- S30 -

The GriggsSteele Empowerment Zone GSEZ is an economic development agency created as part of a federal program focused on providing highly distressed urban and rural communities new opportunities for economic growth and revitalization. Set in eastern North Dakota GSEZ consists of Steele County and one census tract in Griggs County. Located in the Griggs County census tract are the communities of Cooperstown Hannaford and Binford. From 1999 to 2009 as part of the Federal Empowerment Zone Initiative GSEZ empowered the Zone communities through grants business tax credits tax exempt bonding increased section 179 deductions equity investments and revolving loans.