Round III of the EZ/EC program was announced during FY 2001. Applications were due in October of 2001. Of the applications The Office of Community Development received, 11 included some type of tribal participation. Two new Rural Empowerment Zones were announced in January of 2002, the FUTURO Empowerment Zone in Texas and the Aroostook County Empowerment Zone in Maine. They both listed federally recognized tribes as active partners. The FUTURO EZ is partnering with The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas while The Aroostook County EZ is partnering with the Aroostook Band of Micmac Indians and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.