[Federal Register: May 7, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 88)] [Notices] [Page 24668] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr07my99-106] [[Page 24668]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-4281-N-09] Notice of Designation of Urban Empowerment Zones AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, HUD. ACTION: Notice of designation of Urban Empowerment Zones. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On April 16, 1998, HUD published a notice inviting applications for designation of Empowerment Zones, which receive special tax benefits for area businesses. This notice announces the fifteen urban areas designated as Empowerment Zones in response to the applications submitted. This notice also announces the names of fifteen other communities, called Strategic Planning Communities, that were finalists in the competition. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elaine Braverman, Empowerment Zone/ Enterprise Community Initiative, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Room 7130, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-6339. (This telephone number is not toll-free.) For persons with hearing or speech disabilities, this telephone number may be accessed via TTY (text telephone) by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 (toll-free). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The rule that governs the selection of this second round of urban Empowerment Zones (published on April 16, 1998 at 63 FR 19151) is based on section 1391 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 1391), as amended by sections 952-954 of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-34, 111 Stat. 788, enacted on August 5, 1997) (the 1997 Act). Section 952 of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 added a new section 1391(g), which changed the eligibility criteria for this second round of 20 Empowerment Zones. Fifteen of the new zones were to be in urban areas, designated by the Secretary of HUD, and five of them were to be in rural areas, designated by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Act expanded the eligibility criteria slightly, provided different tax incentives applicable to the new EZs, and made other changes affecting EZs, thus necessitating changes to the implementing regulations. The notice inviting applications from States and local governments for nomination of urban areas as Empowerment Zones also was published on April 16, 1998. That notice provided for an application deadline of October 9, 1998. HUD carefully considered all applications, and on January 13, 1999, Vice President Al Gore announced the urban areas that were designated by HUD as Empowerment Zones and the rural areas that were designated by the Department of Agriculture as rural Empowerment Zones. On that date, Vice President Gore also announced the fifteen communities, called Strategic Planning Communities, that were finalists in the competition. Appendix A to this notice lists the urban areas that HUD designated as urban Empowerment Zones. Appendix A to this notice also lists the communities, called Strategic Planning Communities, that were finalists in the competition. Authority: 26 U.S.C. 1391. Dated: April 30, 1999. Cardell Cooper, Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. Appendix A ------------------------------------------------------------------------ State City ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Empowerment Zones ------------------------------------------------------------------------ California................................ Santa Ana. Connecticut............................... New Haven. Florida................................... Miami. Indiana................................... Gary/E. Chicago, Indiana. Massachusetts............................. Boston. Minnesota................................. Minneapolis. Missouri.................................. St. Louis/E. St. Louis, Illinois. New Jersey................................ Cumberland County. Ohio...................................... Cincinnati. Ohio...................................... Columbus. South Carolina............................ Columbia/Sumter. Tennessee................................. Knoxville. Texas..................................... El Paso. Virginia.................................. Norfolk/Portsmouth. West Virginia............................. Huntington, West Virginia/ Ironton, Ohio. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Strategic Planning Communities ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Alabama................................... Birmingham. Alaska.................................... Anchorage. Arkansas.................................. Little Rock/North Little Rock. Kentucky.................................. Louisville. Louisiana................................. New Orleans. Mississippi............................... Jackson. Missouri.................................. Kansas City/Kansas City Kansas. New Jersey................................ Newark/Elizabeth. New York.................................. New York City/Brooklyn. Nevada.................................... Las Vegas/North Las Vegas. Rhode Island.............................. Providence South Carolina............................ Charleston/North Charleston. Texas..................................... San Antonio. Vermont................................... Burlington/Plattsburgh, New York. Washington................................ Tacoma/Lakewood. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [FR Doc. 99-11506 Filed 5-6-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-29-P