Welcome to the website for the HUD urban Empowerment Zone (EZ) and Enterprise Community (EC) Initiative. High unemployment, crumbling infrastructure, minimal access to capital and psychological despair represent some of the most notable challenges to confront inner cities during the past few decades. The EZ/EC Initiative assists in offering to inner city residents and businesses the opportunity to overcome seemingly insurmountable problems. What have been vacant lots or abandoned buildings have been turning into new business complexes and affordable housing. Employment opportunities for EZ/EC residents have expanded and support services including childcare, education and healthcare have been strengthened, thus enabling residents of our nation's poorest communities to participate more fully in the workforce. Such positive changes have been achieved as a result of the relationships formed between EZ/EC residents, private and public partners and the faith community, all of whom have worked hard from the grassroots level to effect positive change in their communities.

Within this website you can learn about the history of the Initiative, current events and best practices in our EZs and ECs. There are detailed maps of the EZ/ECs and links to an address locator that businesses and researchers use to determine if an address is in an EZ or EC. There is substantial information on tax benefits available to businesses that open or hire residents in EZ/ECs. There are descriptions of resources available from federal agencies to the EZ/ECs in the fields of business, education, health care, youth services and more. You will also find a wealth of success stories in our What Works! publications that demonstrate the energy created by EZs and ECs. Thank you again for your visit and your interest.