<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>17
<FILENAME>powerofattorney.txt
<TEXT>
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned,  hereby  constitute  Maureen E. Towle,  Sally E. Ganem,
Catherine E. Foley, Lloyd Lipsett,  Michael H. Koonce, John A. Dudley, Robert N.
Hickey, David M. Leahy and David Mahaffey,  and each of them singly, my true and
lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for me and in
my name in the capacity  indicated  below any and all  registration  statements,
including,  but not  limited to,  Forms N-8A,  N-8B-1,  S-5,  N-14 and N-1A,  as
amended from time to time, and any and all  amendments  thereto to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission for the purpose of registering from time
to time all investment  companies of which I am now or hereafter Trustee and for
which Evergreen  Investment  Management  Company,  LLC, or any other  investment
advisory  affiliate of First Union National  Bank,  serves as Advisor or Manager
and registering from time to time the shares of such companies, and generally to
do all such  things  in my name  and on my  behalf  to  enable  such  investment
companies  to comply  with the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended,  the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  and all requirements
and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission  thereunder,  hereby
ratifying and  confirming my signature as it may be signed by my said  attorneys
to any and all registration statements and amendments thereto.


         In Witness Whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of June
22, 2001.


Signature                                                     Title

/s/ Charles A. Austin, III                                    Trustee
------------------------------------
Charles A. Austin, III




<PAGE>



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned,  hereby  constitute  Maureen E. Towle,  Sally E. Ganem,
Catherine E. Foley, Lloyd Lipsett,  Michael H. Koonce, John A. Dudley, Robert N.
Hickey, David M. Leahy and David Mahaffey,  and each of them singly, my true and
lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for me and in
my name in the capacity  indicated  below any and all  registration  statements,
including,  but not  limited to,  Forms N-8A,  N-8B-1,  S-5,  N-14 and N-1A,  as
amended from time to time, and any and all  amendments  thereto to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission for the purpose of registering from time
to time all investment  companies of which I am now or hereafter Trustee and for
which Evergreen  Investment  Management  Company,  LLC, or any other  investment
advisory  affiliate of First Union National  Bank,  serves as Advisor or Manager
and registering from time to time the shares of such companies, and generally to
do all such  things  in my name  and on my  behalf  to  enable  such  investment
companies  to comply  with the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended,  the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  and all requirements
and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission  thereunder,  hereby
ratifying and  confirming my signature as it may be signed by my said  attorneys
to any and all registration statements and amendments thereto.


         In Witness Whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of June
22, 2001.


Signature                                                              Title

/s/ K. Dun Gifford                                                     Trustee
--------------------------------------------
K. Dun Gifford




<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned,  hereby  constitute  Maureen E. Towle,  Sally E. Ganem,
Catherine E. Foley, Lloyd Lipsett,  Michael H. Koonce, John A. Dudley, Robert N.
Hickey, David M. Leahy and David Mahaffey,  and each of them singly, my true and
lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for me and in
my name in the capacity  indicated  below any and all  registration  statements,
including,  but not  limited to,  Forms N-8A,  N-8B-1,  S-5,  N-14 and N-1A,  as
amended from time to time, and any and all  amendments  thereto to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission for the purpose of registering from time
to time all investment  companies of which I am now or hereafter Trustee and for
which Evergreen  Investment  Management  Company,  LLC, or any other  investment
advisory  affiliate of First Union National  Bank,  serves as Advisor or Manager
and registering from time to time the shares of such companies, and generally to
do all such  things  in my name  and on my  behalf  to  enable  such  investment
companies  to comply  with the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended,  the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  and all requirements
and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission  thereunder,  hereby
ratifying and  confirming my signature as it may be signed by my said  attorneys
to any and all registration statements and amendments thereto.


         In Witness Whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of June
22, 2001.


Signature                                                              Title

/s/ Leroy Keith, Jr.                                                   Trustee
--------------------------------------------
Leroy Keith, Jr.




<PAGE>



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned,  hereby  constitute  Maureen E. Towle,  Sally E. Ganem,
Catherine E. Foley, Lloyd Lipsett,  Michael H. Koonce, John A. Dudley, Robert N.
Hickey, David M. Leahy and David Mahaffey,  and each of them singly, my true and
lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for me and in
my name in the capacity  indicated  below any and all  registration  statements,
including,  but not  limited to,  Forms N-8A,  N-8B-1,  S-5,  N-14 and N-1A,  as
amended from time to time, and any and all  amendments  thereto to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission for the purpose of registering from time
to time all investment  companies of which I am now or hereafter Trustee and for
which Evergreen  Investment  Management  Company,  LLC, or any other  investment
advisory  affiliate of First Union National  Bank,  serves as Advisor or Manager
and registering from time to time the shares of such companies, and generally to
do all such  things  in my name  and on my  behalf  to  enable  such  investment
companies  to comply  with the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended,  the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  and all requirements
and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission  thereunder,  hereby
ratifying and  confirming my signature as it may be signed by my said  attorneys
to any and all registration statements and amendments thereto.


         In Witness Whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of June
22, 2001.


Signature                                                     Title

/s/ Gerald M. McDonnell                                       Trustee
------------------------------------
Gerald M. McDonnell




<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned,  hereby  constitute  Maureen E. Towle,  Sally E. Ganem,
Catherine E. Foley, Lloyd Lipsett,  Michael H. Koonce, John A. Dudley, Robert N.
Hickey, David M. Leahy and David Mahaffey,  and each of them singly, my true and
lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for me and in
my name in the capacity  indicated  below any and all  registration  statements,
including,  but not  limited to,  Forms N-8A,  N-8B-1,  S-5,  N-14 and N-1A,  as
amended from time to time, and any and all  amendments  thereto to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission for the purpose of registering from time
to time all investment  companies of which I am now or hereafter Trustee and for
which Evergreen  Investment  Management  Company,  LLC, or any other  investment
advisory  affiliate of First Union National  Bank,  serves as Advisor or Manager
and registering from time to time the shares of such companies, and generally to
do all such  things  in my name  and on my  behalf  to  enable  such  investment
companies  to comply  with the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended,  the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  and all requirements
and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission  thereunder,  hereby
ratifying and  confirming my signature as it may be signed by my said  attorneys
to any and all registration statements and amendments thereto.


         In Witness Whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of June
22, 2001.


Signature                                                              Title

/s/ William W. Pettit                                                  Trustee
--------------------------------------------
William W. Pettit




<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned,  hereby  constitute  Maureen E. Towle,  Sally E. Ganem,
Catherine E. Foley, Lloyd Lipsett,  Michael H. Koonce, John A. Dudley, Robert N.
Hickey, David M. Leahy and David Mahaffey,  and each of them singly, my true and
lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for me and in
my name in the capacity  indicated  below any and all  registration  statements,
including,  but not  limited to,  Forms N-8A,  N-8B-1,  S-5,  N-14 and N-1A,  as
amended from time to time, and any and all  amendments  thereto to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission for the purpose of registering from time
to time all investment  companies of which I am now or hereafter Trustee and for
which Evergreen  Investment  Management  Company,  LLC, or any other  investment
advisory  affiliate of First Union National  Bank,  serves as Advisor or Manager
and registering from time to time the shares of such companies, and generally to
do all such  things  in my name  and on my  behalf  to  enable  such  investment
companies  to comply  with the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended,  the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  and all requirements
and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission  thereunder,  hereby
ratifying and  confirming my signature as it may be signed by my said  attorneys
to any and all registration statements and amendments thereto.


         In Witness Whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of June
22, 2001.


Signature                                                     Title

/s/ David M. Richardson                                       Trustee
------------------------------------
David M. Richardson




<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned,  hereby  constitute  Maureen E. Towle,  Sally E. Ganem,
Catherine E. Foley, Lloyd Lipsett,  Michael H. Koonce, John A. Dudley, Robert N.
Hickey, David M. Leahy and David Mahaffey,  and each of them singly, my true and
lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for me and in
my name in the capacity  indicated  below any and all  registration  statements,
including,  but not  limited to,  Forms N-8A,  N-8B-1,  S-5,  N-14 and N-1A,  as
amended from time to time, and any and all  amendments  thereto to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission for the purpose of registering from time
to time all investment  companies of which I am now or hereafter Trustee and for
which Evergreen  Investment  Management  Company,  LLC, or any other  investment
advisory  affiliate of First Union National  Bank,  serves as Advisor or Manager
and registering from time to time the shares of such companies, and generally to
do all such  things  in my name  and on my  behalf  to  enable  such  investment
companies  to comply  with the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended,  the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  and all requirements
and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission  thereunder,  hereby
ratifying and  confirming my signature as it may be signed by my said  attorneys
to any and all registration statements and amendments thereto.


         In Witness Whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of June
22, 2001.


Signature                                                     Title

/s/ Russell A. Salton, III, M.D.                              Trustee
------------------------------------
Russell A. Salton, III, M.D.




<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned,  hereby  constitute  Maureen E. Towle,  Sally E. Ganem,
Catherine E. Foley, Lloyd Lipsett,  Michael H. Koonce, John A. Dudley, Robert N.
Hickey, David M. Leahy and David Mahaffey,  and each of them singly, my true and
lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for me and in
my name in the capacity  indicated  below any and all  registration  statements,
including,  but not  limited to,  Forms N-8A,  N-8B-1,  S-5,  N-14 and N-1A,  as
amended from time to time, and any and all  amendments  thereto to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission for the purpose of registering from time
to time all investment  companies of which I am now or hereafter Trustee and for
which Evergreen  Investment  Management  Company,  LLC, or any other  investment
advisory  affiliate of First Union National  Bank,  serves as Advisor or Manager
and registering from time to time the shares of such companies, and generally to
do all such  things  in my name  and on my  behalf  to  enable  such  investment
companies  to comply  with the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended,  the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  and all requirements
and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission  thereunder,  hereby
ratifying and  confirming my signature as it may be signed by my said  attorneys
to any and all registration statements and amendments thereto.


         In Witness Whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of June
22, 2001.


Signature                                                              Title

/s/ Richard J. Shima                                                   Trustee
--------------------------------------------
Richard J. Shima




<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned,  hereby  constitute  Maureen E. Towle,  Sally E. Ganem,
Catherine E. Foley, Lloyd Lipsett,  Michael H. Koonce, John A. Dudley, Robert N.
Hickey, David M. Leahy and David Mahaffey,  and each of them singly, my true and
lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for me and in
my name in the capacity  indicated  below any and all  registration  statements,
including,  but not  limited to,  Forms N-8A,  N-8B-1,  S-5,  N-14 and N-1A,  as
amended from time to time, and any and all  amendments  thereto to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission for the purpose of registering from time
to time all investment  companies of which I am now or hereafter Chairman of the
Board and Trustee and for which Evergreen Investment Management Company, LLC, or
any other investment  advisory affiliate of First Union National Bank, serves as
Advisor  or  Manager  and  registering  from  time to time  the  shares  of such
companies,  and  generally  to do all such things in my name and on my behalf to
enable such investment companies to comply with the provisions of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and all
requirements   and  regulations  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission
thereunder,  hereby ratifying and confirming my signature as it may be signed by
my said attorneys to any and all registration statements and amendments thereto.


         In Witness Whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of June
22, 2001.


Signature                                   Title

/s/ Michael S. Scofield                     Chairman of the Board and Trustee
------------------------------------
Michael S. Scofield




<PAGE>




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     I, the undersigned,  hereby  constitute  Maureen E. Towle,  Sally E. Ganem,
Catherine E. Foley, Lloyd Lipsett,  Michael H. Koonce, John A. Dudley, Robert N.
Hickey, David M. Leahy and David Mahaffey,  and each of them singly, my true and
lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for me and in
my name in the capacity  indicated  below any and all  registration  statements,
including,  but not  limited to,  Forms N-8A,  N-8B-1,  S-5,  N-14 and N-1A,  as
amended from time to time, and any and all  amendments  thereto to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission for the purpose of registering from time
to time all investment  companies of which I am now or hereafter Trustee and for
which Evergreen  Investment  Management  Company,  LLC, or any other  investment
advisory  affiliate of First Union National  Bank,  serves as Advisor or Manager
and registering from time to time the shares of such companies, and generally to
do all such  things  in my name  and on my  behalf  to  enable  such  investment
companies  to comply  with the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended,  the Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended,  and all requirements
and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission  thereunder,  hereby
ratifying and  confirming my signature as it may be signed by my said  attorneys
to any and all registration statements and amendments thereto.


         In Witness Whereof, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of June
22, 2001.


Signature                                                              Title

/s/ Richard Wagoner                                                    Trustee
Richard Wagoner




<PAGE>






</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
