EZ Overview
| EZ Program
Principles |
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Economic Opportunity |
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Sustainable Community Development |
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Community-Based Partnerships |
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Strategic Vision for Change |
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In January of 2002, the Aroostook County Champion
Community was one of two communities nationwide designated as
a Round III Empowerment Zone through USDA Rural Development. The
Empowerment Zone program is a federal program created to assist
distressed communities suffering from high levels of poverty or
significant population loss. While northern Maine did not meet
the poverty standards to apply for the program, Aroostook County
met the outmigration standards.
Other counties in the region, however, did not
meet the standards in either category and therefore were not eligible
to apply.
After meeting the strict qualifying criteria, eligible
communities prepared long-term, community-driven strategic plans
for community development that are then judged in a competitive
process. Aroostook County was one of two rural zones selected
from more than 50 applications in Round III. The other Round III
rural zone is the FUTURO Empowerment Zone in Texas.
Communities designated as an Empowerment Zone receive
a variety of federal tax benefits along with technical assistance
provided through USDA Rural Development. The designation generally
lasts for 10 years from the designation date.
The Aroostook County Empowerment Zone represents
a collaborative, three-year effort led by Northern Maine Development
Commission. The strategic plan and the zone boundaries were determined
by a series of public meetings held throughout the region.
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