|
The Rural Economic Area Partnership (REAP) Zone initiative was established in partnership
with the U.S. Congress to address critical issues in rural communities.
Many
rural areas face economic and community development issues of a very different
character than communities whose needs are mainly defined by poverty. Often, the
defining features are stagnant or declining employment, low-density settlement
patterns, geographic isolation and disconnection from markets and centers of
finance, continued population loss, and economic distress. To address these
issues, USDA Rural Development advocated a pilot concept for rural revitalization and community
development called REAP Zones.
The REAP Zone designation is a 10 year designation
and in 1999, U.S.D.A. entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with these
communities to provide ongoing support and assistance.
In Fiscal Year 2000, the
nation’s REAP Zones were formally recognized in the appropriations language of
the U.S.D.A. to be eligible for Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC)
priority scoring points as well as set aside funding.
New York has two REAP Zones:
Tioga REAP Zone
The Tioga REAP Zone encompasses all 15 Towns and
Villages within Tioga County. For more information visit the Tioga REAP Zone
website and the USDA
Rural Development's Office of Community Development website.
Sullivan-Wawarsing REAP Zone:
The Sullivan-Wawarsing REAP Zone includes
all of the Towns and Villages within Sullivan County as well as the Town of
Wawarsing in Ulster County. For more information visit the USDA
Rural Development's Office of Community Development website.
|