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RC/EZ Initiative Timeline


	Information by State Print version

	8/10/93- Congress enacts the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA 1993, P.L. 103-66), which established the EZ/EC Initiative's eligibility criteria, designation procedures, and benefits.
	12/21/94- Round I results are announced. There are 6 urban EZs, 2 Supplemental EZs (SEZs), 4 Enhanced Enterprise Communities (EECs) and 66 ECs.
	7/25-26/95- White House Community Empowerment Conference held in Washington, DC.
	7/26/95- HUD EDI/108 Funds Awarded to 2 SEZs (Los Angeles/Cleveland) and 4 EECs (Boston, Oakland, Kansas City & Houston)
	2/21-23/96- White House Community Empowerment Conference held in Washington, DC
	4/14-16/97- White House Community Empowerment Conference held in Detroit, MI
	8/7/97- Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 authorizes the designation of fifteen new Urban Empowerment Zones and five new Rural Zones
	4/16/98- Vice President announces the EZ Round II competition at the annual meeting of the National Conference of Black Mayors in New Orleans, Louisiana
	4/16/98- Federal Register publishes the Round II Regulations (Rule and Notice Inviting Applications) which govern the competition. HUD also issues 6 technical assistance publications to assist potential applicants (Application Forms, Application Guide, Strategic Planning Guide, Performance Measurement System Guide, Federal Programs Guide, What Works in EZ/ECs). Over 10,000 Round II technical assistance publications are distributed to potential applicants.
	4/17/98- HUD begins a series of ten regional Round II Technical Assistance Workshops to assist potential applicants. Over 1,200 people attend the workshops.

4/17- Columbus, Ohio	4/20- Memphis, Tennessee
4/24- Houston, Texas	4/27- Kansas City, Missouri
5/4- Denver, Colorado	5/7- Providence, Rhode Island
5/12- Washington, DC	5/18- Long Beach, California
5/20- Seattle, Washington	5/28- Newark, New Jersey

	7/14 - 16/1998- Vice President and HUD Secretary host White House Community Empowerment Conference in Washington, DC to assist Round II applicants. Over 2,200 people attended the Conference.
	10/98- The omnibus budget agreement passed by Congress contains $45 million in HUD funding for the 15 new Empowerment Zones.
	12/31/98- HUD designates 15 new Urban Empowerment Zones.
	1/13/98- Vice President, HUD Secretary and USDA Secretary announce the 20 (15 urban/5 rural) Round II Empowerment Zones.
	5/23 - 27/99- White House Community Empowerment Conference held in McAllen, TX, The Rio Grande EZ is the host.
	6/27 - 29/2000- White House Community Empowerment Conference was held in Columbus, Ohio. The conference, held under the theme "Investing in America's Communities," attracts more than 1,400 registrants and 60 exhibitors.
	12/21/00 - Congress passes the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000, which authorizes 28 urban and 12 rural Renewal Communities (RCs) as well as a Round III of 7 new urban and 2 rural Empowerment Zones (EZs). The designations of these RCs and EZs will be effective from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2009. The CRTR Act extends the designation periods of the Round I and II Empowerment Zones through December 31, 2009.
	06/01 - HUD's RC/EZ/EC office holds free 2-day technical assistance workshops in Boston, Knoxville, Minneapolis, Ft. Worth and Long Beach for communities interested in applying for RC and Round III EZ designation.
	12/31/01 - HUD designates 40 Renewal Communities (28 in urban areas and 12 in rural areas) and 8 urban Round III Empowerment Zones.
	5/19-22/2002 - HUD holds Community Renewal Implementation Conference at Ronald Reagan International Center in Washington, DC to provide valuable technical assistance to representatives of new Renewal Community and Empowerment Zone designees.
	5/2003 - HUD's Office of Community Renewal conducts 2-day tax incentive workshops for small business owners, accountants, community development representatives, and RC/EZ directors in Jacksonville, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; and Tucson, Arizona. Former Secretary Mel Martinez, White House economists, a Washington, DC-based tax attorney, and hundreds of attendees participate in these events.
	10/2003 - HUD's Office of Community Renewal conducts a 2-day tax incentive workshop for small business owners, accountants, community development representatives, and RC/EZ directors in Costa Mesa, California. A White House economist, a Washington, DC-based tax attorney, guest-speaking presidents of community development banks, and hundreds of attendees participate in this event.
	11/2003 - HUD's Office of Community Renewal conducts a 2-day tax incentive workshop for small business owners, accountants, community development representatives, and RC/EZ directors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A White House economist, a Washington, DC-based tax attorney, guest-speaking presidents of community development banks, and hundreds of attendees participate in this event.
	12/31/04 - The 10-year designation periods expire for the Round I urban and rural Enterprise Communities that HUD and USDA designated in 1994.
	8/4/05 - HUD and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund of the Department of Treasury co-hosted a satellite TV broadcast on the $15 billion New Markets Tax Credit program, which is funneling sorely-needed development capital into Renewal Communities, Empowerment Zones, and other distressed communities. For more information on this broadcast and on the New Markets Tax Credit program, visit http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/economicdevelopment/programs/rc/about/newmarkets.cfm
	2/27/06 - HUD and IRS host a webcast on the $19 billion package of Renewal Community, Empowerment Zone and Gulf Opportunity Zone tax incentives. This webcast is available at http://www.hud.gov/webcasts/archives/community.cfm for viewing anytime after February 27, 2006. In this broadcast, IRS experts provide detailed information and answer questions on these tax incentives, which include employment credits, increased tax deductions, Commercial Revitalization Deductions, low-interest loans through Enterprise Zone facility bonds, 0% tax provisions on capital gains, bonus depreciation incentives, and other incentives.
	10/11/07 - HUD and IRS host a webcast on the $11 billion package of Renewal Community and Empowerment Zone tax incentives. This webcast is available at http://www.connectlive.com/events/hud101107/ for viewing anytime. In this broadcast, IRS experts provide detailed information, answer questions, and provide updated information on these tax incentives, which include employment credits, increased tax deductions, Commercial Revitalization Deductions, a 0% tax provision on capital gains, and other incentives. Please send an e-mail to OCRTaxCredit@hud.gov if you would like to receive the set of PowerPoint slides featured in the webcast.

Content updated January 30, 2008

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