You MAY think you've heard this before: a new publication claims to help ordinary citizens get their share of billion$ of dollar$ from the government. Some people think it sounds too good to be true, and it's starting to get close scrutiny from local authorities!

But it's not some 'get rich quick' scheme, Internet "Spam" mail or a late night "info-mercial." It's the real thing: a new HUD publication that's beginning to help everyday businesses create thousands of jobs and save themselves billions of dollars in scores and scores of America's distressed communities.

The new HUD publication behind this sensation is called Tax Incentives + Businesses = Jobs, and it describes tax incentives available to businesses in Renewal Communities, Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities. In fact, there genuinely are billions of dollars available for roughly 100 neighborhoods of high unemployment and poverty. The 77-page book, produced by HUD's Office of Community Renewal, was created to help businesses understand and use incentives such as employment credits, commercial revitalization deductions, and work opportunity tax credits.

As Secretary Martinez notes in a special foreword:

"To make the most of economic renewal programs and spur economic growth, it is critical for chambers of commerce, local elected officials, and especially the business community to understand all of the available incentives. That is why we created this tax incentives marketing tool. And, the muscle behind this tool is the $22 billion in available tax relief that can create jobs, grow businesses, clean brownfields, and build homes. It is a guide created expressly for the men and women who want to use their local Community Renewal Initiative to bring success to areas that once had little reason for hope.

"The strength of our economy lies in the unmatched enterprise, creativity, and hard work of the America people. That is why President George W. Bush believes that the federal government should create an environment that encourages and rewards these qualities. HUD is helping create that environment across the nation�. (W)e are especially focused on the communities that have fallen behind� (and) we are paying special attention to America's small businesses - which consistently create more new jobs than any other sector of our economy."

Tax Incentives + Businesses = Jobs is a marketing guide filled with examples of successful strategies that will help the men and women who care the most about their communities - the ordinary citizens and the local officials who dare to dream, along with the President and Secretary Martinez, that "enterprise, creativity and hard work" will strengthen their neighborhoods and build both their business and tax base. They are learning that along with their Renewal Community or Empowerment Zone designation, this new book may be the single most valuable tool they can use to help businesses expand or move to their communities!

You can learn more about HUD's Community Renewal Initiative and you can view and save an electronic copy of Tax Incentives + Businesses = Jobs on HUD's website. Or call (800) 998-9999 to receive a free printed copy.

Interested in participating? You also can use HUD's on-line Address Locator to find out if a business or residence is located within a Renewal Community, Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community. This online tool can help verify if a particular location is eligible for the tax incentives offered in RC/EZ/EC areas.