On September 27, 2006, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the 2007 list of designated difficult development areas (DDAs) and qualified census tracts (QCTs). HUD makes these designations annually based on revised metropolitan statistical area (MSA) definitions published by the Office of Management and Budget and on the 2000 Census detailed census tract income distribution data.
A twenty-percent country-wide cap is placed on DDA and QCT designations. A notable exception are areas designated as disaster areas under the Robert T. Stafford Act following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Areas which were permitted to be treated as DDAs under the GO Zone Act of 2005 do not count towards the twenty percent cap. Several large cities were removed from this year’s designations including Las Vegas, NV and Orlando, FL.
To access the complete list of 2007 DDA and QCT designations click here.