COLORADO

The Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC) Initiative is as its name suggests, an empowerment program.  The program is based on a locally developed strategic plan, using four key principles:

• economic opportunity

• sustainable community development

• community based partnerships 

• strategic visions for change.

Each plan is crafted with the support and participation of both the residents and businesses in the community.

This initiative creates successful partnerships between all levels of government, private business, community groups, and local residents to bring new life to our rural communities suffering from hard economic times. 

The highly competitive nature of the EZ/EC  selection process resulted in many communities developing their strategic planning process and not being selected for funding.  To address these communities, rural Champion Communities were established by USDA .

Champion Communities are chosen from among the pool of applicants who sought designation as an Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community and were not selected.

Select resources to find additional information on Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community.

 

eAuthentication Online Registration   5-Star Commitment to Expand Rural Minority Homeownership   Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at USDA

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Last Revised 03/11/2005 - Contact the webmaster