1.   Begun two years ago, the empowerment zone program challenged cities nationwide to compete for funds by bringing local money and businesses together to promote jobs and economic independence.

2.   That fear was reinforced by Cuomo, who is charge of administering federal funds under the empowerment zone program.

3.   Urban columnist Neal Peirce praised the recently implemented empowerment zone program as perhaps the best urban initiative in HUD history.

4.   The empowerment zone program is aimed at stemming population loss.