USDA DIRECTS MORE HELP TO HIGH-POVERTY RURAL AREAS

                                              Release No. 0191.97


                                   Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
                                              ltrivers@usda.gov
                                    Dan Campbell (202) 720-6483
                                       dcampbel@rurdev.usda.gov

                                                                 

     EDINBURG, TEXAS, June 13, 1997--Vice President Al Gore today announced
that the Clinton Administration will invest an additional $39 million in
projects that will improve living conditions and create jobs in some of the
nation's neediest rural areas. The funds will be directed to the nation's
rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/ECs), designated for
special assistance under a presidential initiative to revive economically
depressed rural areas and communities.
     
     "With these investments, we hope to speed the rate at which the
Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities can be revived and transformed
into economically healthy, self-sustaining communities," Gore said.  

     Gore made this announcement while touring the Rio Grande Empowerment
Zone in south Texas with Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.  
     
     Gore announced that $3 million has been awarded for a wastewater
treatment facility in the Rio Grande Empowerment Zone.

     The loans and grants announced today will help fund projects across
the country that include extending modern water and wastewater service to
thousands of rural homes, replacing or repairing substandard housing and
building facilities -- such as schools, fire stations and day care centers -- in dozens of needy rural communities. Other loans will provide financial
support for rural businesses that create or preserve jobs.  

      "USDA is committed to making the EZ/EC effort work from the ground
up," said Glickman. "EZs and ECs bring together local residents and non-profit organizations with federal, state and local officials, businesses and
educational institutions to plan for the future and make a difference in the
lives of the community. From a family getting drinkable water to children
learning in a new, modern school -- these projects will impact of the daily
lives of thousands of rural residents."

     Following is a state-by-state summary of the latest round of USDA
assistance being provided to the EZs and ECs:                  
Alabama -- $612,500 to create a revolving loan fund to help start or expand
small and emerging businesses in the Greene & Sumter Counties EC;  

Arkansas -- $485,000 to help expand a printing and desktop publishing
business, creating 23 new jobs in the Eastern Arkansas EC;

Arizona -- $2,911,000 to help finance construction of a 94-room motel,
creating 17 full-time jobs; fund a welfare-to-work initiative involving
small businesses; and to conduct an economic study to find ways to increase
tourism in the Arizona Border Region EC;

Georgia -- $2,745,000 to build a public water system in the Central Savannah
River Area EC;
                                 
Kentucky -- $4,117,000; to create revolving loan funds to assist small and
emerging businesses; to purchase a building to house a worker-training
program for people with physical and mental disabilities; and construct a
new building for use by a community college in the Kentucky Highlands EZ and
Scott & McCreary Counties EC.

Louisiana -- $393,000 to revitalize downtown areas in the Macon Ridge EC. 

Mississippi -- $3,350,000 to construct a new water system and repair
substandard housing the North Delta Mississippi EC and Mid Delta EZ;

New Mexico -- $1,176,000 to renovate or construct water systems in several
communities and build a health clinic in the Mora EC;

North Carolina -- $140,000 to rehabilitate substandard housing in the
Halifax, Edgecombe, & Wilson EC;

Oklahoma -- $5,371,000 to provide funding for the McCurtain County Hospital;
for an excursion train business which will promote tourism-related activity;
to construct a building to attract new small industries in the Southeast
Oklahoma EC; 

Oregon -- $5,294,000 to build a new water treatment facility and other water
system improvements in the Josephine County EC;

Pennsylvania -- $60,000  to create a revolving loan fund to support worker
training efforts in the City of Lockhaven EC;

South Carolina -- $4,407,000 to create a revolving loan fund to support new
businesses and community development projects with a potential of creating 
251 new jobs and improve waste water systems; to remove health and safety
hazards from homes in the Williamsburg County & Lake City EC;

South Dakota -- $176,000 to renovate homes of low-income people and make
water and sewer system improvements in the Beadle & Spink Counties EC;

Texas -- $3,050,000 for wastewater treatment facility in the Rio Grande
Valley EZ;

Washington -- $476,000 to expand a wastewater system in the Lower Yakima
Valley EC;

West Virginia -- $4,154,000  to establish a revolving loan fund, construct a 
water system and help repair the homes of low-income people in the McDowell
County EC and Central Appalachia EC. 

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