Job Seeker Services
Empowerment
Zone (EZ)
Knoxville, TN was
designated as a Round II Empowerment Zone (EZ) in 1999 by
the federal government. With the designation came the promise
of $100 million over a 10-year period to stimulate economic
development activity in a 16 square mile area that encompasses
the “Heart of Knoxville." To date, $27 million
EZ dollars have been appropriated for starting new businesses,
creating jobs, and training employees. The EZ is an area in
Knoxville that qualified for special federal dollars to revitalize
the community because of its level of poverty, poor housing
conditions and low education levels.
The Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of the federal government
funds the program, the City of Knoxville is the fiscal agent
and the Partnership for Neighborhood Improvement (PNI) makes
decisions on how the money is spent with input from Zone Advisory
Councils (ZAC’s) that represent EZ neighborhoods. For
additional information about the EZ you may visit www.knoxvilleempowermentzone.org.
If you are EZ resident and seeking a job and looking to improve
your job skills through additional education and training,
there maybe services available to you. Stop by the Heart of
Knoxville Career and Resource Center to find out if you qualify
for financial assistance with skills training vouchers and
other educational/training services.
