[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 23 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                    MACON RIDGE ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY

 Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, on February 27, 1997, the Macon 
Ridge enterprise community, consisting of portions of Catahoula, 
Concordia, Franklin, Morehouse, and Tensas Parishes in Louisiana, is to 
be awarded the Community Empowerment Award by the American Association 
of Enterprise Zones.
  I am very proud to have Louisiana's own Macon Ridge recognized as the 
best enterprise community in the Nation. The Macon Ridge Enterprise 
Community is an example to the Nation of the success that can be 
derived from community-based economic development.
  The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated the Macon Ridge 
enterprise community as 1 of the 30 rural enterprise communities across 
the United States, from some 227 applicants, on December 21, 1994. The 
enterprise community is administered by the Macon Ridge Development 
Region, Inc., which is a multifaceted economic development organization 
serving 11 parishes in northeast Louisiana.
  The Macon Ridge enterprise community has, in the first 12 months of 
operation, created or retained 523 jobs, started 3 business incubators, 
had over 523 residents in job training or literacy programs, and 
leveraged some $3.316 million in additional funding.
  The executive director of the Macon Ridge enterprise community, Mr. 
Buddy Spillers, as well as the Macon Ridge Enterprise Community 
Advisory Council and the Macon Ridge Board of Directors, are to be 
commended for their tireless efforts to create the opportunities and 
partnerships in Macon Ridge which have brought about this progress.
  In closing, Mr. President, I take this occasion to offer my sincere 
congratulations to the Macon Ridge enterprise community, not only for 
meriting this award, but for the vast economic development 
opportunities which it has created in Louisiana and for the outstanding 
model which it provides to the State and the Nation.

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