COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING 

EMPOWERMENT ZONE ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 1998

WHEREAS, under the leadership of President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, and Secretary Andrew Cuomo, the EZ/EC Initiative continues to function as a powerful engine fueling economic renewal nationwide; and

WHEREAS, the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Initiative has leveraged private investment, created jobs that have been filled by people who have not had access to economic opportunity, provided job training and educational opportunities for EZ/EC residents, constructed or rehabilitated housing units; and

WHEREAS, the EZ/EC Initiative has brought together important community partners, including businesses, representatives from government, philanthropic institutions, non-profits, faith-based institutions, and educational institutions, and residents, to implement a plan for comprehensive revitalization in their communities; and

WHEREAS, local government continue to use the EZ/EC Initiative to jumpstart growth and development in their most distressed communities; and

WHEREAS, a second round of Empowerment Zones has been authorized by Congress in The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and fifteen new urban zones will be designated by January 1, 1999; and

WHEREAS, the Act provided for limited business tax incentives for these zones but did not provide the flexible SSBG grant funding necessary to develop a comprehensive approach to revitalization; and

WHEREAS, Title XX SSBG funds have been an integral component of EZ/EC programs, allowing for a source of flexible, performance-oriented funding to support a holistic strategy for community revitalization; and

WHEREAS, "The Empowerment Zone Enhancement Act of 1998," was introduced in the Senate as S.1927 on April 2, 1998 and was introduced in the House as H.R.3622 on April 1, 1998, and amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 by making available $1.5 billion to the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for grants to a second round of fifteen urban Empowerment Zones,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports the Administration’s budget request of a $1.5 billion increase in the Title XX SSBG funds to provide for grants to the second round of fifteen urban Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities.