Develop a nucleus of community leaders; include all segments of the community; these individuals must be "movers and shakers".
Develop short-range and long-range strategic plans - Texas Rural Development Council, Resource Conservation and Development Areas, Council of Governments, electric coops, and universities, all have this service available free of charge to communities.
Educate and inform all citizens of the need for this process and how it affects them. Make sure that community leaders understand the need for buy-in from community and the importance of broad community participation in this endeavor. If residents do not feel they have ownership in a plan, they will not feel compelled to support it or volunteer their time to accomplish projects.
Set up committees for various projects with real interest in seeing project brought to completion.
Develop memorandums of understanding between different entities and partners within the community such as city and county.
Develop relationships and partnerships with surrounding towns in Comanche County. Focus on similar concerns. For example: agricultural diversification, hospital, tourism, county road system.
Develop a community spirit of togetherness: a can-do attitude. Have a kick-off celebration for De Leon 2000. Have success parties after a project is completed. Keep success in front of county residents by using local media sources.
Take on projects that are easy and can be done with few resources, yet are highly visible and have a high success rate (ex. city clean-up; downtown clean-up; refurbish Peach and Melon Festival grounds; lights for baseball field; more activities for youth; new track; etc.). Long range projects take time to plan and complete.
Develop and implement a solid business development and marketing plan; utilize latest technology.
Youth need to be involved in decision making and implementation of various projects.
Involve senior citizens to the fullest extent; they have a wealth of knowledge and experience. Invite a SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) representative to community to assist in this process. Contact Bill Spearman at (817) 735-8181.
Develop additional after-school, weekend, and summer activities for youth. Improve educational and social activities for young people. Let youth address and solve this problem with assistance from the adult community.
Make use of the natural resources available: hunting, bird watching, wildflowers, and Lake Proctor.
Make a special effort to involve all segments of community in all activities--senior citizens, youth, and the Hispanic community. Celebrate special days or activities that highlight these groups.
Churches must be less territorial. These institutions are a strength in this community and promote good values and morals, but they could accomplish much more as a group working toward a mutual goal (Ex.- Youth activities, bringing diverse groups together).
Develop a partnership between local business and industry and the school district to provide job training and opportunities for the youth. Most high school seniors I talked with did not know what career to pursue. If they could work in a vocation of their interest before college they might develop a better sense of direction. (Ex.- Pharmacist, farmer, physical therapist, medical lab technician, X-Ray technician, banker)
Need to retrain unemployed workforce in new skills that would benefit local businesses.
De Leon has a long history in agriculture, oil, railroad, and many well known people. Highlight this history by turning the railroad depot or another building into a local history museum Contact Texas Department of Transportation or Betty Switzer, Texas Commission for the Arts at (512) 463-5535. Develop other cultural and art activities for community.
Work with Patricia Butler at the Rural Development Agency, and local financial institutions, on financing for single-family dwellings, duplex and apartment complexes and assisted living facilities.
Continue to find new and innovative ways to use unoccupied hospital beds and facilities.
Develop a physical therapy center in association with the local hospital. Utilize and equip this facility so that it could also be used by senior citizens and youth. It could be used for aerobics and dance if an instructor could be located.
De Leon must address infrastructure needs. What if a company with 200 employees relocated to De Leon? What infrastructure plans are in place to handle this influx? A long-range plan must be in place to address this type of growth. Infrastructure planning should by coordinated with choices about where, and when, the community wants to grow.
Citizens must be made aware that everything comes at a cost, and growth and prosperity are no exception. So, the community must decide to what extent it is willing to support growth and expansion.
Support and develop local businesses first, then seek outside businesses. Foster relationships with current business owners.
Look into a Main Street Program to revitalize the downtown area or develop a downtown business committee to address clean-up and the revitalization of the downtown. Contact Terry Colley at the Texas Historical Commission, (512) 463-6092. See the Main Street Program description in TRDC's Rural Resource Guide.
Build and upgrade school facilities. These facilities make a civic statement to visitors.
