HUD APPLAUDS 16 SHOWCASE COMMUNITIES(fwd)

[Career/Pro <cpro@igc.apc.org>]

Some of the information is repetitive but there is
information about HUD's involvement with the Brownfields
Showcase Communities. There is a list of Empowerment Zones/
Enterprise Communities that are located in the 16 Showcase 
Communities.

Tony Chenhansa
CAREER/PRO

---------------------------------------------
SECRETARY CUOMO APPLAUDS VICE PRESIDENT GORE'S PLAN TO
SHOWCASE 16 COMMUNITIES FOR BROWNFIELDS ASSISTANCE

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo applauded
the announcement by Vice President Gore today of the selection
of 16  Brownfields Showcase Communities.  The 16 communities
will receive targeted assistance from HUD, including technical
and staff assistance.

Secretary Cuomo said: "Brownfields often sit as prime real estate
in the heart of Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities.  In
their day, these brownfields were the engines of America's urban
greatness.  Today, they can be a vessel for America's urban renewal
- if we work together."  Of the 16 Showcase Communities, three are 
Empowerment Zones and eight are Enterprise Communities.

Vice President Gore said: "By working to transform contaminated
brownfields into hubs of economic activity, we will create new
jobs, new revenue and new opportunity.  This partnership brings
together government, business, community leaders, and citizens to
guarantee stronger and healthier communities for the 21st century
- places where our children can grow, our families can thrive, and
the economy is sure to prosper."

Brownfields economic redevelopment is a priority of our nation's
mayors and HUD.  There is an urgent need to inject new resources
to jump-start the economic redevelopment of brownfields.  HUD
will provide $25 million in competitive Economic Development
Initiative grants to assist communities across the country in the
economic redevelopment of brownfield properties. The Department's
1999 budget seeks $50 million to help cities redevelop contaminated
industrial and commercial sites.  HUD's program is expected to
leverage an additional $200 million investment and create about
28,000 construction and related jobs.  HUD's Economic Development
Initiative Grants, Community Development Block Grants and Section
108 Loan Guarantee Programs will help communities in their efforts
to return these once thriving areas to productive use.

In May 1997, Vice President Gore announced the Brownfields National
Partnership - a two-year federal investment of $300 million for
Brownfields cleanup and redevelopment.  There are an estimated
450,000 Brownfields in the nation.  Federal funding along with
partnerships between businesses, community groups, and government
will bring the resources and "know-how" needed to return these
sites to productive use.  HUD joins the EPA in  providing a leading
role in the cleanup and redevelopment of our urban landscape.

Since 1993, the Clinton Administration has taken a series of actions
to clean up and redevelop Brownfields and return them to productive
use, including providing seed money to communities for
revitalization; removing legal barriers to redevelopment; and
providing a targeted tax incentive to businesses that purchase and
clean up these sites.

The 16 communities picked as the Brownfields Showcase Communities
are:  Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; East Palo Alto, CA;
Glen Cove, NY; Kansas City, KS/ MO; Los Angeles, CA; Lowell, MA;
Portland, OR; State of Rhode Island/Providence; St. Paul, MN;
Salt Lake City, UT; Seattle, WA; Stamford, CT; Southeast Florida
and Trenton, NJ.  Each city will receive targeted assistance and
serve as models for future cooperation among federal, state and
local governments and the private sector in cleaning up and
revitalizing communities.

The Showcase Community cities with Empowerment Zones and
Enterprise Communities designations are:

Empowerment Zones:
Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA

Enhanced Enterprise Community: 
Kansas City, MO./KS

Enterprise Communities:
Dallas, TX; Lowell, MA; Portland, OR; Providence, RI;
St. Paul, MN; Seattle, WA; Miami/Dade Co., FL

Find more information about HUD's involvement in Brownfields at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/partnr.htm#otherfp

Find more information about EPA's Brownfields Partners at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/partnr.htm

Find more information about EPA's Brownfields Initiative at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/