Baltimore's emergence as one of the few U.S. cities to win federal acceptance of its empowerment zone plan is the stuff of dreams for every mayor. The benefits are staggering: $100 million in federal social grants and $250 million in tax credits to private employers if they create new jobs for residents of a number of depressed neighborhoods. These numbers could grow to $800 million with sufficient city, state and private investment.
Initially, Baltimore's chances to win the empowerment designation seemed slim. But Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke told the Baltimore Development Corporation staff under Honora Freeman to work out a proposal that could not be turned down on merits.
Michael Seipp, a key development official, was detached to design the plan. He enlisted the help of corporate, non-profit and community players in a blitz that involved 500 participants. The result was a document that was impressive enough to win federal approval against intense competition.
If given the empowerment plum, Baltimore told the Clinton administration, there would be groundbreakings every month between now and the next presidential election. (This was no unselfish promise: Mr. Schmoke himself needs to collect as much political mileage as he can before next year's mayoral election.)
Baltimore already has part of its implementation infrastructure in place. A Small Business Resource Center opens downtown on Jan. 12. Developed jointly by federal agencies, NationsBank, the University of Baltimore and Bell Atlantic, the center will be turned into a one-stop capital shop for businesses willing to create more jobs.
Another element already in place is a small-business investment corporation that so far has $12 million in private-sector pledges toward revitalization objectives. And while action plans for the area around the Johns Hopkins medical complex, Pigtown and Fairfield are still being worked on, Sandtown-Winchester's rebirth is well under way.
The empowerment designation -- and the money it brings -- is the best possible holiday present for Mayor Schmoke. After nearly eight years, his low-key style and hesitant administration have earned him many critics, particularly in the business community. Nothing succeeds like success, however.
But to succeed completely, Mr. Seipp's staffers must meet another deadline: They have to get all the necessary contracts signed by Jan. 4 so the new Republican-controlled Congress cannot renege on the allocated empowerment money. An even bigger challenge is to make sure this federal nest egg attracts enough private investment in West and East Baltimore to guarantee that these changes lead to sustained economic revival in city neighborhoods.