Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Program: Survey of Round I Federal Enterprise Communities

Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Program: Survey of
Round I Federal Enterprise Communities (22-SEP-06, GAO-06-734SP).

This document presents the results of GAO's survey of federal
Enterprise Communities (EC) that were designated in the first
round of the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program in
1994. Round I ECs received $2.95 million in program grants and
businesses in the ECs could use a program tax-exempt bond. The
purpose of our survey was to collect data describing how Round I
ECs implemented the program. Questionnaire items covered the
types of governance structures ECs established, number of
programs they implemented, usage of the program tax-exempt bond,
and perceptions of factors influencing changes observed in
poverty, unemployment, and economic growth in the ECs. We
administered an e-mail survey to officials from the 60 Round I
ECs--33 urban and 27 rural--that were still in operation as of
June 2005 and did not receive additional designations under the
Empowerment Zone or Renewal Community programs. We chose to
exclude ECs that received subsequent designations, because we did
not want their responses to be influenced by the benefits
received under the additional designations. We created two
versions of the questionnaire, one for urban ECs and another for
rural ECs, to tailor items to urban or rural sites. For example,
the urban version contained questions about the Enhanced EC
designation, which was not asked of rural sites since the
Enhanced EC designation was not applicable for rural areas.
-------------------------Indexing Terms-------------------------
REPORTNUM: GAO-06-734SP
ACCNO: A61332
TITLE: Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Program: Survey
of Round I Federal Enterprise Communities
DATE: 09/22/2006
SUBJECT: Community development programs
Data collection
Economic analysis
Economic indicators
Program evaluation
Rural economic development
Surveys
Urban development programs
Program implementation
HUD Empowerment Zones and Enterprise
Communities Program

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GAO-06-734SP

United States Government Accountability Office

Report to Congressional Committees

GAO

September 2006

EMPOWERMENT ZONE AND ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PROGRAM

Survey of Round I Federal Enterprise Communities

GAO-06-734SP

United States Government Accountability Office Washington, D.C. 20548

Survey of Round I Federal Enterprise Communities

This document presents the results of GAO's survey of federal Enterprise
Communities (EC) that were designated in the first round of the
Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program in 1994.1 Round I ECs
received $2.95 million in program grants and businesses in the ECs could
use a program tax-exempt bond. The purpose of our survey was to collect
data describing how Round I ECs implemented the program. Questionnaire
items covered the types of governance structures ECs established, number
of programs they implemented, usage of the program tax-exempt bond, and
perceptions of factors influencing changes observed in poverty,
unemployment, and economic growth in the ECs. We administered an e-mail
survey to officials from the 60 Round I ECs-33 urban and 27 rural-that
were still in operation as of June 2005 and did not receive additional
designations under the Empowerment Zone or Renewal Community programs.2 We
chose to exclude ECs that received subsequent designations, because we did
not want their responses to be influenced by the benefits received under
the additional designations. We created two versions of the questionnaire,
one for urban ECs and another for rural ECs, to tailor items to urban or
rural sites. For example, the urban version contained questions about the
Enhanced EC designation, which was not asked of rural sites since the
Enhanced EC designation was not applicable for rural areas.3

We e-mailed the questionnaire to each EC on August 25, 2005; collection of
survey data ended on December 20, 2005. We gave participants the option to
respond via e-mail, fax, or post-mail. Fifty-eight ECs returned the survey
for a response rate of 97 percent; the response rate for rural ECs was 100
percent and the response rate of urban ECs was 94 percent. We did not
attempt to verify the respondents' answers against an independent source

1One urban EC was no longer in operation as of June 2005. There were two
additional rounds of designation under the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise
Community program in 1998 and 2002. Communities designated in subsequent
rounds of the program received a smaller amount of federal funding and
more tax benefits.

2The Renewal Community program, initiated in 2000, had objectives similar
to the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community program. Communities
received Renewal Community designations in 2002, which offered them an
expanded package of tax benefits.

3Four urban ECs also received Enhanced EC designations, which provided
them with some Economic Development Initiative grants and Section 108 Loan
Guarantees, which could be used for certain economic development or
revitalization projects. One of the Enhanced ECs received a subsequent
designation and was not included in our sample.

of information; however, we used two techniques to verify the reliability
of questionnaire items. First, we used in-depth interviewing techniques to
evaluate the answers of pretest participants, and interviewers judged that
all the respondents' answers to the questions were based on reliable
information. Second, for the items that asked about changes to poverty,
unemployment, and economic growth in the EC, we asked respondents to
provide a source of data for their response. Responses to these questions
that did not include a data source were excluded from our analysis of
those items. A more detailed discussion of our scope and methodology and a
discussion of the survey results are contained in our report, Empowerment
Zone and Enterprise Community Program: Improvements Occurred in
Communities, but the Effect of the Program Is Unclear. Clicking on the
following link will provide access to this report ( GAO-06-727 ). We
conducted our survey work from March 2005 through April 2006 in accordance
with generally accepted government auditing standards.

Page 2 GAO-06-734SP

Introduction

In response to a Congressional mandate, the Government Accountability
Office (GAO) is conducting a study of the Round I Empowerment Zone and
Enterprise Community program. As part of this study, GAO is surveying all
Round I Enterprise Communities that did not subsequently receive a Round
II or Round III Empowerment Zone or Renewal Community Designation.

The purpose of this survey is to obtain descriptive information about how
designees implemented their programs and changes they observed in their
Enterprise Communities. Results of the survey will be used in our report
to the Congress and will help them understand how the program was
implemented and what effect it had on the designated communities.

How to Complete the Survey

Completing the survey should take no longer than 45 minutes. You may want
to talk with others in your Enterprise Community/Enhanced Enterprise
Community who are familiar with these topics in order to provide us with
the most accurate information possible about your site. You may complete
the survey in Microsoft Word and e-mail it to us, or you may print it out
and fax or mail it to us. Please return your survey within 2 weeks of
receipt.

To complete the survey electronically:

d.
rvey to your hard
drive, print it out, and complete it. You may fax the survey to (404)
679-2021 or mail it to:

[GAO staff name here]

U.S. Government Accountability Office 2635 Century Parkway, Suite 700
Atlanta, GA 30345

If you would like a stamped business reply envelope, or if you have any
questions, please contact [GAO staff name here] (staff phone number and
e-mail address here) or [GAO staff name here] (staff phone number and
e-mail address here).

How to Use the Electronic Survey

............... 80.8% (42) Yes
....11.5% (6) No N 7.7% (4) NA

c.
State government (n=52) .............................. 69.2% (36)
Yes ....26.9% (14) No N 3.8% (2) NA

d.
Regional government (n=46)........................ 41.3% (19) Yes
....30.4% (14) No N 28.3% (13) NA

e.
Elected officials (n=54) ................................ 100%
(54) Yes .....0 No N 0 NA

f.
Local colleges or universities (n=51)............ 84.3% (43) Yes
....13.7% (7) No N 2.0% (1) NA

g.
Local development corporations (n=52) ...... 80.8% (42) Yes
....9.6% (5) No N 9.6% (5) NA N 0 NA

i.
Private businesses (n=53).............................. 88.7% (47)
Yes ....9.4% (5) No N 1.9% (1) NA N 0 NA N 0 NA N 11.3% (6) NA

Yes ........

No N

n. Other, please describe: (n=56) ..................... 5.4% (3) Yes
........87.5% (49) No N 7.1% (4) NA

4. After your community received the EC designation, did EC residents do any of
the following?

a.
Attend listening sessions about the EC program
(n=54).................92.6% (50) Yes.... 7.4% (4) No

b.
Generate ideas for EC activities
(n=58)..........................................96.6% (56) Yes....
3.4% (2) No

c.
Establish EC priorities (n=58)
........................................................89.7% (52)
Yes.... 10.3% (6) No

d.
Participate on the EC governing board (n=58)
...............................98.3% (57) Yes.... 1.7% (1) No

e.
Gather information on community needs from residents
(n=55)....89.1% (49) Yes.... 10.9% (6) No

f.
Disseminate EC program information to residents
(n=56)..............96.4% (54) Yes.... 3.6% (2) No

g.
Implement EC activities
(n=56)......................................................92.9%
(52) Yes.... 7.1% (4) No

h.
Other, please describe:(n=57)
........................................................1.8% (1)
Yes ....... 98.2% (56) No

5. After your community received the EC designation, which of the
following participated in implementing the strategic plan?

a.
City government (n=54) ............................... 96.3% (52)
Yes ....1.9% (1) No N 1.9% (1) NA

b.
County government (n=51) .......................... 74.5% (38) Yes
....13.7% (7) No N 11.8% (6) NA

c.
State government (n=53) .............................. 66.0% (35)
Yes ....30.2% (16) No N 3.8% (2) NA

d.
Regional government (n=45)........................ 40.0% (18) Yes
....31.1% (14) No N 28.9% (13) NA

e.
Elected officials (n=55) ................................ 98.2%
(54) Yes ....1.8% (1) No N 0 NA

f.
Local colleges or universities (n=53)............ 84.9% (45) Yes
....15.1% (8) No N 0 NA

g.
Local development corporations (n=50) ...... 84.0% (42) Yes
....6.0% (3) No N 10.0% (5) NA

h.
Residents of the EC (n=56) .......................... 98.2% (55)
Yes ....1.8% (1) No N 0 NA

i.
Private businesses (n=51).............................. 88.2% (45)
Yes ....9.8% (5) No N 2.0% (1) NA

j.
Community-based organizations (n=56) ....... 98.2% (55) Yes ....0
No N 1.8% (1) NA

k.
Religious organizations (n=47) .................... 72.3% (34) Yes
....25.5% (12) No N 2.1% (1) NA

l.
Neighborhood associations (n=50)................ 72.0% (36) Yes
....18.0% (9) No N 10.0% (5) NA

m.
Parent-teacher organizations (n=41)* ...................

Yes ........

No N

n. Other, please describe: (n=56) ..................... 3.6% (2) Yes
........92.9% (52) No N 3.6% (2) NA

IMPLEMENTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

4? activities Mean =18.19 St. Dev. = 23.08 (n=52)

No EC implemented activities are still in operation. AE SKIP to Question
10

8. In your opinion, how many of the activities in Question 7 will be
operating 2 years from now? activities Mean = 17.85 St. Dev. = 22.48
(n=47)

No activities will be in operation. AE SKIP to Question 10

9. Please provide two examples of activities that will be in operation 2 years
from now.

10. In your opinion, how helpful were the following EC program components
to accomplishing your strategic plan goals?

a. EC grant funds

(n=56)

b. Bonus points in other federal programs

(n=56)

c. Earmarked federal grants and loans

(n=56)

d. "Enterprise Zone" facility bonds

(n=55)

e. Regulatory waivers

(n=55)

Not at all A little Somewhat Very Extremely
helpful helpful helpful helpful helpful
1.8% 1.8% 8.9% 17.9% 69.6%
(1) (1) (5) (10) (39)
5.4% 7.1% 17.9% 30.4% 35.7%
(3) (4) (10) (17) (20)
10.7% 5.4% 12.5% 30.4% 32.1%
(6) (3) (7) (17) (18)
47.3% 7.3% 1.8% 5.5% 1.8%
(26) (4) (1) (3) (1)
29.1% 12.7% 14.5% 12.7% 9.1%
(16) (7) (8) (7) (5)

Don't

know

3.6%

(2)

8.9%

(5)

36.4%

(20)

21.8%

(12)

11. Did your EC use the EC grant to leverage additional funds? (Leveraged
funds are other federal and nonfederal dollars attracted using the EC
grant.) (n=57)

Additional funds were leveraged. 100% (57) Additional funds were not
leveraged. 0 AE SKIP to Question 14

12. Did your EC obtain leveraged funds for the following types of
activities?

a.
Capital improvements (for example, land, improvements to land,
design, permits, acquisition of real property, construction of new
structures; initial furnishings; and selected equipment like
ambulances, fire fighting equipment, or library collections)
(n=56) ................................ 94.6% (53) Yes...5.4% (3)
No

b.
Social services (for example, job training and placement,
education, mental/physical health care, child care, financial
management programs) (n=56) .................................
92.9% (52) Yes...7.1% (4) No

c.
Funding for businesses (for example, entrepreneurial training,
loan funds, micro-lending programs) (n=57) ............. 87.7%
(50) Yes...12.3% (7) No

d.
Organizational development (for example, leadership development,
citizen participation, board training) (n=57)
..............................................................
61.4% (35) Yes...38.6% (22) No

e.
Administrative costs (for example, salaries and benefits, rent,
other operating costs)
(n=56)............................................ 69.6% (39)
Yes...30.4% (17) No

13. Did any of your sources of leveraged funds require that you use EC
funding to match their funding? (n=56)

Yes 42.9% (24)

No 57.1% (32) USE OF "ENTERPRISE ZONE" FACILITY BOND

14. At any time between 1994 and 2004, did your local government issue a
federal "Enterprise Zone" Facility Bond? (State and local governments
could issue Enterprise Zone Facility Bonds in ECs to make loans at lower
interest rates to Enterprise Zone Businesses to finance Qualified Zone
Property. A business qualified as an Enterprise Zone Business if it was
located and actively conducted business in an EC, employed residents of an
EC, and had its employees perform services in the EC.) (n=57)

Bond was issued. 3.5% (2) AE SKIP to Question 16

Bond was not issued. 71.9% (41)

Don't know. 24.6% (14) AE SKIP to Question 17

15. (If bond not issued) What were reasons that the "Enterprise Zone" Facility
Bond was not used?

SKIP to Question 17

16. (If bond was issued) Was more than one "Enterprise Zone" Facility Bond
issued? (n=2) More than one bond was issued. 0 Only one bond was issued.
100% (2) CHANGES IN THE EC

The following questions seek information on changes that have occurred in
the EC and affect the EC.

ease 0 Some net increase
16.3% (8) No net change 16.3% (8) AE SKIP to Question 21

Some net decrease 53.1% (26) AE SKIP to Question 22 Large net decrease
14.3% (7) AE SKIP to Question 22

Responses to questions 20 and 22 were used in conjunction with Census data
for reporting purposes; therefore, results are presented separately at the
end of this document.

20. If the poverty rate increased, in your opinion, were any of the
following contributing factors?

a.
Decrease in the number of area jobs
..........................................

b.
Decrease in the number of area jobs with benefits
....................

c.
Loss of existing social services (for example, child care,
programs for the homeless, substance abuse treatment)...........

d.
Loss of existing adult educational services (for example, job
training, ESL classes, GED classes)............... ...............

e.
Increased housing costs
.............................................................

f.
Increased utility costs
.................................................................

g.
Out-migration of residents with middle or high incomes ..........

h.
In-migration of residents with low incomes
..............................

i.
In-migration of residents with limited job skills
........................

j.
In-migration of residents with limited English language skills ..

k.
Increase in area crime rate
.........................................................

l.
Welfare reform
...........................................................................

m.
Other AE Please describe:
.......................................................

Yes .......

SKIP to Question 23

ecreased, in your opinion, were any of the
following contributing factors?
s (for example, child care,
programs for the homeless, substance abuse
treatment)...........
. Physical improvements made in area
neighborhoods................
12. Welfare reform
...........................................................................
13. Other AE Please describe:
.......................................................

SKIP to Question 23

Yes .......

ed, in your opinion, were any of the
following contributing

factors?
a. Decrease in the number of area jobs Yes No
.......................................... .......
b. Decrease in the number of area jobs with benefits Yes No
.................... .......
c. Increase in the number of jobs requiring skills that EC
residents did not have Yes No
................................................................ .......
d. Loss of existing social services (for example, child care,
programs for the homeless, substance abuse treatment) .......... Yes No
.......
e. Loss of existing adult educational services (for example,
job training, ESL classes, GED classes) Yes No
................................... .......
f. In-migration of unemployed residents Yes No
....................................... .......
g. Out-migration of employed residents Yes No
........................................ .......
h. In-migration of residents with limited job Yes No
skills........................ .......
i. In-migration of residents with limited English language Yes No
skills .. .......
j. Other AE Please describe: Yes
.......................................................... ....... No

SKIP to Question 28

a. Increase in the number of area jobs Yes No
........................................... .......
b. Increase in the number of jobs with benefits Yes No
............................. .......
c. Increased skill level of area residents Yes No
........................................ .......
d. Increase in social services (for example, child care,
programs for the homeless, substance abuse Yes No
treatment)........... .......
e. Increase in adult educational services (for example,
job training, ESL classes, GED Yes No
classes).................................... .......
f. Out-migration of unemployed Yes No
residents..................................... .......
g. In-migration of employed Yes No
residents........................................... .......
h. In-migration of residents with job Yes No
skills.................................... .......
i. Other AE Please describe: Yes
.......................................................... ....... No

Some net decrease 15.4% (6) AE SKIP to Question 32 Large net decrease 0 AE
SKIP to Question 32

Responses to questions 30 and 32 were used in conjunction with Claritas
data for reporting purposes; therefore, results are presented separately
at the end of this document.

30. If economic growth increased, in your opinion, were any of the
following contributing factors?

a.
Increase in the number of new area businesses
.........................

b.
Expansion of existing area
businesses.......................................

c.
Increase in financial assistance for area businesses (for example,
loan funds, facility bonds, micro-lending programs)
..................................................................................

d.
Increase in technical assistance for area businesses (for,
example, entrepreneurial training programs, a one-stop capital
shop, business consulting services)
...............................

e.
Availability of tax benefits (federal, state, local)
......................

f.
Favorable state tax rates
.............................................................

g.
Favorable local tax rates
............................................................

h.
Improved local infrastructure
....................................................

i.
Physical improvements made in area neighborhoods.................

j.
Decrease in area crime
rate.........................................................

k.
Increased availability of low-cost commercial space in area ....

l.
Increased skill level of area residents
.........................................

m.
National economic trends
.........................................................

n.
Other AE Please describe:
.........................................................

Yes .......

SKIP to Question 33

31. If economic growth in your EC showed no net change, in your opinion,
what were the contributing factors?

SKIP to Question 33

32. If economic growth decreased, were any of the following contributing
factors?

a. Decrease in the number of new area businesses ........................

b. Downsizing of existing area businesses
....................................

c. Decrease in financial assistance for area businesses (for example, loan
funds, facility bonds, microlending programs)
..................................................................................

d. Decrease in technical assistance for area businesses (for, example,
entrepreneurial training programs, a one-stop capital shop, business
consulting services) ...............................

e. Unfavorable state tax
rates.........................................................

f. Unfavorable local tax
rates.........................................................

g. Deteriorating local
infrastructure...............................................

h. Increased physical deterioration in area neighborhoods............

i. Increase in area crime
rate..........................................................

j. Decreased availability of low-cost commercial space in area ....

k. Decreased skill level of area
residents.......................................

l. National economic trends
...........................................................

m. Other AE Please describe:
.......................................................

Yes .......

33. In your opinion, did your EC play a role in the changes in poverty,
unemployment, and economic growth you indicated in Questions 19, 24, and
29? (n=55)

EC played a role. 87.3% (48) EC did not play a role. 12.7% (7)

34. In your opinion, why or why didn't your EC play a role in the changes
you described in poverty, unemployment, and economic growth?

ABOUT YOUR EC
35. How many employees did your EC have on
a. December 31, 1995? ....(n=49) Mean=1.6 St. Dev.=3.6 part-time employees
full-time employees .......
b. December 31, 1999? ....(n=49) Mean=2.7 St. Dev.=5.5 part-time employees
full-time employees .......
December 31, 2004? ....(n=46) Mean=1.6 St. Dev.=2.4
c. full-time employees ....... part-time employees

Note: The response rate for part-time employees was low; therefore data
are not reported.

36. How many board members did your EC have on

a.
December 31, 1995? .......(n=50) Mean=17.8 St. Dev.=11.2 members

b.
December 31, 1999? .......(n=51) Mean=16.9 St. Dev.=9.4 members

c.
December 31, 2004? .......(n=52) Mean=13.0 St. Dev.=8.5 members

lied 57.4% (31) Did not apply 42.6% (23)
valuations of your EC
conducted by outside researchers? (n=52)
nity (EZ/EC)
program? (n=3)

Economic Development Initiative grants were received. 100% (3) Economic
Development Initiative grants were not received. 0 AE SKIP to Question 47

45. (If received) How did your EEC use the Economic Development Initiative
grants?

46. In your opinion, how helpful were the Economic Development Initiative
grants to accomplishing your strategic plan goals? (n=3)

ul 33.3% (1)
.7 St. Dev. = 6.5 (n=54)

respondent answered Question 19 with "large net increase" or "some net
increase".

20. If the poverty rate increased, in your opinion, were any of the
following contributing factors?

a.
Decrease in the number of area jobs
.......................................... 1 Yes ......... 0 No

b.
Decrease in the number of area jobs with benefits
.................... 1 Yes ......... 0 No

c.
Loss of existing social services (for example, child care,
programs for the homeless, substance abuse treatment)........... 0
Yes ......... 1 No

d.
Loss of existing adult educational services (for example, job
training, ESL classes, GED classes)............... ...............
0 Yes ......... 1 No

e.
Increased housing costs
............................................................. 1
Yes ......... 0 No

f.
Increased utility costs
.................................................................
1 Yes ......... 0 No

g.
Out-migration of residents with middle or high incomes ..........
1 Yes ......... 0 No

h.
In-migration of residents with low incomes
.............................. 0 Yes ......... 1 No

i.
In-migration of residents with limited job skills
........................ 0 Yes ......... 1 No

j.
In-migration of residents with limited English language skills ..
0 Yes ......... 1 No

k.
Increase in area crime rate
......................................................... 0 Yes
......... 1 No

l.
Welfare reform
...........................................................................
0 Yes ......... 1 No

m.
Other AE Please describe:
....................................................... 1 Yes
......... 0 No

Note: The following frequencies are based on n = 28, which is the number
of ECs in which Census data showed an decrease in poverty and where the
respondent answered Question 19 with "large net decrease" or "some net
decrease." Data for items with a response rate less than 70% are not
reported.

22. If the poverty rate decreased, in your opinion, were any of the
following contributing factors?

a.
Increase in the number of area jobs
........................................... 25 Yes ....... 1 No

b.
Increase in the number of area jobs with benefits
..................... 23 Yes ....... 1 No

c.
Increase in social services (for example, child care, programs for
the homeless, substance abuse treatment)........... 18 Yes .......
4 No

d.
Increase in adult educational services (for example, job training,
ESL classes, GED classes) ................................... 19
Yes ....... 3 No

e.
Decreased housing costs
............................................................ 2 Yes
......... 18 No

f.
Decreased utility
costs................................................................

Yes .......

g.
Increased homeownership
......................................................... 16 Yes
....... 9 No

h.
In-migration of residents with middle or high incomes.............
14 Yes ....... 11 No

i.
Out-migration of residents with low incomes
............................ 4 Yes ......... 16 No

j.
Decrease in area crime
rate......................................................... 10
Yes ....... 11 No

k.
Physical improvements made in area neighborhoods................
22 Yes ....... 2 No

l.
Welfare reform
...........................................................................

Yes .......

m. Other AE Please describe:
....................................................... 3 Yes ......... 23
No

Note: The following frequencies are based on n = 4, which is the number of
ECs in which Census data showed an increase in unemployment and where the
respondent answered Question 24 with "large net increase" or "some net
increase."

25. If the unemployment rate increased, in your opinion, were any of the
following contributing factors?

a.
Decrease in the number of area jobs
.......................................... 3 Yes ......... 1 No

b.
Decrease in the number of area jobs with benefits
.................... 3 Yes ......... 1 No

c.
Increase in the number of jobs requiring skills that EC residents
did not have
................................................................ 3
Yes ......... 1 No

d.
Loss of existing social services (for example, child care,
programs for the homeless, substance abuse treatment) .......... 1
Yes ......... 3 No

e.
Loss of existing adult educational services (for example, job
training, ESL classes, GED classes)
................................... 0 Yes ......... 4 No

f.
In-migration of unemployed residents
....................................... 1 Yes ......... 3 No

g.
Out-migration of employed residents
........................................ 2 Yes ......... 2 No

h.
In-migration of residents with limited job
skills........................ 2 Yes ......... 2 No

i.
In-migration of residents with limited English language skills ..
1 Yes ......... 3 No

j.
Other AE Please describe:
.......................................................... 1 Yes
......... 3 No

Note: The following frequencies are based on n = 26, which is the number
of ECs in which Census data showed an decrease in unemployment and where
the respondent answered Question 24 with "large net decrease" or "some net
decrease." Data for items with a response rate less than 70% are not
reported.

27. If the unemployment rate decreased, in your opinion, were any of the
following contributing factors?

a.
Increase in the number of area jobs
........................................... 24 Yes ....... 1 No

b.
Increase in the number of jobs with benefits
............................. 21 Yes ....... 2 No

c.
Increased skill level of area residents
........................................ 16 Yes ....... 6 No

d.
Increase in social services (for example, child care, programs for
the homeless, substance abuse treatment)........... 15 Yes .......
6 No

e.
Increase in adult educational services (for example, job training,
ESL classes, GED classes).................................... 17
Yes ....... 5 No

f.
Out-migration of unemployed
residents.....................................

Yes .......

g.
In-migration of employed
residents........................................... 11 Yes
....... 8 No

h.
In-migration of residents with job
skills....................................

Yes .......

i. Other AE Please describe:
.......................................................... 2 Yes .........
21 No

Note: The following frequencies are based on n = 23, which is the number
of ECs in which Claritas data showed an increase in the number of jobs or
the number of businesses in the EC and where the respondent answered
Question 29 with "large net increase" or "some net increase."

30. If economic growth increased, in your opinion, were any of the
following contributing factors?

a.
Increase in the number of new area businesses
......................... 22 Yes ....... 1 No

b.
Expansion of existing area
businesses....................................... 22 Yes ....... 1
No

d.
Increase in technical assistance for area businesses (for,
example, entrepreneurial training programs, a one-stop capital
shop, business consulting services)
............................... 21 Yes ....... 2 No

e.
Availability of tax benefits (federal, state, local)
...................... 13 Yes ....... 9 No

f.
Favorable state tax rates
............................................................. 10
Yes ....... 11 No

g.
Favorable local tax rates
............................................................ 9 Yes
......... 12 No

h.
Improved local infrastructure
.................................................... 19 Yes
....... 4 No

i.
Physical improvements made in area neighborhoods.................
18 Yes ....... 5 No

j.
Decrease in area crime
rate......................................................... 9
Yes ......... 12 No

k.
Increased availability of low-cost commercial space in area ....
12 Yes ....... 9 No

l.
Increased skill level of area residents
......................................... 14 Yes ....... 7 No

m.
National economic trends
......................................................... 13 Yes
....... 7 No

n.
Other AE Please describe:
......................................................... 4 Yes
......... 19 No

Note: The following frequencies are based on n = 2, which is the number of
ECs in which Claritas data showed a decrease in the number of jobs or the
number of businesses in the EC and where the respondent answered Question
29 with "large net decrease" or "some net decrease." Data for items with a
response rate less than 70% are not reported.

32. If economic growth decreased, were any of the following contributing
factors?

a.
Decrease in the number of new area businesses
........................ 2 Yes ......... 0 No

b.
Downsizing of existing area businesses
.................................... 2 Yes ......... 0 No

c.
Decrease in financial assistance for area businesses (for

e.
Unfavorable state tax
rates......................................................... 0
Yes ......... 2 No

f.
Unfavorable local tax
rates......................................................... 0
Yes ......... 2 No

g.
Deteriorating local
infrastructure............................................... 1
Yes ......... 1 No

h.
Increased physical deterioration in area neighborhoods............
1 Yes ......... 1 No

i.
Increase in area crime
rate.......................................................... 1
Yes ......... 1 No

j.
Decreased availability of low-cost commercial space in area .... 1
Yes ......... 1 No

k.
Decreased skill level of area
residents....................................... 0 Yes ......... 2
No

l.
National economic trends
........................................................... 1 Yes
......... 1 No

m.
Other AE Please describe:
....................................................... 0 Yes
......... 2 No

example, loan funds, facility bonds, microlending
programs) Yes No
.................................................................................. .......
d. Decrease in technical assistance for area businesses (for,
example, entrepreneurial training programs, a one-stop
capital shop, business consulting services) ............................... Yes No
.......

(250297)

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