There exists in this state the continuing need for programs to alleviate and prevent conditions of long-term unemployment, economic distress, and accompanying social ills. Accordingly, the legislature finds that in order to stimulate the creation of new jobs and to promote the revitalization of distressed areas, it is necessary to empower municipalities to create empowerment zone development corporations to facilitate the implementation of municipalities’ strategic plans aimed toward those ends, and to ensure local oversight of strategic plan implementation.