This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

30151

Vol. 66, No. 108

Tuesday, June 5, 2001

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 (EZ) as this term

is defined in this Notice and title 7 Code

of Federal Regulations part 25 (7 CFR

part 25). 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 or Indian tribal government having

jurisdiction over the nominated area.

Title 7 part 25 provides guidance which

is supplemental to that provided in this

Notice and which is necessary for

completion and submission of

applications.

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

‘‘round3.rural@ocdx.usda.gov’’.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Deputy Administrator, USDA Office of

Community Development, Reporters

Building, 300 7th Street, SW, Room 266,

Washington, DC 20024–3203, telephone

1–800–645–4712, or send an Internet email message to

‘‘round3.rural@ocdx.usda.gov.’’

Information may also be obtained at

‘‘http://www.ezec.gov/round3’’.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

The information collection

requirements contained in this Notice

have been approved by the Office of

Management and Budget under OMB

Control Number 0570–0027.

I. Background

The Empowerment Zone program

represents a holistic approach to the

problems of distressed rural and urban

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, physical

development problems and

opportunities in a comprehensive

fashion.

The Community Renewal Tax Relief

Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–554)

authorized the Secretary of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (Secretary) to

designate up to two Empowerment

Zones (‘‘Round III’’) in addition to those

rural empowerment zones and

enterprise communities designated

earlier.

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 third round.

Applications submitted for

designation as a Round III Rural

Empowerment Zone may also be

considered, and used as the sole basis

for designation, for any additional

Enterprise Communities or other special

community designations authorized by

Congress prior to the date by which

designations of Round III Empowerment

Zones are required to be made.

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 community and

economic development. The Federal

Government has taken steps to

coordinate Federal assistance in support

of the Empowerment Zones, including

expedited processing and priority

funding.

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 7 CFR part 25 of the

Federal Register. Unless specified

otherwise, the terms used in this Notice,

inclusive of the appendices, shall be

defined as contained in 7 CFR part 25.

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

7 CFR part 25. 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 Appendix

A of this Notice or by sending an

Internet e-mail message to:

‘‘round3.rural@ocdx.usda.gov’’. They

are also available at the following

website: ‘‘http://www.ezec.gov/

round3’’. The deadline for receipt of the

complete application is 5 p.m. Eastern

Time, Monday, October 1, 2001.

Applications received after that time

will not be accepted, and will be

returned to the sender. Since

applications require certifications from

the State and local governments, we

cannot accept applications sent by FAX

or through the Internet system.

Applications must be submitted on

standard 81⁄2′′ × 11′′ paper and contained

30152 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2001 / Notices

in standard 3′′ 3-ring binders. 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 266,

Washington, DC 20024. No video or

audio tapes, posters, display boards, or

other accompanying material will be

accepted as part of the Application.

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 are encouraged

to 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

‘‘round3.rural@ocdx.usda.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/round3’’. 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 III application form and

(2) Round III 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 III application form parts I

through IV; and

(b) The required certifications and

written assurances contained in 7 CFR

§ 25.200(b) which are not otherwise

included in part III of the Round III

application form;

(2) A strategic plan which meets the

requirements of 7 CFR part 25 and the

form and content requirements specified

in section VII of this Notice; and

(3) Maps. Attach a copy of a map that

shows the 1990 census 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 7 CFR § 25.202 and

§ 25.204. Each major section of the

strategic plan should address how the

plan will achieve the four key principal

objectives contained in 7 CFR § 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 entity 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 are limited to those

that pledge either monetary or in-kind

resources toward the implementation of

the strategic plan. Letters of support

may be submitted as part of the

Application and should be grouped in

this section of the strategic plan.

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.

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-

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2001 / Notices 30153

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 7 CFR 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 7 CFR

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 7 CFR 25.402(c)(2) for the

initial two years of the designation

period.

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 Empowerment

Zone 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 7 CFR 25.202(a)(2).

VIII. Counties Which Meet the

Outmigration Test for Purposes of 7

CFR 25.104(b)(2)(iii)

For purposes of volume I, section 3—

Eligibility, counties which meet the

outmigration test for purposes of 7 CFR

25.104(b)(2)(iii) are listed in appendix C

to this Notice.

IX. Round III Champion Communities

Champion Communities will be

selected from those rural communities

which applied for designation as an

Empowerment Zone and, despite having

met all requirements for selection, were

not so designated. State Rural

Development Directors and staff will

work with Champion Communities to

provide support, guidance and technical

assistance in strategic planning and

implementation efforts, if the Champion

Community elects to execute a

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

with Rural Development. To the extent

possible, preferential consideration will

be given to Champion Communities

when processing applications for loans

and grants for Rural Development

Programs.

X. Memorandum of Agreement

It is expected that a MOA will be

entered into relating to each designated

Round III Empowerment Zone. The

MOA shall conform in all material

respects to the form of MOA provided

in appendix D 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

provisions 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: May 25, 2001.

Ann M. Veneman,

Secretary.

List of Appendices

A—Rural Development State EZ–EC

State Contacts

B—Notice of Intent To Participate

C—Counties Which Meet the

Outmigration Test

D—Form of Memorandum of Agreement

Appendix A: EZ/EC State Contacts

Alabama

State Director, Rural Development, Sterling

Center, 4121 Carmichael Road/Suite 601,

Montgomery, AL 36106–3683, phone: 334–

279–3400, fax: 334–279–3403.

Alaska

State Director, Rural Development, 800 W.

Evergreen, Suite 201, Palmer, AK 99645–

6539, phone: 907–761–7700, fax: 907–761–

7783.

Arizona

State Director, Rural Development,

Phoenix Corporate Center, 3003 North

Central Avenue, Suite 900, Phoenix, AZ

85012–2906, phone: 602–280–8707, fax: 602–

808–8770.

Arkansas

State Director, Rural Development, 700 W

Capitol Avenue, Room 3416, Little Rock, AR

72201–3225, phone: 501–301–3200, fax: 501–

301–3278.

30154 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2001 / Notices

California

State Director, Rural Development, 430 G.

Street, #4169, Davis, CA 95616–4169, phone:

530–792–5800, fax: 530–792–5837.

Colorado

State Director, Rural Development, 655

Parfet Street, Room E–100, Lakewood, CO

80215, phone: 303–236–2801 Ext. 134, fax:

303–236–2854.

Delaware/Maryland

State Director, Rural Development, 5201

South Dupont Highway, P.O. Box 400,

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

fax: 302–697–4390.

Florida/Virgin Islands

State Director, Rural Development, 4440

N.W. 25th Pl., P.O. Box 147010, Gainesville,

FL 32614–7010, phone: 352–338–3402, fax:

352–338–3405.

Georgia

State Director, Rural Development, 355 E.

Hancock Ave., Athens, GA 30601–2768,

phone: 706–546–2162, fax: 706–546–2152.

Hawaii

State Director, Rural Development, Federal

Building, Room 311, 154 Waianuenue Ave,

Hilo, HI 96720, phone: 808–933–8302, fax:

808–933–8325.

Idaho

State Director, Rural Development, 9173

West Barms, Suite A1, Boise, ID 83709,

phone: 208–378–5615, fax: 208–378–5643.

Illinois

State Director, Rural Development, Illini

Plaza, Suite 103, 1817 South Neil Street,

Champaign, IL 61820, phone: 217–398–5235,

fax: 217–398–5337.

Indiana

State Director, Rural Development, 5975

Lakeside Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46278,

phone: 317–290–3100 ext. 400, fax: 317–290–

3095.

Iowa

State Director, Rural Development, 210

Walnut Street, Federal Bldg./Room 873, Des

Moines IA 50309, phone: 515–284–4663, fax:

515–284–4859.

Kansas

State Director, P.O. Box 4653, 1201 SW

Executive Drive, Topeka, KS 66604, phone:

785–271–2701, fax: 785–271–2708.

Kentucky.

State Director, Rural Development, 771

Corporate Dr., Suite 200, Lexington, KY

40503, phone: 859–224–7300, fax: 859–224–

7425.

Louisiana

State Director, Rural Development, 3727

Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302,

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

Maine

State Director, Rural Development, 444

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

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

9160, fax: 207–990–9165.

Massachusetts

State Director, Rural Development, 451

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

253–4310, fax: 413–253–4347.

Michigan

State Director, Rural Development, 3001

Coolidge Road, Suite 200, East Lansing, MI

48823, phone: 616–745–8364, fax: 616–745–

8493.

Minnesota

State Director, Rural Development, 410

Agriculture Bank Building, 375 Jackson

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

651–602–7801, fax: 651–602–7824.

Mississippi

State Director, Rural Development, 100 W

Capital St., Federal Building, Suite 831,

Jackson, MS 39269, phone: 601–965–4318,

fax: 601–965–5384.

Missouri

State Director, Rural Development, 601

Business Loop, Parkade Center, Suite 235 ,

Columbia, MO 65203, phone: 573–876–0976,

fax: 573–876–0977.

Montana

State Director, Rural Development, 900

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

Bozeman, MT 59771, phone: 406–585–2580,

fax: 406–585–2565.

Nebraska

State Director, Rural Development, Federal

Building, Mail Room 152, 100 Centennial

Mall N., Room 308, Lincoln, NE 68508,

phone: 402–437–5550, fax: 402–437–5408.

Nevada

State Director, Rural Development, 1390

South Curry St., Carson City, NV 89703–

9910, phone: 775–887–1222, fax: 775–885–

0841.

New Hampshire/Vermont

State Director, Rural Development, City

Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street,

Montpelier, VT 05602, phone: 802–828–

6002, fax: 802–828–6018.

New Jersey

State Director, Rural Development,

Tarnsfield Plaza, Suite 22, 790 Woodland

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

3600, fax: 609–265–3651.

New Mexico

State Director, Rural Development, 6200

Jefferson Street NE, Room 255, Albuquerque,

NM 87109, phone: 505–761–4950, fax: 505–

761–4976.

New York

State Director, Rural Development, The

Galleries of Syracuse, 441 S. Salina Street,

Suite 357, Syracuse, NY 13202–2541, phone:

315–477–6435, fax: 315–477–6438.

North Carolina

State Director, Rural Development, 4405

Bland Rd, Suite 260, Raleigh NC 27609,

phone: 919–873–2037, fax: 919–873–2075.

North Dakota

State Director, Rural Development, P.O.

Box 1737, Bismarck, ND 58502, phone: 701–

530–2054, fax: 701–530–2108.

Ohio

State Director, Rural Development, Federal

Building, Room 507, 200 North High Street,

Columbus OH 43215–2418, phone: 614–255–

2390, fax: 614–255–2559.

Oklahoma

State Director, Rural Development, 100

USDA, Suite 108, Stillwater, OK 74074–2654,

phone: 405–742–1000, fax: 405–742–1005.

Oregon

State Director, Rural Development, 101 SW

Main Street, Suite 1410, Portland, OR 97204–

3222, phone: 503–414–3300, fax: 503–414–

3386.

Pennsylvania

State Director, One Credit Union Place,

Suite 330, Harrisburg, PA 17110–2996,

phone: 717–334–8827, fax: 717–237–2191.

Puerto Rico

State Director, Rural Development, P.O.

Box 366106, San Juan, PR 00936–6106,

phone: 787–766–5095, fax: 787–766–5844.

South Carolina

State Director, Rural Development, Strom

Thurmond Federal Building, 1835 Assembly

Street, Room 1007, Columbia, SC 29201,

phone: 803–765–5163, fax: 803–765–5633.

South Dakota

State Director, Rural Development, Federal

Building, Room 210, 200 Fourth Street SW,

Huron, SD 57350–2477, phone: 605–352–

1100, fax: 605–352–1146.

Tennessee

State Director, Rural Development, 3322

West End Ave., Suite 300, Nashville, TN

37203–1084, phone: 615–783–1300, fax: 615–

783–1301.

Texas

State Director, Rural Development, 101 S.

Main Street, Suite 102, Temple, TX 76501,

phone: 254–742–9710, fax: 254–742–9709.

Utah

State Director, Rural Development, Wallace

F. Bennett Federal Bldg., Room 4311, Salt

Lake City, UT 84147–0350, phone: 801–524–

4320, fax: 801–524–4406.

Vermont/New Hampshire

State Director, Rural Development, City

Center, 3rd Floor, 89 Main Street,

Montpelier, VT 05602, phone: 802–828–

6002, fax: 802–828–6018.

Virginia

State Director, Rural Development,

Culpepper Building, Suite 238, 1606 Santa

Rosa Road, Richmond, VA 23229, phone:

804–287–1552, fax: 804–287–1721.

Washington

State Director, Rural Development, 1835

Black Lake Blvd. SW, Suite B, Olympia, WA

98512, phone: 360–704–7715, fax: 360–704–

7742.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2001 / Notices 30155

Wisconsin

State Director, Rural Development, 4949

Kirschling Court, Stevens Point, WI 54481,

phone: 715–345–7676, fax: 715–345–7669.

West Virginia

State Director, Rural Development, 75 High

Street, Room 320, Morgantown, WV 26505,

phone: 304–284–4860, fax: 304–284–4893.

Wyoming

State Director, Rural Development, 100

East B, Federal Bldg. Room 1005, Casper, WY

82602, phone: 307–261–6300, fax: 307–261–

6327.

Appendix B

Notice of Intent to Participate

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of

Community Development, Reporters

Building, 300 Seventh Street, SW., Room

266, Washington, DC 20024.

Note: Rural entities may:

(1) fax this notice to (202) 260–6225;

(2) submit this notice via e-mail to

‘‘round3.rural@ocdx.usda.gov’’; or

(3) submit it electronically via the

following website: ‘‘http://www.ezec.gov/

round3’’.

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

Nominating Entity (check here if

applicable).

Nominating Entity (if other than named

above) (City, State):

lllllllllllllllllllll

lllllllllllllllllllll

Appendix C

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

30156 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2001 / Notices

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

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

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 108 / Tuesday, June 5, 2001 / Notices 30157

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

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 D

Form of Memorandum of Agreement

Rural Empowerment Zones

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 lllll, is

made pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code

(title 26 of the United States Code) as

amended by The Community Renewal Tax

Relief Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–554).

In reliance upon and in consideration of

the mutual representations and obligations

herein contained, the applicable statute and

part 25 to 7 C.F.R., the State and the

Empowerment Zone agree as follows:

The Rural Empowerment Zone boundaries

are as follows: Census Tracts lll, lll,

lll [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, lll, unless sooner revoked.

1. The State and the Empowerment Zone

will comply with the requirements of The

Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000,

and the regulations appearing in 7 C.F.R. part

25 and any future regulations.

2. 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 Federal funds.

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

lll [name of lead entity] lll, located

at lll [address] lll, 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

lll [name] lll.

6. The use of Federal funds will be directed

by the lead entity, in accordance with the

strategic plan. The distribution of these funds

will be in accordance with 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 datedl. llllllll

State Government: State of l lllllll

By:l llllllllllllllllll

[Official authorized to commit the state]

Title: llllllllllllllllll

Address: llllllllllllllll

Empowerment Zone [Name of Empowerment

Zone].

By:l llllllllllllllllll

Title: llllllllllllllllll

Address: llllllllllllllll

Lead entity: [Name of Lead entity].

By: lllllllllllllllllll

Title: llllllllllllllllll

Address: llllllllllllllll

Federal Government: United States

Department of Agriculture.

By: lllllllllllllllllll

Title: llllllllllllllllll

Address: llllllllllllllll

[FR Doc. 01–14119 Filed 6–4–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–07–P