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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2451f^ A Resolution APPROVING STRATEGIC PLAN AND AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO SIGN AND SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR EMPOWERMENT ZONE DESIGNATION CITY OF FORT WORTH COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO WHEREAS an empowerment zone is an economically distressed area as designated by HUD within which the federal government provides tax incentives and grants to stimulate the creation of jobs for low-income residents and WHEREAS there has been acommunity-based planning effort underway since June to designate an area develop a strategic plan and apply for federal empowerment zone designation and WHEREAS on July 28 1998 the City Council approved Resolution #2433 ratifying the selection of an area to be nominated for federal empowerment zone designation as recommend by the Empowerment Zone Policy Committee and WHEREAS planning workshops were conducted on August 1st and 29th for development of the vision values goals and implementation plan pertaining to the subject area which was used for the development of the strategic plan and WHEREAS the strategic plan was approved by the Empowerment Zone Policy Committee on September 9th and WHEREAS the Partnership Committee met on September 1.Oth and discussed the proposed plan and commitments to implement the strategic plan and WHEREAS the City Council received the draft strategic plan and discussed the application at its September 8th and September 15th Work Sessions NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL. SECTION 1 Approves the Empowerment Zone Strategic Plan CITY OF FORT WORTH CITY OF FORT WORTH 09/04/98 DRAFT • ~~~~~ooo SUNIMARY The City of Fort Worth, in collaboration with its citizens, its neighborhoods and its business community is proud to adopt this Strategic Plan for the proposed Fort Worth Empowerment Zone. The Strategic Plan is part of the City's application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Empowerment Zone designation. The City of Fort Worth has long faced complicated urban problems, and has aggressively used innovative approaches that have lasting benefits. Partnenng with HUD in developing the Empowerment Zone is another opportunity to face the problems head-on and offer real solutions to the impoverished citizens of the City With Empowerment Zone designation and the multiple benefits that come with it, these citizens will be able to go to work, live in decent homes, and have a hand in their own governance. • Over the next ten years, the 48,301 residents of Fort Worth's Empowerment Zone will be focusing on economic development, neighborhood revitalization, public safety and children and youth. They will be working in partnership with government, private sector investors, the local .school district, churches, non-profit groups and their own friends and neighbors to meet the goals that they have set for themselves in these four categories. Empowerment Zone residents refuse to be discouraged by the fact that, of their number, 41 percent live at or below the poverty level or that most of them make less than $6,000 per year. They remain undaunted by an unemployment rate that is more than double that of the rest of the City Instead of being complacent about their circumstances, the citizens of the Empowerment Zone aze fighting back through this Strategic Plan, which they have designed to assist them in altering then future. On August 1 1998, the residents of the azea drafted their own vision statement: "We believe that by 2010 the Fort Worth Empowerment Zone -through a partnership among community, business, and government -will have created a string of culturally diverse urban villages connected by tree-lined streets, sidewalks, and transit routes, where each citizen will be able to succeed in school, at work, and in family life." Plans were made that will make that vision a reality • 9 w, O~I04/98 DRAFT ~ Economic development in the Empowerment Zone will soaz as new corporations • ~ locate there and local entrepreneurs aze given the financial incentives to open or expand then businesses. ~' ~ Jobs will be created and filled with citizens living in the area who have learned their skills through Empowerment Zone job training programs. ~ Neighborhood revitalization will begin with the development of four urban villages across the Empowerment Zone. ~ Crime will be reduced through the continuation of such successful activities as Citizens on Patrol and Neighborhood Watch and the development of new community crime prevention programs. Children and youth will be educated, hued, and protected; they will learn to give back to their community The Empowerment Zone, although deficient in many ways compared to the rest of the City has strengths and assets that form a firm foundation on which to build fog the next ten years. By considering the assets along with the deficiencies, the Empowerment Zone residents have been able to formulate specific projects and programs through the year 2010. Included m their timeline is receipt of the critical Empowerment Zone designation. Font Worth intends to take full advantage of the wide-range of benefits provided through the designation such as the $100,000 planning grant and the brownfields initiatives programs. If $100 million in Social Services Block Grant funds is appropriated, the ~olicy Comnttee has voted to allocate the funds into their four areas of focus: economic development ($40 million), neighborhood revitalization ($25 million), public safety ($i0 million) and children and youth ($25 million). The Policy Committee is also exploring other grant funding opportunities such as the pending Heritage Center grant offered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that will contribute approximately $9 million in economic development initiatives to the Empowerment Zone. Many other improvements within the Fort Worth Empowerment Zone, like the $3.5 million renovation of the historic James E. Guinn School, are already fully funded and in progress. But the citizens of the Empowerment Zone have made it clear that, whether or not future grant funding is received, they intend to continue their fight to make their vision a reality They are determined to make a better life for themselves and their children. Excitement, collaboration and support have been the underlying themes of the process. The Strategic Plan has developed through a serves of networking meetings and conunurity workshops. It has been endorsed by the Empowerment Zone Policy Committee and Partnership Commit#ee, residents of the area, and the City Council, as well as State government. At a workshop on August 29 members of the Policy Committee and other residents in attendance voted to form the Fort Worth empowerment Zone Corporation immediately upon receipt of designation. The Corporation is charged with establishing policies and procedures, and malang decisions that will uifluence the lives of the Empowerment Zone residents. In establishing the Corporation, residents of the community are confidently taking their future into their own hands and accepting the responsibilities of governance. 10