[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]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U