A Case Study of the Enterprise Zone Program: “EZ†Avenue to Minority Economic Development?

This article explores Pennsylvania’s enterprise zone program as an economic development strategy in one city—Philadelphia. Given the underlying corporate-centered focus of economic development policies, it focuses on whether such policies can effectively reduce the high rate of joblessness for central-city residents as well as increase the rate of business development for minority business owners. To have a long-term impact on minority communities, economic development policies should identify ways to increase minority economic development through entrepreneurship and job creation strategies.