Details about this story

• Source: Miami Herald
• Date: September 30, 2007
• URL: Read the story
• Bylines: Jason Grotto , Scott Hiaasen
• Topics: Local Government
• Data Types: Local Data , Mapping
• Description/Excerpt: That agency, the Miami-Dade Empowerment Trust, was founded by county leaders in 1999 to take aim at the backbreaking poverty in nine designated "empowerment zones'' - among the most destitute neighborhoods in Florida. As part of the largest federal poverty initiative in decades, the trust received $68 million in federal, state and local grants to pursue a broad and ambitious plan that included financing affordable housing, providing job training and improving social services. But for nearly a decade, the trust has squandered millions of tax dollars on risky ventures, bad loans and insider deals - in many cases without creating a single job - a Miami Herald investigation has found. The newspaper examined 164 trust projects intended to boost businesses and found that six of every 10 dollars spent - a total of $9.2 million - went to questionable deals, failed companies and projects that yielded no jobs. While the agency has started several children's programs, provided needed housing and helped some businesses stay afloat, it also steered nearly $1 million to companies tied to County Hall lobbyists, a well-known campaign donor, a county commissioner's sister and a city mayor. Some deals went to the trust's own board members.
• Methodology: See explainer
• Database or Graphic: Go to site (com/multimedia/news/povped/part4/map/)