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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release May 25, 1999
                PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE 
                     HIGHLIGHT AN EMPOWERMENT AGENDA 
                     FOR TAPPING AMERICA'S POTENTIAL 

                              May 25,1999 

Today, the President and Vice President are visiting a successful Empowerment Zone, the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, site of this year's White House Community Empowerment Conference. More than 500 participants from Empowerment Zones across the country are expected to gather in Edinburg, Texas which sits right on the border with Mexico. The conference will provide a forum for community members to share valuable lessons and participate in a series of seminars. Seminars will focus on topics ranging from stimulating private sector investment to fostering safer, healthier neighborhoods. Seminars will help EZ/EC residents and community boards to implement their strategic plans and further their revitalization efforts.

THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT CONTINUE TO SHOW LEADERSHIP BY BUILDING ON THEIR SIX-YEAR RECORD OF PROMOTING GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA'S COMMUNITIES. Since 1993, President Clinton and Vice President Gore have been committed to tapping the potential of America's urban and rural communities. They have a demonstrated record of creating new initiatives and expanding existing initiatives to promote community and economic development. The Clinton-Gore Administration has worked with the private sector, states, and localities to help revitalize America's communities by bringing capital, jobs, and opportunity to distressed areas and cleaning up the urban environment. President Clinton and Vice President Gore have created or expanded the following initiatives over the last six years:

Helping to Bring Private Enterprise and Capital to Distressed Areas. The Clinton-Gore Administration has re-newed the commitment of the Federal government to help bring private enterprise into underserved communities and improve access to capital for low-income households, minorities, and traditionally underserved borrowers.