflower County

Tallahatchie County

Tunica County

Warren County

Washington County

Yazoo County

Missouri

Knox County

Mississippi County

Pemiscot County

Pulaski County

Montana

Big Horn County

Carter County

Daniels County

Dawson County

Deer Lodge County

Fallon County

Garfield County

Hill County

Judith Basin County

Liberty County

McCone County

Meagher County

Petroleum County

Pondera County

Powder River County

Prairie County

Richland County

Roosevelt County

Rosebud County

Sheridan County

Toole County

Treasure County

Valley County

Wibaux County

Nebraska

Antelope County

Arthur County

Banner County

Blaine County

Boone County

Box Butte County

Boyd County

Brown County

Cedar County

Cuming County

Frontier County

Garden County

Grant County

Hayes County

Hitchcock County

Holt County

Hooker County

Keya Paha County

Kimball County

Knox County

Lincoln County

Logan County

Loup County

Morrill County

Nuckolls County

Red Willow County

Rock County

Sioux County

Stanton County

Thomas County

Thurston County

Wheeler County

New Mexico

Cibola County

Guadalupe County

Harding County

Lea County

McKinley County

Union County

North Dakota

Adams County

Benson County

Billings County

Bottineau County

Bowman County

Burke County

Cavalier County

Dickey County

Divide County

Dunn County

Eddy County

Emmons County

Foster County

Golden Valley County

Grant County

Griggs County

Hettinger County

Kidder County

LaMoure County

Logan County

McHenry County

McIntosh County

McKenzie County

McLean County

Mercer County

Mountrail County

Oliver County

Pembina County

Pierce County

Renville County

Sargent County

Sheridan County

Sioux County

Slope County

Stark County

Steele County

Stutsman County

Towner County

Walsh County

Ward County

Wells County

Williams County

Oklahoma

Beaver County

Blaine County

Cimarron County

Ellis County

Harmon County

Harper County

Jackson County

Kingfisher County

Major County

Roger Mills County

Texas County

Tillman County

Washita County

Woods County

Woodward County

Oregon

Harney County

Sherman County

Pennsylvania

Cameron County

South Carolina

Bamberg County

Dillon County

Marlboro County

South Dakota

Buffalo County

Campbell County

Corson County

Day County

Deuel County

Dewey County

Douglas County

Edmunds County

Faulk County

Gregory County

Haakon County

Hand County

Hanson County

Harding County

Hyde County

Jackson County

Jerauld County

Jones County

Lyman County

McPherson County

Mellette County

Perkins County

Potter County

Roberts County

Sanborn County

Shannon County

Spink County

Sully County

Walworth County

Ziebach County

Texas

Andrews County

Bailey County

Briscoe County

Brooks County

Castro County

Cochran County

Collingsworth County

Cottle County

Crane County

Crockett County

Crosby County

Culberson County

Dawson County

Deaf Smith County

Dickens County

Dimmit County

Fisher County

Floyd County

Foard County

Garza County

Glasscock County

Gray County

Hale County

Hall County

Hansford County

Hardeman County

Hemphill County

Hutchinson County

Jim Hogg County

Karnes County

Kenedy County

Kent County

King County

Kleberg County

Lamb County

Lipscomb County

Lynn County

Matagorda County

Motley County

Ochiltree County

Parmer County

Pecos County

Reagan County

Reeves County

Refugio County

Roberts County
19150 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 73 /Thursday, April 16, 1998 / Notices

Shackelford County

Sherman County

Stonewall County

Sutton County

Swisher County

Terrell County

Terry County

Upton County

Ward County

Wheeler County

Winkler County

Yoakum County

Zavala County

Utah

Carbon County

Daggett County

Duchesne County

Emery County

Grand County

Rich County

San Juan County

Virginia

Alleghany County

Bath County

Buchanan County

Wise County

Covington City

Norton City

West Virginia

Boone County

Clay County

Fayette County

Logan County

McDowell County

Mingo County

Webster County

Wetzel County

Wyoming County

Wyoming

Big Horn County

Carbon County

Converse County

Fremont County

Hot Springs County

Platte County

Sweetwater County

Washakie County

Weston County

Appendix E—Form of Memorandum of

Agreement; Rural Empowerment Zones and

Enterprise Communities

This Agreement among the United States

Department of Agriculture (USDA), the State

of lllll and the Empowerment Zone

Lead Entity relating to the Rural

Empowerment Zone known as llllll,

is made pursuant to the Internal Revenue

Code (title 26 of the United States Code) as

amended by title IX of the Taxpayer Relief

Act of 1997 and title XIII, subchapter C, part

I of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

of 1993.

In reliance upon and in consideration of

the mutual representations and obligations

herein contained herein, the applicable

statute and part 25 to 7 CFR, USDA, the State

and the Empowerment Zone agree as follows:

The Rural Empowerment Zone boundaries

are as follows: Census Tracts llll,

llll, llll [as such boundaries may

be modified] in accordance with maps

provided in the application for designation.

The term of the designation as a rural

Empowerment Zone is effective from

[designation date] to December 31, llll,

unless sooner revoked.

The State and the Empowerment Zone

agree to abide by the following:

1. The State and the Empowerment Zone

will comply with the requirements title XIII,

subchapter C, part I of the Omnibus Budget

Reconciliation Act of 1993 as modified by the

Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, and the

regulations appearing at 7 C.F.R. part 25 and

any future regulations.

2. [if applicable] The State and the

Empowerment Zone will comply with such

further statutory, regulatory and contractual

requirements as may be applicable to the

receipt and expenditure of Social Services

Block Grant funds, pursuant to title XX of the

Social Security Act, currently administered

by the Department of Health and Human

Services.

3. The State and the Empowerment Zone

will comply with all elements of the USDA

approved application for designation,

including the strategic plan, submitted to

USDA pursuant to 7 C.F.R. part 25 (‘‘strategic

plan’’) and all assurances, certifications,

schedules or other submissions made in

support of the strategic plan or of this

Agreement.

4. The State and the Empowerment Zone

will submit with each 2-year workplan

required under 7 C.F.R. § 25.403

documentation, in form and substance

satisfactory to the Secretary, sufficient to

identify baselines, benchmark goals,

benchmark activities and timetables for the

implementation of the strategic plan during

the applicable 2 years of the workplan.

5. Pursuant to the strategic plan, the lead

entity for the Empowerment Zone known as

lllll [name of lead entity] lllll,

located at lllll [address] lllll, is

responsible for the implementation of the

strategic plan. The current director of the

lead entity, who is duly authorized to

execute this agreement, is llllll

[name] llllll.

6. [if applicable] The use of EZ/EC title XX

funds will be directed by the lead entity, in

accordance with the strategic plan. The State

will distribute the funds according to the

directives of the lead entity, provided that

such actions are consistent with the USDA

approved strategic plan.

7. The lead entity agrees to timely comply

with the reporting requirements contained in

7 C.F.R. part 25, including reporting on

progress made in carrying out actions

necessary to implement the requirements of

the strategic plan and any assurances,

certifications, schedules or other submissions

made in connection with the designation.

8. The lead entity agrees to submit to

periodic performance reviews by USDA in

accordance with the provisions of 7 C.F.R.

§§ 25.402 and 25.404. Upon request by

USDA, the lead entity will permit

representatives of USDA to inspect and make

copies of any records pertaining to matters

covered by this Agreement.

9. Each year after the execution of this

Agreement, the lead entity will submit

updated documentation sufficient to identify

baselines, benchmark goals and activities and

timetables for the implementation of the

strategic plan during the following 2 years.

Upon written acceptance from USDA, such

documentation shall become part of this

Agreement and shall replace the

documentation submitted previously, for

purposes of operations during the following

2 years.

10. All benchmark goals, benchmark

activities, baselines, and schedules approved

by the Empowerment Zone after a full

community participation process (which

must be documented and which may be

further amended or supplemented from time

to time), will be incorporated as part of this

Agreement. All references to the strategic

plan in this memorandum of agreement shall

be deemed to refer to the strategic plan as

modified in accordance with this paragraph.

11. This Agreement shall be a part of the

strategic plan.

12. Amendments to the strategic plan may

be made only with the approval of the

Empowerment Zone and USDA. The lead

entity must demonstrate to USDA that the

local governments within the Empowerment

Zone were involved in the amendment

process.

13. All attachments and submissions in

accordance herewith are incorporated as part

of this agreement.

This Agreement is dated llllll.

State Government: State of llllll

By: llllll [official authorized to

commit the state] llllll

Title:

Address:

Empowerment Zone [Name of Empowerment

Zone]

By: lllllllllllllllllll

Title:

Address:

Lead entity: [Name of Lead entity]

By: lllllllllllllllllll

Title:

Address:

Federal Government: United States

Department of Agriculture

By: lllllllllllllllllll

Title:

Address:

[FR Doc. 98–10157 Filed 4–14–98; 11:38 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–07–P