(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.