Faced with the congressional requirement to monitor the progress of rural Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities in implementing their long-term strategic plans, OCD built an on-line system to meet this need. The Benchmark Management System (BMS) allows rural communities located throughout the Nation to maintain their own activity work plans, budgets, and status reporting on-line via the Web. The system also automates the process for approving changes to communities' goals, activities, and performance benchmarks. In addition, it enables OCD to conduct real-time monitoring of community progress and obtain up-to-date reports of accomplishments. It can be utilized with a login name and password on the Internet.

Web Reporting System

The Web Reporting System (also called the Data Mining System) enables RD staff nationwide to access data about program expenditures for community and business programs for any combination of fiscal years, states, and programs. Staff need only a Web browser to access the data. Inaugurated in July 1998, the system has earned two major awards and has been extensively covered in the computer industry press. It is accessible on the Intranet from the Rural Development Program Data Center. Only Rural Development employees can access this site.

Mapping Analysis Program (MAP)

OCD's most recent development is the MAP System, which enables RD employees to display program data on maps. The system will soon be expanded to include all of RD's programs, a broad range of data elements, and much additional data for use in program analysis. When complete, this system will be a richly powerful analytic tool that is easy for all users to employ, allowing USDA officials to review program operations in any state or local area and relate them to other factors such as income, unemployment, or special issues. MAP is accessible from the Rural Development Program Data Center. Only Rural Development employees can access this site.

Web and Intranet Sites

OCD supports multiple Web and Intranet sites:

• The OCD portion of Rural Development's Web site provides the public with an overview of OCD's programs;
• The EZ/EC Web site www.ezec.gov provides an extensive range of support for EZ/ECs, Champions, REAP Zones, RCAPs, and other rural communities, as well as information about the EZ/EC program itself;
• The OCD Intranet site provides detailed information and instructions on OCD's programs and community development practices. Only Rural Development employees can access this site.