FY 2005 Performance Budget Justification

Using the following rigorous set of criteria, in FY 2004, 22 percent, or 91 of the Appalachian Region's 410 counties will be designated as economically distressed.

1. Distressed counties meet all three of the following economic indicators: Per capita market income no greater than two-thirds (67 percent) of the US average; Three-year unemployment rate at 150 percent of the US average or greater; and Poverty rate which is at least 150 percent of the US average; or
2. Distressed Counties have at least twice the national poverty rate and meet one other criterion for economic distress.

The following 91 counties will be designated for special assistance as distressed counties in FY 2004 based on these criteria:

Alabama (5) - Bibb, Franklin, Hale, Macon, and Pickens

Kentucky (35) - Adair, Bath, Bell, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Elliott, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Monroe, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Russell, Wayne, Whitley, and Wolfe

Mississippi (12) - Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Kemper, Marshall, Montgomery, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Panola, Webster, Winston, and Yalobusha

North Carolina (1) - Graham

Ohio (6) - Athens, Lawrence, Meigs, Pike, Scioto, and Vinton

Tennessee (8) - Campbell, Clay, Cocke, Fentress, Grundy, Hancock, Johnson, and Scott

Virginia (3) - Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise (including the city of Norton)

West Virginia (21) - Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Gilmer, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, McDowell, Mingo, Nicholas, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, and Wyoming