Promise Zones Initiative: Third Round Selection Process, 79076-79079 [2015-31884]
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Virginia
06217
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Ft. Lee VA 23801
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Reasons: Secured Area
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Radford Army Ammunition
Plant; Rte. 114 P.O. Box 2
Radford VA 24143
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West Virginia
Building 11
3610 Collins Ferry Rd.
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Alaska
Aucke Bay Marine Station
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Little Rock AR 72099
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4 Concrete Pads
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Reasons: Secured Area
[FR Doc. 2015–31504 Filed 12–17–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–5774–N–04]
Promise Zones Initiative: Third Round
Selection Process
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Community Planning and
Development, HUD.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Through this notice, HUD
provides notice on the selection process,
criteria, and application submission for
the third round of the Promise Zone
initiative.
DATES: Application due date is 5:00 p.m.
EST on February 23, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Interested eligible
organizations are invited to submit
applications for a Promise Zone
designation. Questions or comments
regarding the application process
should be directed by email to
Promisezones@hud.gov. Questions or
comments may also be directed by
postal mail to the Office of the Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Economic
Development, U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development, 451
Seventh Street SW., Room 7136,
Washington, DC 20410 ATTN: Promise
Zone Selections.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bryan Herdliska, U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development, 451
7th Street SW., Rm 7136, Washington,
DC, 20410; telephone number 202–402–
6758. This is not a toll-free number.
Persons with hearing or speech
impairments may access this number
through TTY by calling the toll-free
Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
In his 2013 State of the Union
address, President Obama announced
the establishment of the Promise Zones
initiative to partner with high-poverty
communities across the country to
create jobs, increase economic security,
expand educational opportunities,
increase access to quality, affordable
housing, and improve public safety.1 On
January 8, 2014, the President
1 See https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/
2013/02/15/fact-sheet-president-s-plan-ensurehard-work-leads-decent-living.
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announced the first five Promise Zones,
which are located in: San Antonio, TX;
Philadelphia, PA; Los Angeles, CA;
Southeastern Kentucky, KY; and the
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, OK. On
April 28, 2015, eight more Promise
Zones were designated as part of the
second round Promise Zone selection
process. They are located in: Camden,
NJ; Hartford, CT; Indianapolis, IN;
Minneapolis, MN; Sacramento, CA; St.
Louis, MO; South Carolina Low
Country; and Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation of the Oglala Sioux Tribe,
SD. Each of these communities (nine
urban, two rural, and two tribal)
submitted a plan on how it will partner
with local business and community
leaders to make investments that reward
hard work and expand opportunity. In
exchange, the Federal government is
helping these Promise Zone designees
secure the resources and flexibility they
need to achieve their goals.2 The urban
designations were conferred by HUD,
while the rural and tribal designations
were conferred by U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
Promise Zones Benefits
The Promise Zone designation
partners the Federal government with
local leaders who are addressing
multiple community revitalization
challenges in a collaborative way and
have demonstrated a commitment to
results. Further, Promise Zones will be
assigned Federal staff to help navigate
the array of Federal assistance and
programs already available to them. In
addition, eligible applicants in Promise
Zones will receive any available (a)
preference for certain competitive
Federal programs and (b) technical
assistance. Subject to enactment by
Congress, businesses investing in
Promise Zones or hiring residents of
Promise Zones will be eligible to receive
tax incentives. Altogether, this package
of assistance will help local leaders
accelerate efforts to revitalize their
communities.
The Promise Zone designation will be
for a term of 10 years and may be
extended as necessary to capture the full
term of availability of the Promise Zone
tax incentives, if the tax incentives are
enacted. During this term, the specific
benefits made available to Promise
Zones may vary from year to year, and
sometimes more often than annually,
due to changes in Federal agency
policies and changes in appropriations
and authorizations for relevant
programs. All assistance provided to
2 See https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/
2014/01/08/fact-sheet-president-obama-s-promisezones-initiative.
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Promise Zones is subject to applicable
regulations, statutes, and changes in
federal agency policies, appropriations,
and authorizations for relevant
programs. Subject to these limitations,
the Promise Zone designation commits
the Federal government to partner with
local leaders who are addressing
multiple community revitalization
challenges in a collaborative way and
have demonstrated a commitment to
results.
Response to Public Comment
On July 29, 2015, HUD published a
notice in the Federal Register at 80 FR
45227 to solicit comments from first and
second round applicants, interested
parties, and the general public on the
Promise Zones initiative and the
proposed selection process for the of
Promise Zone designations. The public
comment period closed on September
28, 2015. HUD received 21
communications containing public
comments. HUD and USDA, in
consultation with federal interagency
partners of the Promise Zone initiative,
provided responses to public comments
on the application process which have
been included in the updated
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
The FAQs can be found at
www.hud.gov/promisezones.
Promise Zones Selection Process
This notice announces the opening of
the application period for the third
round of Promise Zone designations.
HUD and USDA have reorganized and
revised the Application Guide to clarify
elements that applicants found
particularly difficult and incorporated
some comments. The MAX Survey
online survey system, which is used for
submitting certain components of the
application, has also been reorganized.
Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. EST
on February 23, 2016 with
announcements expected in 2016. As a
result of this competition, HUD intends
to designate five urban communities
and USDA intends to designate one
rural and one tribal community. A total
of 20 Promise Zone designations will be
made by the end of calendar year 2016.
Due to the cross-disciplinary nature of
the initiative, the list of eligible Lead
Applicants has been updated to reflect
that Promise Zone activities are likely to
be carried out by a variety of
organizations and organization types,
including organizations that have
specific roles in the delivery of
programs funded by different Federal
agencies. Most such organizations are
eligible under the categories of
governmental and nonprofit
organizations that were previously
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listed as eligible Lead Applicants. HUD
and USDA included examples might
encourage communities to engage
organizations that are the most
appropriate to respond to their needs
and lead revitalization efforts. Eligible
Lead Applicants for Urban Promise
Zone designations are: Units of General
Local Government (UGLG); 3 An office/
department of a local government
submitting on behalf of the local
government under a local delegation of
authority; Nonprofit organizations
applying with the support of the UGLG;
and Public Housing Agencies,
Community Colleges, Local Education
Agencies (LEAs), or Metropolitan
Planning Organizations (MPOs)
applying with the support of the UGLG.
Eligible Lead Applicants for Rural and
Tribal Promise Zone designations are:
Local governments (which includes
county, city, town, township, parish,
village, governmental authority or other
general-purpose political subdivision of
a state or combination thereof) and
Federally-recognized tribes; 4 Nonprofit
organizations applying in partnership
with local government or tribal
government; Housing authorities
applying in partnership with local
government, or Tribally Designated
Housing Entities (TDHEs) applying in
partnership with tribal government; or
Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
applying in partnership with local or
tribal government; or community
colleges applying in partnership with
local or tribal government.
Any Lead Applicant whose proposed
Promise Zone boundaries meet the
qualifying criteria set forth in the Third
Round Application Guide is eligible to
apply for a Promise Zone designation.
All of the following must be present in
an application for a proposed Urban
Promise Zone to be eligible for a
designation: (1) Proposed Promise Zone
must have one contiguous boundary and
3 Unit of general local government as defined in
section 102(a)(1) of the Housing and Community
Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1)). See
definition (a) (1) Unit of General Local Government.
4 ‘‘Tribal applicants’’ are: Federally-recognized
tribes as well as duly established political
subdivisions of a Federally-recognized tribe. A
‘‘Federally-recognized tribe’’ is any Indian tribe,
band, nation, or other organized group or
community of Indians, including any Alaska Native
village or regional or village corporation as defined
in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act [43 USCS §§ 1601 et seq.],
that is recognized as eligible for the special
programs and services provided by the United
States to Indians because of their status as Indians
pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) A
Nonprofit organization applying in partnership
with a Federally-recognized tribal government may
apply as a tribal applicant.
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cannot include separate geographic
areas; 5 (2) The rate of overall poverty or
Extremely Low Income rate
(whichever is greater) of residents
within the Promise Zone must be at or
above 32.5%; 6 (3) Promise Zone
boundaries must encompass a
population of at least 10,000 but no
more than 200,000 residents; (4) The
Promise Zone application must
affirmatively demonstrate support from
all mayors or chief executives of UGLGs
that include any geographical area
within the proposed Promise Zone
boundary, subject to the following
conditions:
• Counties and county equivalents
(collectively ‘‘counties’’).7 The chief
executive of a county must demonstrate
support for any Promise Zone Plan
(Plan) that includes an area within the
unincorporated boundaries of the
county. The chief executive of a county
may support as many Plans as he or she
wishes in incorporated areas within the
county, but may only support one Plan
that includes an area within the
unincorporated boundaries of the
county. If the chief executive of a
county supports multiple Plans, the
chief executive must include an
explanation of how the county intends
to work with multiple designees at the
same time and sustain the necessary
level of effort, resources, and support for
each designee for the full term of each
designation.
• UGLGs other than counties. For
UGLGs other than counties, the chief
executive of an UGLG must demonstrate
support for a Plan that includes any area
within the geographic boundaries of the
UGLG. The chief executive of UGLGs
that are not counties may support only
one Plan. If the chief executive of an
UGLG that is not a county supports
more than one Plan, HUD will
disqualify all Promise Zone applications
supported by that chief executive.
• Crossing Jurisdictions. The Promise
Zone application must demonstrate
support for the Plan from all chief
executives of UGLGs included within
the proposed Promise Zone boundary.
The chief executive of a county must
demonstrate support for any Plan that
includes area within the unincorporated
boundaries of the county. For UGLGs
other than counties, the chief executive
of an UGLG must demonstrate support
for a Plan that includes any area within
the geographic boundaries of the UGLG.
For example, a Plan that includes areas
in two cities requires the support of the
chief executives from both cities. A Plan
that includes area within the boundaries
of a city and the unincorporated
boundaries of the county requires
support from the chief executive of the
city and the chief executive of the
county.
• UGLGs with Designated Promise
Zones. If a Promise Zone designated in
Round 1 or 2 is located within a UGLG
in which a new application is being
submitted, the applicant must include
an explanation of how, if a second
Promise Zone designation is made, the
UGLG plans to work with both of the
Promise Zone designees at the same
time and sustain the level of effort,
resources and support committed to
each Promise Zone under its respective
Promise Zone Plan for the full term of
each Promise Zone designation. This
explanation must be evidenced by
commitments from the UGLG in
materials submitted by the chief
executive in support of the application.
Is support from
the chief
executive of
City X required?
The PZ Plan is for an area entirely within the boundaries of City X. .......................
The PZ Plan is for an area entirely within the boundaries of City Y. .......................
The PZ Plan is for an area entirely within the boundaries of unincorporated area
of County Z. ...........................................................................................................
The PZ Plan consists of area within City X and City Y. ...........................................
The PZ Plan consists of area within City Y and an area within the unincorporated
boundaries of County Z. ........................................................................................
The PZ Plan consists of area within City X, area within City Y, and area within the
unincorporated boundaries of County Z. ...............................................................
Is support of the
chief executive of
City Y required?
Is support of the
chief executive
of County
Z required?
Yes.*
No.
No.
Yes.*
No.**
No.**
No.
Yes*
No.
Yes.*
Yes.***
No.**
No.
Yes.*
Yes.***
Yes.*
Yes.*
Yes.***
* For UGLGs other than counties, the chief executive of an UGLG must demonstrate support for a Plan that includes any area within the geographic boundaries of the UGLG.
** However, the chief executive of a county may support as many Plans as he or she wishes in incorporated areas within the county.
*** The chief executive of a county must demonstrate support for any Promise Zone Plan that includes area within the unincorporated boundaries of the county.
Rural and Tribal Promise Zone
Designations
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All the following must be present to
be eligible for a Rural or Tribal Promise
Zone designation: (1) Rural and Tribal
Promise Zones must encompass one or
more census tract(s) across a contiguous
geography.8 Rural applicants can define
their boundaries by either census tracts
5 Applicants are required to use the Promise Zone
mapping tool to show both the boundary and the
poverty levels. The mapping tool emails this
information as a PDF to the applicant. This PDF, in
its entirety, must be included in the application.
See page 33 of the Application Guide for more
information on the mapping tool.
6 The reported poverty rate or Extremely Low
Income rate will be rounded to the nearest .1%.
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or by county, where multiple counties
are included. Tribal applicants can
define boundaries which may
encompass: one or more census tracts
and nearby tribally-controlled areas; or
reservations; or consortia of tribal and
non-tribal jurisdictions; (2) Promise
Zone boundaries must encompass a
population of no more than 200,000
residents.9 The population limit of
200,000 may not include any
incorporated municipalities or
unincorporated areas with individual
populations greater than 50,000. Rural
and tribal Promise Zones may fall in
non-metro and metro counties; (3) The
rate of overall poverty or Extremely Low
Income rate (whichever is greater) 10 of
7 Note the reference to county includes all county
equivalents, such as parishes.
8 For rural and tribal applications, Promise Zone
boundaries that cross state lines and water borders
can be considered contiguous.
9 The population limit of 200,000 is intended to
allow for regional collaboration among multiple
communities of varying sizes and capacities. The
rural eligibility criteria ensure, by definition, that
rural Promise Zone applications cannot include
communities over 50,000.
10 The estimated concentration of Extremely Low
Income (ELI) households represents an
approximation of the percent of households within
the specified area whose household combined
income is below 30% of the HUD defined Area
Median Income (AMI). This ELI indicator is
calculated with data from the block group level
from Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy
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residents within the Promise Zone must
be at or above 20 percent and the
Promise Zone must contain at least one
census tract with a poverty rate at or
above 30 percent; 11 and (4) Local
leadership must demonstrate
commitment to the Promise Zone effort.
Tribal applications must include
commitment of tribal jurisdiction(s)
represented. Proposed Promise Zone
boundaries may cross UGLG or tribal
area lines, but one Lead Applicant must
be identified, and for crossjurisdictional applications, commitment
must be demonstrated by the leadership
of all UGLGs or tribal areas involved.
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Application Review
Applications for Promise Zone
designations will be reviewed by
representatives from USDA, HUD, the
Department of Education, the
Department of Justice, the Department
of Health and Human Services, the
Department of Labor, and the
Department of Transportation.
Additional Federal agencies and outside
entities may contribute reviewers,
depending upon the anticipated volume
of applications.
Reviewers will first verify that the
application is submitted by an applicant
eligible for selection, by verifying that
the proposed Promise Zone meets the
qualifying criteria and that the Lead
Applicant meets the eligibility criteria
for the third round selection process.
For urban applications, reviewers will
confirm the subcategory in which each
application should be considered (large
Metropolitan Core Based Statistical Area
(Metro CBSA) or small/medium Metro
CBSA).12
Rural applications will be ranked
against other rural applications, tribal
applications will be ranked against
other tribal applications, and urban
applications will be ranked against
other urban applications. An
application must score a total of 75
points or more out of 100 points, to be
(CHAS) 2010. The final number included in this
report for ‘‘poverty rate’’ is the greater of these two
indicators.
11 Applicants are required to use the Promise
Zones mapping tool to determine the overall
poverty rate. The mapping tool determines the
overall poverty rate in two ways and uses the higher
percentage.
12 Urban application subcategories are defined as:
Large Metro CBSA: The proposed Promise Zone
community is located in a Metropolitan Core Based
Statistical Area (Metro CBSA) with a total
population of 500,000 or more. Small/medium
Metro CBSA: The proposed Promise Zone
community is located within the geographic
boundaries of a Metro CBSA with a population of
499,999 or less. Additional information regarding
Metropolitan Core Based Statistical Areas and
Principal City can be found at https://
www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/
bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf.
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considered for a designation (scoring 75
points or more means that applications
fall within the ‘‘competitive range’’).
Once scored, applications will be
ranked competitively within each of the
three Promise Zones categories and
within the urban subcategories, as
applicable.
HUD intends to designate at least one
applicant from the small/medium Metro
CBSA sub-category if the highest scoring
small/medium Metro CBSA application
is comparable in quality to other urban
designees (within 10 points of the
lowest scoring designee and not
otherwise disqualified in accordance
with all other requirements contained
within this application guide). If the
number of eligible applications
determined to be eligible for the small/
medium Metro CBSA subcategory is
fewer than the greater of 1) five total
applications, or 2) ten percent of the
total number of urban applications
received, then the applications in the
small/medium Metro CBSA subcategory
will be included in the large Metro
CBSA subcategory and ranked against
those applications.
Application Submission
Applications must provide a clear
description of how the Promise Zone
designation would accelerate and
strengthen the community’s efforts at
comprehensive community
revitalization. No substantive or
technical corrections will be accepted or
reviewed after the application deadline.
The Application Guide can be found at
www.hud.gov/promisezones.
Applications are due via the Promise
Zone online application portal on MAX
Survey by 5:00 p.m. EST on February
23, 2016. Directions on how to access
and use the application portal are
available at www.hud.gov/
promisezones.
If the Lead Applicant requests to use
alternative data sources to meet the
eligibility criteria or for the Need
application section, a one-page
explanation noting the alternative data
source must be submitted to
promisezones@hud.gov with the subject
line ‘‘Alternative data source request’’
by February 2, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. EST to
be approved by the relevant designating
agency (HUD or USDA).
Dated: December 14, 2015.
Nani A. Coloretti,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015–31884 Filed 12–17–15; 8:45 am]
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79079
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–5871–N–03]
Notice of Regulatory Waiver Requests
Granted for the Third Quarter of
Calendar Year 2015
AGENCY:
Office of the General Counsel,
HUD.
ACTION:
Notice.
Section 106 of the Department
of Housing and Urban Development
Reform Act of 1989 (the HUD Reform
Act) requires HUD to publish quarterly
Federal Register notices of all
regulatory waivers that HUD has
approved. Each notice covers the
quarterly period since the previous
Federal Register notice. The purpose of
this notice is to comply with the
requirements of section 106 of the HUD
Reform Act. This notice contains a list
of regulatory waivers granted by HUD
during the period beginning on July 1,
2015, and ending on September 30,
2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general information about this notice,
contact Camille E. Acevedo, Associate
General Counsel for Legislation and
Regulations, Department of Housing and
Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street
SW., Room 10282, Washington, DC
20410–0500, telephone 202–708–1793
(this is not a toll-free number). Persons
with hearing- or speech-impairments
may access this number through TTY by
calling the toll-free Federal Relay
Service at 800–877–8339.
For information concerning a
particular waiver that was granted and
for which public notice is provided in
this document, contact the person
whose name and address follow the
description of the waiver granted in the
accompanying list of waivers that have
been granted in the third quarter of
calendar year 2015.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
106 of the HUD Reform Act added a
new section 7(q) to the Department of
Housing and Urban Development Act
(42 U.S.C. 3535(q)), which provides
that:
1. Any waiver of a regulation must be
in writing and must specify the grounds
for approving the waiver;
2. Authority to approve a waiver of a
regulation may be delegated by the
Secretary only to an individual of
Assistant Secretary or equivalent rank,
and the person to whom authority to
waive is delegated must also have
authority to issue the particular
regulation to be waived;
3. Not less than quarterly, the
Secretary must notify the public of all
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 243 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79076-79079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31884]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-5774-N-04]
Promise Zones Initiative: Third Round Selection Process
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and
Development, HUD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Through this notice, HUD provides notice on the selection
process, criteria, and application submission for the third round of
the Promise Zone initiative.
DATES: Application due date is 5:00 p.m. EST on February 23, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Interested eligible organizations are invited to submit
applications for a Promise Zone designation. Questions or comments
regarding the application process should be directed by email to
Promisezones@hud.gov. Questions or comments may also be directed by
postal mail to the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Economic Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
451 Seventh Street SW., Room 7136, Washington, DC 20410 ATTN: Promise
Zone Selections.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Herdliska, U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Rm 7136, Washington,
DC, 20410; telephone number 202-402-6758. This is not a toll-free
number. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this
number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at
(800) 877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In his 2013 State of the Union address, President Obama announced
the establishment of the Promise Zones initiative to partner with high-
poverty communities across the country to create jobs, increase
economic security, expand educational opportunities, increase access to
quality, affordable housing, and improve public safety.\1\ On January
8, 2014, the President
[[Page 79077]]
announced the first five Promise Zones, which are located in: San
Antonio, TX; Philadelphia, PA; Los Angeles, CA; Southeastern Kentucky,
KY; and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, OK. On April 28, 2015, eight
more Promise Zones were designated as part of the second round Promise
Zone selection process. They are located in: Camden, NJ; Hartford, CT;
Indianapolis, IN; Minneapolis, MN; Sacramento, CA; St. Louis, MO; South
Carolina Low Country; and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of the Oglala
Sioux Tribe, SD. Each of these communities (nine urban, two rural, and
two tribal) submitted a plan on how it will partner with local business
and community leaders to make investments that reward hard work and
expand opportunity. In exchange, the Federal government is helping
these Promise Zone designees secure the resources and flexibility they
need to achieve their goals.\2\ The urban designations were conferred
by HUD, while the rural and tribal designations were conferred by U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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\1\ See https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/15/fact-sheet-president-s-plan-ensure-hard-work-leads-decent-living.
\2\ See https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/08/fact-sheet-president-obama-s-promise-zones-initiative.
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Promise Zones Benefits
The Promise Zone designation partners the Federal government with
local leaders who are addressing multiple community revitalization
challenges in a collaborative way and have demonstrated a commitment to
results. Further, Promise Zones will be assigned Federal staff to help
navigate the array of Federal assistance and programs already available
to them. In addition, eligible applicants in Promise Zones will receive
any available (a) preference for certain competitive Federal programs
and (b) technical assistance. Subject to enactment by Congress,
businesses investing in Promise Zones or hiring residents of Promise
Zones will be eligible to receive tax incentives. Altogether, this
package of assistance will help local leaders accelerate efforts to
revitalize their communities.
The Promise Zone designation will be for a term of 10 years and may
be extended as necessary to capture the full term of availability of
the Promise Zone tax incentives, if the tax incentives are enacted.
During this term, the specific benefits made available to Promise Zones
may vary from year to year, and sometimes more often than annually, due
to changes in Federal agency policies and changes in appropriations and
authorizations for relevant programs. All assistance provided to
Promise Zones is subject to applicable regulations, statutes, and
changes in federal agency policies, appropriations, and authorizations
for relevant programs. Subject to these limitations, the Promise Zone
designation commits the Federal government to partner with local
leaders who are addressing multiple community revitalization challenges
in a collaborative way and have demonstrated a commitment to results.
Response to Public Comment
On July 29, 2015, HUD published a notice in the Federal Register at
80 FR 45227 to solicit comments from first and second round applicants,
interested parties, and the general public on the Promise Zones
initiative and the proposed selection process for the of Promise Zone
designations. The public comment period closed on September 28, 2015.
HUD received 21 communications containing public comments. HUD and
USDA, in consultation with federal interagency partners of the Promise
Zone initiative, provided responses to public comments on the
application process which have been included in the updated Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs). The FAQs can be found at www.hud.gov/promisezones.
Promise Zones Selection Process
This notice announces the opening of the application period for the
third round of Promise Zone designations. HUD and USDA have reorganized
and revised the Application Guide to clarify elements that applicants
found particularly difficult and incorporated some comments. The MAX
Survey online survey system, which is used for submitting certain
components of the application, has also been reorganized. Applications
are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on February 23, 2016 with announcements
expected in 2016. As a result of this competition, HUD intends to
designate five urban communities and USDA intends to designate one
rural and one tribal community. A total of 20 Promise Zone designations
will be made by the end of calendar year 2016.
Due to the cross-disciplinary nature of the initiative, the list of
eligible Lead Applicants has been updated to reflect that Promise Zone
activities are likely to be carried out by a variety of organizations
and organization types, including organizations that have specific
roles in the delivery of programs funded by different Federal agencies.
Most such organizations are eligible under the categories of
governmental and nonprofit organizations that were previously listed as
eligible Lead Applicants. HUD and USDA included examples might
encourage communities to engage organizations that are the most
appropriate to respond to their needs and lead revitalization efforts.
Eligible Lead Applicants for Urban Promise Zone designations are: Units
of General Local Government (UGLG); \3\ An office/department of a local
government submitting on behalf of the local government under a local
delegation of authority; Nonprofit organizations applying with the
support of the UGLG; and Public Housing Agencies, Community Colleges,
Local Education Agencies (LEAs), or Metropolitan Planning Organizations
(MPOs) applying with the support of the UGLG.
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\3\ Unit of general local government as defined in section
102(a)(1) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42
U.S.C. 5302(a)(1)). See definition (a) (1) Unit of General Local
Government.
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Eligible Lead Applicants for Rural and Tribal Promise Zone
designations are: Local governments (which includes county, city, town,
township, parish, village, governmental authority or other general-
purpose political subdivision of a state or combination thereof) and
Federally-recognized tribes; \4\ Nonprofit organizations applying in
partnership with local government or tribal government; Housing
authorities applying in partnership with local government, or Tribally
Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) applying in partnership with tribal
government; or Local Education Agencies (LEAs) applying in partnership
with local or tribal government; or community colleges applying in
partnership with local or tribal government.
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\4\ ``Tribal applicants'' are: Federally-recognized tribes as
well as duly established political subdivisions of a Federally-
recognized tribe. A ``Federally-recognized tribe'' is any Indian
tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community of
Indians, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village
corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act [43 USCS Sec. Sec. 1601 et seq.], that
is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services
provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as
Indians pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) A Nonprofit organization
applying in partnership with a Federally-recognized tribal
government may apply as a tribal applicant.
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Any Lead Applicant whose proposed Promise Zone boundaries meet the
qualifying criteria set forth in the Third Round Application Guide is
eligible to apply for a Promise Zone designation. All of the following
must be present in an application for a proposed Urban Promise Zone to
be eligible for a designation: (1) Proposed Promise Zone must have one
contiguous boundary and
[[Page 79078]]
cannot include separate geographic areas; \5\ (2) The rate of overall
poverty or
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\5\ Applicants are required to use the Promise Zone mapping tool
to show both the boundary and the poverty levels. The mapping tool
emails this information as a PDF to the applicant. This PDF, in its
entirety, must be included in the application. See page 33 of the
Application Guide for more information on the mapping tool.
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Extremely Low Income rate (whichever is greater) of residents
within the Promise Zone must be at or above 32.5%; \6\ (3) Promise Zone
boundaries must encompass a population of at least 10,000 but no more
than 200,000 residents; (4) The Promise Zone application must
affirmatively demonstrate support from all mayors or chief executives
of UGLGs that include any geographical area within the proposed Promise
Zone boundary, subject to the following conditions:
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\6\ The reported poverty rate or Extremely Low Income rate will
be rounded to the nearest .1%.
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Counties and county equivalents (collectively
``counties'').\7\ The chief executive of a county must demonstrate
support for any Promise Zone Plan (Plan) that includes an area within
the unincorporated boundaries of the county. The chief executive of a
county may support as many Plans as he or she wishes in incorporated
areas within the county, but may only support one Plan that includes an
area within the unincorporated boundaries of the county. If the chief
executive of a county supports multiple Plans, the chief executive must
include an explanation of how the county intends to work with multiple
designees at the same time and sustain the necessary level of effort,
resources, and support for each designee for the full term of each
designation.
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\7\ Note the reference to county includes all county
equivalents, such as parishes.
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UGLGs other than counties. For UGLGs other than counties,
the chief executive of an UGLG must demonstrate support for a Plan that
includes any area within the geographic boundaries of the UGLG. The
chief executive of UGLGs that are not counties may support only one
Plan. If the chief executive of an UGLG that is not a county supports
more than one Plan, HUD will disqualify all Promise Zone applications
supported by that chief executive.
Crossing Jurisdictions. The Promise Zone application must
demonstrate support for the Plan from all chief executives of UGLGs
included within the proposed Promise Zone boundary. The chief executive
of a county must demonstrate support for any Plan that includes area
within the unincorporated boundaries of the county. For UGLGs other
than counties, the chief executive of an UGLG must demonstrate support
for a Plan that includes any area within the geographic boundaries of
the UGLG. For example, a Plan that includes areas in two cities
requires the support of the chief executives from both cities. A Plan
that includes area within the boundaries of a city and the
unincorporated boundaries of the county requires support from the chief
executive of the city and the chief executive of the county.
UGLGs with Designated Promise Zones. If a Promise Zone
designated in Round 1 or 2 is located within a UGLG in which a new
application is being submitted, the applicant must include an
explanation of how, if a second Promise Zone designation is made, the
UGLG plans to work with both of the Promise Zone designees at the same
time and sustain the level of effort, resources and support committed
to each Promise Zone under its respective Promise Zone Plan for the
full term of each Promise Zone designation. This explanation must be
evidenced by commitments from the UGLG in materials submitted by the
chief executive in support of the application.
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Is support from Is support of the Is support of the
the chief chief executive chief executive
executive of of City Y of County Z
City X required? required? required?
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The PZ Plan is for an area entirely within the Yes.* No. No.**
boundaries of City X..................................
The PZ Plan is for an area entirely within the No. Yes.* No.**
boundaries of City Y..................................
The PZ Plan is for an area entirely within the No. No. Yes.***
boundaries of unincorporated area of County Z.........
The PZ Plan consists of area within City X and City Y.. Yes* Yes.* No.**
The PZ Plan consists of area within City Y and an area No. Yes.* Yes.***
within the unincorporated boundaries of County Z......
The PZ Plan consists of area within City X, area within Yes.* Yes.* Yes.***
City Y, and area within the unincorporated boundaries
of County Z...........................................
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* For UGLGs other than counties, the chief executive of an UGLG must demonstrate support for a Plan that
includes any area within the geographic boundaries of the UGLG.
** However, the chief executive of a county may support as many Plans as he or she wishes in incorporated areas
within the county.
*** The chief executive of a county must demonstrate support for any Promise Zone Plan that includes area within
the unincorporated boundaries of the county.
Rural and Tribal Promise Zone Designations
All the following must be present to be eligible for a Rural or
Tribal Promise Zone designation: (1) Rural and Tribal Promise Zones
must encompass one or more census tract(s) across a contiguous
geography.\8\ Rural applicants can define their boundaries by either
census tracts or by county, where multiple counties are included.
Tribal applicants can define boundaries which may encompass: one or
more census tracts and nearby tribally-controlled areas; or
reservations; or consortia of tribal and non-tribal jurisdictions; (2)
Promise Zone boundaries must encompass a population of no more than
200,000 residents.\9\ The population limit of 200,000 may not include
any incorporated municipalities or unincorporated areas with individual
populations greater than 50,000. Rural and tribal Promise Zones may
fall in non-metro and metro counties; (3) The rate of overall poverty
or Extremely Low Income rate (whichever is greater) \10\ of
[[Page 79079]]
residents within the Promise Zone must be at or above 20 percent and
the Promise Zone must contain at least one census tract with a poverty
rate at or above 30 percent; \11\ and (4) Local leadership must
demonstrate commitment to the Promise Zone effort. Tribal applications
must include commitment of tribal jurisdiction(s) represented. Proposed
Promise Zone boundaries may cross UGLG or tribal area lines, but one
Lead Applicant must be identified, and for cross-jurisdictional
applications, commitment must be demonstrated by the leadership of all
UGLGs or tribal areas involved.
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\8\ For rural and tribal applications, Promise Zone boundaries
that cross state lines and water borders can be considered
contiguous.
\9\ The population limit of 200,000 is intended to allow for
regional collaboration among multiple communities of varying sizes
and capacities. The rural eligibility criteria ensure, by
definition, that rural Promise Zone applications cannot include
communities over 50,000.
\10\ The estimated concentration of Extremely Low Income (ELI)
households represents an approximation of the percent of households
within the specified area whose household combined income is below
30% of the HUD defined Area Median Income (AMI). This ELI indicator
is calculated with data from the block group level from
Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) 2010. The final
number included in this report for ``poverty rate'' is the greater
of these two indicators.
\11\ Applicants are required to use the Promise Zones mapping
tool to determine the overall poverty rate. The mapping tool
determines the overall poverty rate in two ways and uses the higher
percentage.
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Application Review
Applications for Promise Zone designations will be reviewed by
representatives from USDA, HUD, the Department of Education, the
Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, the
Department of Labor, and the Department of Transportation. Additional
Federal agencies and outside entities may contribute reviewers,
depending upon the anticipated volume of applications.
Reviewers will first verify that the application is submitted by an
applicant eligible for selection, by verifying that the proposed
Promise Zone meets the qualifying criteria and that the Lead Applicant
meets the eligibility criteria for the third round selection process.
For urban applications, reviewers will confirm the subcategory in which
each application should be considered (large Metropolitan Core Based
Statistical Area (Metro CBSA) or small/medium Metro CBSA).\12\
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\12\ Urban application subcategories are defined as: Large Metro
CBSA: The proposed Promise Zone community is located in a
Metropolitan Core Based Statistical Area (Metro CBSA) with a total
population of 500,000 or more. Small/medium Metro CBSA: The proposed
Promise Zone community is located within the geographic boundaries
of a Metro CBSA with a population of 499,999 or less. Additional
information regarding Metropolitan Core Based Statistical Areas and
Principal City can be found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf.
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Rural applications will be ranked against other rural applications,
tribal applications will be ranked against other tribal applications,
and urban applications will be ranked against other urban applications.
An application must score a total of 75 points or more out of 100
points, to be considered for a designation (scoring 75 points or more
means that applications fall within the ``competitive range''). Once
scored, applications will be ranked competitively within each of the
three Promise Zones categories and within the urban subcategories, as
applicable.
HUD intends to designate at least one applicant from the small/
medium Metro CBSA sub-category if the highest scoring small/medium
Metro CBSA application is comparable in quality to other urban
designees (within 10 points of the lowest scoring designee and not
otherwise disqualified in accordance with all other requirements
contained within this application guide). If the number of eligible
applications determined to be eligible for the small/medium Metro CBSA
subcategory is fewer than the greater of 1) five total applications, or
2) ten percent of the total number of urban applications received, then
the applications in the small/medium Metro CBSA subcategory will be
included in the large Metro CBSA subcategory and ranked against those
applications.
Application Submission
Applications must provide a clear description of how the Promise
Zone designation would accelerate and strengthen the community's
efforts at comprehensive community revitalization. No substantive or
technical corrections will be accepted or reviewed after the
application deadline. The Application Guide can be found at
www.hud.gov/promisezones. Applications are due via the Promise Zone
online application portal on MAX Survey by 5:00 p.m. EST on February
23, 2016. Directions on how to access and use the application portal
are available at www.hud.gov/promisezones.
If the Lead Applicant requests to use alternative data sources to
meet the eligibility criteria or for the Need application section, a
one-page explanation noting the alternative data source must be
submitted to promisezones@hud.gov with the subject line ``Alternative
data source request'' by February 2, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. EST to be
approved by the relevant designating agency (HUD or USDA).
Dated: December 14, 2015.
Nani A. Coloretti,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-31884 Filed 12-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
