Udall, Heinrich Invite Underserved New Mexico Communities to Apply for Promise Zone Designation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich invited underserved urban, rural and tribal communities in New Mexico to apply for the second round of designations for the Promise Zone Initiative, part of a plan developed by the president to create jobs, increase economic mobility, improve educational opportunities and reduce crime in high-poverty communities throughout the country. The initiative helps communities create a pathway to the middle class by connecting groups and business with federal programs and resources that accelerate economic growth through locally-targeted strategies.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will select at least eight new Promise Zones for this round of the program. The application deadline is November 21, 2014, and further information about how to apply is available at: www.hud.gov/promisezones.

“A Promise Zone designation can help struggling New Mexico communities create and implement targeted local strategies to create good-paying jobs, improve educational opportunities, and prevent crime,” Udall said. “Last year’s Promise Zone communities have already made strides in helping members of their community get ahead, and I encourage eligible underserved New Mexico communities to apply.”

“The investments and collaboration that come with a Promise Zone designation would help create local jobs and build more stable and safer communities in New Mexico,” said Heinrich. “Through expansion of education opportunities, job training programs, infrastructure projects, and other investments, our state can move toward a future of smart economic growth. I encourage all eligible communities in New Mexico to apply for this opportunity.”

The five existing Promise Zone communities are located in San Antonio, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Southeastern Kentucky; and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.  These communities seek to create interagency federal partnerships to support community-based economic development goals by providing tax credits to businesses, preferred access to certain competitive federal investments, and support on the ground from federal staff and AmeriCorps Vista members. 

HUD and the USDA will host three distinct webcasts for urban, rural and tribal communities to provide information about the Promise Zone Initiative. RSVPs are mandatory for each webcast and may be submitted online here. The following are the dates and times for these webcasts, which are off the record and not for press purposes:

• Tribal webcast: Sept. 29, 2014 from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. EST, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. MST
• Rural webcast: Sept. 29, 2014 from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. EST, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. MST
• Urban webcast: Oct. 1, 2014 from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. EST, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. MST