The city's Empowerment Zone provides tax incentives for new and expanding businesses and developments in areas of stagnant or reversed growth.

Fifty non-profit organizations were selected for the recent award. The organizations, a few that encourage new single-family and multifamily developments, will serve residents in the east, central and southwest sections of the Empowerment Zone.

Organizations like the Empowerment Zone Coalition Inc. and the U-SNAP-BAC Non-Profit Housing Corp. will earn more than $100,000 each toward programs that include promoting new housing developments.

"These grants facilitate neighborhood revitalization," says Larry Givens, the corporation executive director.

Other groups receiving awards focus on providing services to old and new residents.