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“ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S1764 on Feb. 27, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
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MACON RIDGE ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY
Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, on February 27, 1997, the Macon Ridge enterprise community, consisting of portions of Catahoula, Concordia, Franklin, Morehouse, and Tensas Parishes in Louisiana, is to be awarded the Community Empowerment Award by the American Association of Enterprise Zones.
I am very proud to have Louisiana's own Macon Ridge recognized as the best enterprise community in the Nation. The Macon Ridge Enterprise Community is an example to the Nation of the success that can be derived from community-based economic development.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture designated the Macon Ridge enterprise community as 1 of the 30 rural enterprise communities across the United States, from some 227 applicants, on December 21, 1994. The enterprise community is administered by the Macon Ridge Development Region, Inc., which is a multifaceted economic development organization serving 11 parishes in northeast Louisiana.
The Macon Ridge enterprise community has, in the first 12 months of operation, created or retained 523 jobs, started 3 business incubators, had over 523 residents in job training or literacy programs, and leveraged some $3.316 million in additional funding.
The executive director of the Macon Ridge enterprise community, Mr. Buddy Spillers, as well as the Macon Ridge Enterprise Community Advisory Council and the Macon Ridge Board of Directors, are to be commended for their tireless efforts to create the opportunities and partnerships in Macon Ridge which have brought about this progress.
In closing, Mr. President, I take this occasion to offer my sincere congratulations to the Macon Ridge enterprise community, not only for meriting this award, but for the vast economic development opportunities which it has created in Louisiana and for the outstanding model which it provides to the State and the Nation.
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