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1 RESOLUTION NO. 10,324
2
3 A RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE EMPOWERMENT
4 ZONE ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 1998.
5
6 WHEREAS, under the leadership of President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore,
7 and Secretary Andrew Cuomo, the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community ( "EZ/EC ")
8 Initiative continues to function as a powerful engine fueling economic renewal nationwide;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, the EZ/EC Initiative has leveraged private investment, created jobs that
11 have been filled by people who have not had access to economic opportunity, provided job
12 training and educational opportunities for EZ /EC residents, constructed or rehabilitated
13 housing units; and
14 WHEREAS, the EZ/EC Initiative has brought together important community
15 partners, including businesses, representatives from government, philanthropic institutions,
16 nonprofits, faith- based institutions, and educational institutions, and residents, to implement
17 a plan for comprehensive revitalization in their communities; and
18 WHEREAS, local government continue to use the EZ/EC Initiative to jumpstart
19 growth and development in their most distressed communities; and
20 WHEREAS, the second round of Empowerment Zones has been authorized by
21 Congress in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 and fifteen new urban zones will be designated
22 by January 1, 1999; and
23 WHEREAS, the Act provided for limited business tax incentives for these zones but
24 did not provide the flexible SSBG grant funding necessary to develop a comprehensive
25 approach to revitalization; and
26 WHEREAS, Title XX SSBG funds have been an integral component of EZ/EC
27 programs, allowing for a source of flexible, performance- oriented funding to support a
28 holistic strategy for community revitalization; and
• • '20A
1 WHEREAS, "The Empowerment Zone Enhancement Act of 1998," was introduced in
2 the Senate as 5.1927 on April,2, 1998, and was introduced in the House as H.R. 3622 on
3 April 1, 1998, and amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 by making available $1.5 billion
4 to the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for grants to a second
5 round of fifteen urban Empowerment Zones.
6 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
7 OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
8 SECTION 1. The Board of Directors, supports the Administration's budget request
9 of a $1.5 billion increase in the Title XX SSBG funds to provide for grants to the second
10 round of fifteen urban Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities.
11
12 Adopted: August 4, 1998
13
14
15 Attest:
16
17
18 L, 1.k11: A, NhA AQ _
19 Robbie Hancock, City Clerk
20
21
22 Approved as to Legal Form:
23
24
25 Thomas M. Carpenter, City Attorney
26
27
Approved:
/VVt I�.CGK— l�
Jim Dailey, Mayor