WHAT WAS SAID AT THE INTERVIEWS
The seven (7)-member Resource Team spent two days interviewing the local residents to hear what they had to say. Those being interviewed were directed to answer four questions:
- What are the major problems/challenges in the community?
- What are the major strengths/assets of the community?
- What projects would you like to see implemented in the short term (12 months or less)?
- What projects would you like to see implemented in the long term (the next two or three years)?
We have listed below, without comment, what we heard from those who volunteered to be interviewed.
BUSINESS & RETAIL
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES IN THE COMMUNITY?
- Peanut program leaving county - this influences all businesses and citizens in community
- Lack of economic diversification
- All business is ag related
- Complacency - resistance to change
- Lack of diversity in jobs
- Small skilled labor force
- Failure to consider opportunity as result of change
- Small town limitations
- Definition of opportunity is small
- Infrastructure difficult to meet government regulations or stay current with government regulations, especially difficult for small business and/or small towns
- Losing rural political representation - current reps have no rural background
- Agriculture must change mind-set - large investment in peanut equipment and unable to afford new equipment for crop change
- Agriculture change is big problem
- Inadequate funds to keep businesses here or attract new business
- Job situation critical - no job opportunities for younger population
- Better communication needed between cities and communities
- Lack of appeal of downtown area
- Lack of services in town (streets, park facilities, pool, etc.) - possibly lack of funds
- Parking stripes need to be repainted
- Need street stripes repainted
- Lack of impressive look to downtown area
- Need to stimulate interest in market street when people bring produce to town
- Keep hospital alive
- Keep schools alive and strong in community
- Loss of services available to area
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR STRENGTHS/ASSETS OF THE COMMUNITY?
- Hospital
- School System
- Peach and Melon Festival
- Churches
- Upkeep of buildings
- Senior Citizens Center
- Hospital
- Price of goods is fair
- Good banking system
- Location
- Climate
- People
- Hospital
- Good People
- Church
- Slower pace of living
- Kind, considerate people
- Understanding of senior citizen population
- Taking care of own residents
- Good people
- Friendly congenial residents
- Hospital
- Location
- Small town atmosphere - caring people and slower pace
- Location
- Internet accessibility - small town not limited to only immediate area
- Low crime rate
- Low cost of living
- Pride and well being of community - community spirit
- Friendly to newcomers
- Peaceful civic atmosphere
- Drug problem small
- Hospital
- Small size
- Closeness of people
- Many citizens have become very prominent people
- Pulitzer Prize winner
- Former Lt. Governor of Texas
- UIL activity in school has very impressive record
- Climate good for fruits and vegetables
- Dependable water supply
- Outstanding telephone company - state of the art
- Have railroad
- Access to I-20 within 20 miles
- Good freight and rail access
- Lake Proctor
- Natural resources (wildlife hunting)
- Water supply from Proctor
- Fishing
- Trinity Water Sands available in area
WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SHORT TERM (12 MONTHS OR LESS)?
- Renovations (Paint, building trims, etc)
- Find alternative crops to peanuts
- Make business of banks to provide financial backing for alternative crops
- Support to Hospital Board and Hospital Auxiliary to find specialists for hospitals
- Put results from Community Assessment into action
- Utilize names of prestigious citizens for advertisement of area & bring more festivities to area
- More billboards in area to advertise area
- Need to market products here
- Purchase or rent vacant properties to generate new businesses in area (possibly offer free rent for one year)
- Develop a marketing plan for the area to sell area to public
- Encourage some light industry into area to utilize non-skilled labor in area
- Computer consultive service
- Change agriculture crops to milo, corn (less expensive to produce than peanuts)
- Educate farmers to rethink what they need to produce
- Spruce up town
- Festival grounds need year-round maintenance
- Overall clean-up
- Keep Main Street alive
- Cooperation between area Chambers of Commerce (representatives from each Chamber of Commerce to meet with each Chamber of Commerce - regional approach)
- Reliable marketing system for melons
- Street repair
WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE LONG TERM (THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS)?
- County Road repair and maintenance
- Water and sewer treatment repairs
- Youth activities
- County Road repair and maintenance
- Youth activities to keep them there
- Goal for city
- Sequence of Events prioritized toward goals - continue to plan
- Develop diverse ag environment
- Cultivate long term small industry not ag related
- Improve community housing availability
- Community Focus - develop plan, use plan, reevaluate annually
