Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Grants and Cooperative Agreements; Availability, etc.: Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Program; Notice DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

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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