Eligible Counties and Other Entities

Eligible Counties and Other Entities. A county or entity must fall into one or more of the following categories to qualify under the GAP Program: A. Counties: (i). Counties which have an annualized unemployment rate that is at least two hundred percent (200%) of the state's unemployment rate as of December 31 of any year from 2000 through 2005, as determined by the Mississippi Employment Security Commission's (“MESC”) most recently published data and/or; (ii). Counties that apply before December 31, 2002, are eligible if thirty percent (30%) or more of the population of the county is, at or below, the federal poverty level. Eligibility will be based on the official data compiled by the United States Census Bureau as of August 30, 2000. (iii). Counties that apply after December 31, 2002, are eligible if thirty percent (30%) or more of the population of the county is at, or below, the federal poverty level according to the most recent official data compiled by the United States Census Bureau. (iv). Supervisors Districts (As They Exist on January 1, 2001) (v). Districts are eligible if thirty percent (30%) or more of the population, as of June 30, 2000 is at, or below, the federal poverty level according to the official data compiled by the United States Census Bureau as of June 30, 2000, or the official 1990 census poverty rate data. The official 1990 census poverty rate data shall not be used to make determination after December 31, 2002. (vi). Must be contiguous to a county that has been certified a GAP county by MDA. To receive the incentive(s) offered by GAP, an approved business enterprise must be located within eight (8) miles of the boundary of a certified GAP county. B. Municipality: (i). Any municipality within a certified GAP county.