&EPA
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5101)
EPA500-F-97-091
April 1997
Brownfields and
Empowerment Zones/
Enterprise Communities
Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5101)
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower States, communities, and other
stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up,
and sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived
contamination and an active potential for redevelopment or reuse. EPA's Brownfields Initiative strategies include
funding pilot programs and other research efforts, clarifying liability issues, entering into partnerships, conducting
outreach activities, developing job training programs, and addressing environmental justice concerns.
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EZ/EC
The EmpowermentZone/Enterprise Community (EZ/
EC) program is designed to empower communities
across the nation by inspiring people to work together
to create jobs and opportunities. Specifically, an EZ
or EC is a distressed community that the Federal
government has targeted to receive substantial in-
vestment of Federal technical resources to encourage
private sector development, job growth, and entre-
preneurship.
In December 1994, the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) designated six urban
EZs and 65 urban ECs, and the Department of Agri-
culture (USDA) designated three rural EZs and 30
rural ECs. This first round of EZ/EC applications and
selections was guided by four key principles: eco-
nomic opportunity; sustainable development; com-
munity-based partnerships; and a strategic vision for
change.
Designated EZs and ECs have a range of tools avail-
able to maximize the flow of private capital and
investmentto their nominated areas. Since its incep-
tion, the EZ/EC authority has provided more than
$2.5 billion in tax incentive s and $ 1.3 billion in grants
to 104 urban and rural communities in 42 states.
COORDINATING FEDERAL EFFORTS
On September 9,1993, the President issued a memo-
randum creating the Community Empowerment Board
(CEB). The CEB was formed to provide regulatory
relief and priority responsiveness for EZ/EC commu-
nities from the 17 Federal agencies on the Board.
Specifically, the CEB is working with all EZ/EC
communities that have submitted a strategic plan for
revitalization by collaborating across government
programs to overcome programmatic, regulatory,
and statutory impediments, and to encourage more
effective economic, environmental, and community
development strategies. EPA is an active member of
the CEB.
In March 1996, the Clinton Administration proposed
a second round of EZ/EC funding to continue to
stimulate economic opportunity in America's dis-
tressed communities. Specifically, the Administra-
tion proposed to designate 20 EZs (15 urban, 5 rural/
Tribes) and 80 ECs (50 urban, 30 rural/Tribes). The
selected communities would receive a combination
of tax incentives, direct grants, and priority consider-
ation from the CEB. Each new EZ could receive up
to $75 million in direct grants over three years, while
each new EC could receive direct grants of up to $3
million over three years. This proposal would require
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approval by Congress. As with the first round of EC/
EZ designations, the Administration has challenged
communities to develop their own comprehensive
plans for revitalization, with the input from residents
and a wide array of community partners. Federal
investment would be made in those communities that
develop the most innovative plans and that have
garnered significant local and private-sector commit-
ments.
In addition, the Small Business Administration has
agreed to target some of its considerable lending and
community development tools to small and minority
businesses in distressed communities and under-
served markets.
EC/EZ AND
In the EZ/EC application process, communities were
asked to identify regulatory barriers to economic devel-
opment. Brownfields-relatedproblemswere frequently
cited as impediments to redevelopment. After the last
round of EZ/EC designations were made, many com-
munities requested assistance on brownfields-related
issues from EPA. Of the 78 Brownfields Assessment
Demonstration Pilots, 35 have been awarded to EZ/
EC designated communities.
EPA's involvement in specific EZs has also included:
• awarding $50.000 in discretionary funds to retrofit
home s with water saving de vice s in the Atlanta EZ;
* providing technical assistance to the Kentucky
Highlands EZ in wastewatertreatment and pollution
prevention;
• providing technical assistance to construct wetlands.
pollution prevention, and wastewater treatment to
the Mississippi Delta EZ;
• assisting the Baltimore EZ to develop an cco-
industrial park, including streamlining permitting
processes; and
• developing a detailed Geographic Information
System (GIS) report on Superfund sites in the
Atlanta EZ and providing information for companies
interested in redeveloping brownfields.
HUD AND EPA WORKING
In September 1996. EPA and HUD signed a Memo-
randum of Understanding to work cooperatively on
brownfields strategies. The agreement states that the
agencies will work together to identify and imple-
ment actions that link brownfields redevelopment
activities with economic development and neighbor-
hood revitalization. Specific actions that will occur
include providing financial and technical assistance
for State, Tribal, and local governments to integrate
brownfields assessment into economic development
planning, and supporting job training initiatives for
brownfields assessment cleanup, and redevelopment.
Due to the large number of EZ/ECs interested in
brownfields redevelopment, outreach to the EC/EZ
community will be an integral part of this new agree-
ment.
CONTACT
Robin Snyder
U.S. EPA
Urban and Economic Development Division
(202)260-8331
Brownfields Fact Sheet
April 1997
Brownfields and Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities
EPA 500-F-97-091
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