Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, and Renewal Communities

Empowerment Zones (EZs), Enterprise Communities (ECs), and Renewal Communities (RCs) are federally designated geographic areas characterized by high levels of poverty and economic distress, where businesses and local governments may be eligible to receive federal grants and tax incentives. Congress remains interested in these programs to revitalize selected areas affected by unemployment and a decline in economic activity, despite increased concern over the size and sustainability of the long-term budget outlook. This book provides a comparative overview of the similarities and differences between the EZ, EC, and RC programs, and reviews congressional policy choices to target and provide federal incentives to economically distressed zones.