(a) Ranking order. Rural and urban applications will be ranked according to their final scores as determined in accordance with §599.303, with the highest scoring applications ranked first.

(b) Separate ranking categories. After initial ranking, both rural and urban applications will be separated into two ranking categories:

(1) Category 1. Applications for designation of nominated areas that are Enterprise Communities or Empowerment Zones will be placed into Category 1 in rank order.

(2) Category 2. Applications for designation of nominated areas that are not placed into or selected from Category 1 will be placed into Category 2 in rank order.