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Lead Entity: Four Corners Empowerment Zone Corporation

States: Arizona, New Mexico, Utah
Counties: (AZ) Apache (9772,9771), Coconino (0023, 0022, 0025), Navajo (9671, 9672, 9673) ; (NM) San Juan (0010.0, 0009, 0008); (UT) San Juan (9784, 9783, 9782)
Community Population: 28,637
Poverty Rate: 49.1%
Net Land Area: 382 square miles
Congressional Representatives: J.D. Hayworth (Arizona) R-6, Bob Stump (Arizona) R-3, Tom Udall (New Mexico) D-3, Chris Cannon (Utah) R-3

• Navajo Nation
• Unemployment Rate is 45.8%

The Four Corners Empowerment Zone is located in parts of three states: northeastern Arizona, southeastern Utah, and northwestern New Mexico. This area is the northern portion of the Navajo Nation, and involved twenty-two Navajo Nation Chapters (communities) and the Hopi and Ute tribes. There are two developable sites. " The EZ is an arid, windblown and eroded country, but inhabited by sturdy people who have learned to live with the harshness of the environment."

• Agriculture – Form community based farm cooperative; improve irrigation canals; construct outlet marketing center; create joint venture partnership with Lamb Western, construct facility.
• Community Facilities – Construct a community and recreation center; renovate Chapter House building; construct a learning center, park and other facilities.
• Infrastructure – Construct water system; design and develop 26 solid waste transfer stations and close 92 open dumps.
• Early Childhood Education – Construct or renovate eleven Head Start facilities.
• Health Care – Diabetes prevention program; renovate building for fitness/nutrition center; renovate and expand medical clinic.
• Housing Improvements - Renovate or construct 107 housing units for low income.
• Tourism – Design and develop marina, campground and support facilities.

Partners include the Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute, Hopi Nation and county, federal and private organizations.

1. Resource identification and leveraging is clearly outlined. Funding only projects with identified matching partners. Identifies over $27 million of committed funding and $130 million of uncommitted funds for the first two years of project.

A task force provided bilingual training sessions to the community. Also trained attendees in filling out project application forms. Held over 80 local meetings.

Last Updated: October 21, 2008