Zoning in on distressed communities.Enterprise zones, one of the most popular programs designed to improve the economies of distressed communities, came to America from the United Kingdom in 1981. Businesses locating or expanding in poor areas are offered a variety of incentives to encourage further investment and development.A simple idea, but does it work? After two decades of enterprise zone operations in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , the effectiveness of these programs remains open for debate. Economic development officials and many business owners praise the enterprise zones as a vital part of a complete state and community development strategy. Others, including a number of academics, point out that program reviews and econometric e·con·o·met·rics n. (used with a sing. verb) Application of mathematical and statistical techniques to economics in the study of problems, the analysis of data, and the development and testing of theories and models. studies have not provided clear evidence that enterprise zones deliver the promised benefits. What does seem clear is their popularity as an economic development tool. By 1995, over half the states had created enterprise zone programs; today only seven states remain zoneless. COMMON GOALS OF ENTERPRISE ZONES * Attract new business to the state. * Encourage firms to locate in underdeveloped un·der·de·vel·oped adj. Not adequately or normally developed; immature. communities. * Encourage existing firms to expand, increase investment. * Provide jobs for community residents and disadvantaged This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the for details. This article has been tagged since September 2007. workers. * Improve commerce-related infrastructure. * Stop population flight. STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES AT A GLANCE 1981 Connecticut Connecticut, state, United States Connecticut (kənĕt`ĭkət), southernmost of the New England states of the NE United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts (N), Rhode Island (E), Long Island Sound (S), and New York (W). is first state to create an enterprise zone. 43 Number of states with enterprise zones. 3,600+ Enterprise zones in the United States. 1,740 The number of enterprise zones in Louisiana, more than any other state. 1 Number of enterprise zones in New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). , state with the fewest. 3 Number of states with a statewide enterprise zone designation--Arkansas, Kansas, South Carolina South Carolina, state of the SE United States. It is bordered by North Carolina (N), the Atlantic Ocean (SE), and Georgia (SW). Facts and Figures Area, 31,055 sq mi (80,432 sq km). Pop. (2000) 4,012,012, a 15. . [GRAPHIC OMITTED] |
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