Round
I Rural EZ/ECs were designated in December of 1994. 33 communities were
designated as Rural EZ/ECs. Although Indian reservations were statutorily
excluded by Round I enabling legislation, many communities have found innovative
and productive strategies to partner with neighboring tribes. For example, the
Southeastern Oklahoma EC has fostered a vibrant partnership with the Choctaw
Nation of Oklahoma. Not only has the Choctaw government contributed $88,522
to the implementation of the Southeastern
Oklahoma EC’s strategic plan, on
January 8, 2001 the enterprise community was awarded an RCDI grant in the amount
of $542,900 to fund an economic development partnership involving Little Dixie,
the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Similar
tribal partnerships are alive at several other Round I EZ/EC communities.
Round
II EZ/ECs were designated in January of 1999. Eighteen American Indian and
Alaska Native tribes were designated in Round II of the EZ/EC program. Of the
five Round II rural EZs, two involve Indian tribes; 1) Oglala Sioux Tribe
Empowerment Zone in South Dakota; and 2) Desert Communities Empowerment Zone in
California, which includes three Indian tribes, The Torres Martinez Band of
Mission Indians, the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, and the Augustine Band of
Mission Indians.
Of
the 20 Round II rural ECs, eight include tribal entities as follows: 1)
Alaska—Metlakatla Indian Enterprise Community: Metlakatla Indian Community; 2)
Arizona, New Mexico, Utah—Four Corners Enterprise Community: Navajo Nation,
Ute Mountain Indian Tribe, and Hopi Tribe; 3) California—Central California
Enterprise Community: Tule River Tribe; 4) Florida—Empowerment Alliance of
Southwest Florida Enterprise Community: Seminole Tribe 5) Montana—Fort Peck
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribe Enterprise Community: Fort Peck Assiniboine and
Sioux Tribes; 6) Oklahoma—Tri-County Indian Nations Enterprise Community:
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Chickasaw Nation; 7) Washington—Five Star
Enterprise Community: Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and
Spokane Tribe of Indians; and 8) Wisconsin—Northwoods Niijii Enterprise
Community: Menominee Indian Tribe, Sokaogon Chippewa Community of the Mole Lake
Band of Sokaogon Chippewa Indians, and Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior
Chippewa Indians.
The
participation of 18 tribes in the EZ/EC Round II rural designations is
particularly significant because Indian reservations were not eligible for Round
I of the program. Each Round II Rural Empowerment Zone has been receiving $2
million in grants each year to be expended over a 10-year period while the Round
II Rural Enterprise Communities receive $250,000 annually over the same time
period. After 3 years of being designated as Rural Round II EZs and ECs progress
is being made at each of the communities. For example in FY 2001, at the 10 EZ/EC
communities with tribal participation 259 new housing units were built, 32 houses were rehabilitated, 237
families were served and 491 jobs
were created. Cumulatively, the 10 Round II tribal EZ/EC communities have built 269
new housing units, rehabilitated 159 houses,
served 946 families and created 1,196
jobs (output figures were obtained through The Office of Community
Development’s On-line Benchmark Management System).