[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18072]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 26, 1994]
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Part III
Department of Education
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Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Grants and
Cooperative Agreements; Availability, etc.: Empowerment Zone and
Enterprise Community Program; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Grants
and Cooperative Agreements; Availability, etc.: Empowerment Zone and
Enterprise Community Program
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed priority.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary proposes a funding priority to provide a
competitive preference to projects funded under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that serve communities that have been
designated as Empowerment Zones or Enterprise Communities under section
1391 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by Title XIII of the
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993. This proposed priority is
intended to focus resources on the needs of infants, toddlers,
children, and youth with disabilities and their families who live in
these communities and who are often underserved. For 1995, the
Secretary anticipates using this priority with competitions for Parent
Training and Information Centers under the Training Personnel for the
Education of Children and Youth with Disabilities program, and Outreach
Projects under the Early Education for Children with Disabilities
program.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 25, 1994.
ADDRESSES: All comments concerning this proposed priority should be
addressed to: Lee Coleman, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue, S.W., Room 4615, Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2641.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Coleman. Telephone: (202) 205-
8166. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for deaf (TDD)
may call the TDD number at (202) 205-8170.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Empowerment Zone and Enterprise
Community program is a critical element of the Administration's
community revitalization strategy. The program is a first step in
rebuilding communities in America's poverty-stricken inner cities and
rural heartlands. It is designed to empower people and communities by
inspiring Americans to work together to create jobs and opportunity.
Under this program, the Federal Government will designate up to 9
areas as Empowerment Zones and up to 95 areas as Enterprise Communities
in accordance with Internal Revenue Code section 1391, as amended by
Title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Pub. L.
103-66). To be eligible for designation, an area must be nominated by
one or more local governments and the State or States in which it is
located or by a State-Chartered Economic Development Corporation. A
nominated area must be one of pervasive poverty, unemployment, and
general distress, and must have a poverty rate of not less than the
level specified in section 1392 of the Internal Revenue Code.
In the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program,
communities are invited to submit strategic plans that comprehensively
address how the community would link economic development with
education and training as well as how community development, public
safety, human services, and environmental initiatives will together
support sustainable communities. Empowerment Zones and Enterprise
Communities will be designated by the Department of Agriculture and the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) based on the quality
of their strategic plans. Designated areas will receive Federal grant
funds and substantial tax benefits and will have access to other
Federal programs. (For additional information on the Empowerment Zone
and Enterprise Community program, contact HUD at 1-800-998-9999.)
The Department of Education is supporting the Empowerment Zone and
Enterprise Community initiative in a variety of ways. It is encouraging
Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities to use funds they already
receive from Department of Education programs (including Chapter 1 of
Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Drug-Free
Schools and Community Act, the Adult Education Act, and the Carl D.
Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act) to support the
comprehensive vision of their strategic plans. In addition, the
Department of Education intends to give preferences to Empowerment
Zones and Enterprise Communities in a number of discretionary grant
programs that are well-suited for inclusion in a comprehensive approach
to economic and community development. In addition to the programs
under IDEA, the Department intends to give preferences to Empowerment
Zones and Enterprise Communities in the Rehabilitation Act Projects
with Industry program, the Rehabilitation Act Special Demonstration
Projects program, the National Workplace Literacy program, the Urban
Community Service program, and a variety of discretionary programs
under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
The discretionary programs funded under IDEA are well suited to
play a role in Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities because of
the close relationship between poverty and disabilities. While the risk
factors associated with disabilities are highest in low income areas,
these areas often serve the lowest numbers of children with
disabilities. Under the authority of IDEA, the Department supports a
wide range of programs related to providing special education, related,
and early intervention services to infants, toddlers, children, and
youth with disabilities and their families. Coordinated and
comprehensive approaches to services, such as those under the
Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program, can be effective
tools in addressing the needs of these children.
For 1995, the Secretary anticipates using this priority in
conjunction with priorities under the following programs:
Parent Training and Information Centers (funded under IDEA Part D,
Training Personnel for Education for Children and Youth with
Disabilities program); and
Outreach Projects (funded under IDEA Part C, Early Education for
Children with Disabilities program).
Parent Training and Information Centers projects provide training
and information to parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth
with disabilities, and to persons who work with parents to enable
parents to participate more fully and effectively with professionals in
meeting the educational needs of their children with disabilities.
Outreach projects build the capacity of educational and other
agencies to adopt and implement proven models and components of models
to improve services for children under the age of eight with
disabilities and their families
The Secretary will announce the final priority in a notice in the
Federal Register. The final priority will be determined by responses to
this notice, available funds, and other considerations of the
Department. Funding of particular projects depends on the availability
of funds, the nature of the final priority, and the quality of the
applications received. The publication of this proposed priority does
not preclude the Secretary from proposing additional priorities, nor
does it limit the Secretary to funding only this proposed priority,
subject to meeting applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice of proposed priority does not solicit
applications. A notice inviting applications under these
competitions will be published in the Federal Register concurrent
with or following publication of the notice of final priority.
Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2) the Secretary proposes to give
a competitive preference to applications that are otherwise eligible
for funding under appropriate discretionary programs under the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and that meet the following
priority. The Secretary may implement this priority for fiscal year
1995 and for any later fiscal year:
Providing programs in an Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community.
To meet this priority an applicant must:
Design a program of special activities focused on the
unique needs of an Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community; or,
Devote a substantial portion of program resources to
providing the services within, or meeting the needs of residents of
these zones and communities.
The proposed project under the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act must contribute to the strategic plan of the Empowerment
Zone or Enterprise Community and be made an integral component of the
Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community activities.
Executive Order 12866
Assessment of Costs and Benefits
These proposed priorities have been reviewed in accordance with
Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order the Secretary has
assessed the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action.
The potential costs associated with the proposed priorities are
those resulting from statutory requirements and those determined by the
Secretary to be necessary for administering this program effectively
and efficiently.
In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative
and qualitative--of these proposed priorities, the Secretary has
determined that the benefits of the proposed priorities justify the
costs.
The Secretary has also determined that this regulatory action does
not unduly interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the
exercise of their governmental functions.
To assist the Department in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Order 12866, the Secretary invites comment on
whether there may be further opportunities to reduce any potential
costs or increase potential benefits resulting from these proposed
priorities without impeding the effective and efficient administration
of the program.
INVITATION TO COMMENT: Interested persons are invited to submit
comments and recommendations regarding these proposed priorities.
All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available
for public inspection, during and after the comment period, in Room
3524, 300 C Street, S.W., Washington, D.C., between the hours of 8:30
a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week except Federal
holidays.
APPLICABLE PROGRAM REGULATIONS: 34 CFR Parts 309 and 316.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1423 and 1431.
Dated: June 30, 1994.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 94-18072 Filed 7-25-94; 8:45 am]
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