1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20381Updated October 22, 2002Empowerment Zone/Enterprise CommunitiesProgram: Overview of Rounds I, II, and IIIBruce K. MulockSpecialist in Government and BusinessGovernment and Finan
2、ce DivisionSummaryIn 1993, Congress set in motion a major economic development initiative designedto revitalize deteriorating urban and rural communities. The Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC) program targeted federal grants for social services andcommunity redevelopment, and provided
3、tax and regulatory relief intended to attract andretain businesses in designated areas. It embraced a two-tier designation process.Originally, six urban and three rural areas were designated Empowerment Zones (EZs).They enjoyed the bulk of the tax and grant incentives. An additional 60 urban and 30r
4、ural areas were designated Enterprise Communities (ECs); they received a smallerpackage of federal incentives. In 1997, Congress created a Round II of the EZ/ECprogram, authorizing the designation of 20 additional EZs (15 urban, 5 rural). RoundII EZs were given a different mix of tax incentives. And
