Principal Investigator Karl Seidman
The federal empowerment zone/enterprise community program represents the most recent federal attempt to address the problems of concentrated urban and rural poverty. Under this program, statutory criteria for eligible areas were established based on population, size, and poverty level. Eligible communities then apply for designations as an empowerment zone or enterprise by submitting a strategic plan to advance the community's "strategic vision for change" and achieve economic and community development. Empowerment zone designation provided $100 million in federal human services block grant funds and certain tax incentive for investment and employment of zone residents. Enterprise Communities received $3 million in human services block grant funds and limited tax incentives. The empowerment zone/enterprise community program has emphasized grass roots community involvement in planning and implementation, comprehensive approaches to community development, and leveraging of non-federal resources.
Karl Seidman has participated in two evaluations of this program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as a field researcher evaluating Boston's empowerment zone plan. The first evaluation addressed the initial two-year implementation period. The current evaluation project assesses interim five-year outcomes from the empowerment zone initiative through early 2000. Evaluation of this program is especially challenging due to comprehensive nature of planned activities and the different strategies pursued in each city. To address these challenges, the evaluation is based on a "Theory of Change" methodology where the outcome methods and evaluation approach is tailored to each community and how its projects and activities will lead to its the ultimate goals and community change. Karl Seidman will be conducting field research to assess the outcomes from its Enhanced Enterprise Strategy as part a nationwide evaluation that encompasses 18 cities.