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| All About De Leon | P & M Festival | D. H. S. | Toward 2000 |
Being a part of the Community Assessment Resource Team was a very rewarding experience for me. I am a resident of De Leon, so I was aware of many of the problems and challenges faced by the community, and I have personally enjoyed the strengths and assets of De Leon. I appreciated working with the other team members, and I learned of many resources available for use in rural communities. I also realized Rural Development needs to better inform the public of the many programs available through our agency.
A major concern of all of the groups we talked with was the need for additional housing. Rural Development Agency has loan programs available to finance permanent residences for very low-, low-, and moderate-income families. Loan funds can be used to purchase or repair existing dwellings in the area or to construct new dwellings. Information about these loan programs call be obtained from the Brownwood Rural Development office, (915) 643-1585.
Every group indicated a need for a major clean-up effort. A beautification program would be a low-cost way to remedy this problem The large number of civic organizations and churches, along with the youth and retirees could work together with the city to organize and carry out this project. The youth expressed a desire for community involvement, and there is a wealth of knowledge and experience within the retired population that could furnish the guidance and leadership necessary to complete the project. A volunteer register, listing people willing to volunteer their time and expertise for projects, could be established at the local Chamber of Commerce office. Prisoners from the county jail could represent another source of free labor.
Preservation of community history was also a concern for some of the groups. Many wanted to establish a museum in the train depot. There is a wealth of information available within the retirement community that would be valuable in developing this project. Also, Seniors may have historical artifacts that could be donated for exhibition. Establishing a museum could be part of a community beautification project.
Another major concern was the fact that the area's economy has been almost entirely dependent upon the agricultural industry. The large reduction in county peanut production, coupled with the depressed cattle market and other agricultural markets, have caused the local economy to suffer. Yet these problems are faced by all communities in the area and are not unique to this community. Development of an area-wide Economic Development Council would be of great benefit for promoting tourism and attracting new industry into the area.
This area is blessed with many natural resources, including a good water supply, productive land, and good climate. There is a large lake in the area, and wildlife habitat is abundant. Since these assets benefit all communities in this area, a unification of all communities working toward common goals would enhance the possibilities of encouraging new businesses to locate in the area, and would promote tourism. A strategic plan needs to be developed, and the area must commit to the plan. The plan needs to be reviewed and updated at least annually to ensure that the community's goals are accomplished. Rural Development has a loan guarantee program available for financing new businesses and industries or for expansion of existing businesses. Information about this program can be obtained by contacting Pat Liles in the Temple Rural Development State Office, at (817) 298-1307.
School system representative and the youth groups expressed a need for some vocational-type training prograrn. Almost all of the youth indicated they planned to attend college, but very few had selected a major field of study. A coordinated effort between local businesses and the school system to establish an internship program would provide a valuable learning tool for the youth by introducing them to different professions. This could also enhance the chances of the youth returning to the community after completing their higher education.
There was concern about the increasing illiteracy rate within the community. A continuing education program could be developed, using community volunteers to teach basic reading, writing, and arithmetic. The program could be expanded to include courses of interest to the general public, ranging from technical skills such as basic automotive repair, to high-tech courses like use of the Internet. With the large population of Hispanics in the community, there is a also need to be able to converse in Spanish. Hispanic residents could provide a valuable service to the rest of the community by volunteering to teach Spanish to residents.
Keeping the Peach and Melon Festival active was a concern to all groups. This week-long festival attracts about 30,000 people to the community each year. They have purchased acreage for development which would expand opportunities for the community, such as a recreational vehicle park and an amphitheater, but the committee is apparently not committed to a unified goal in how to develop the land. Rural Development Agency has a long-term, low-interest loan program available to finance Community Facility projects such as this. Information concerning this program can be obtained from Larry Jones, Community Development Specialist, in the Abilene Rural Development office at (915) 672-7897.
Lake Proctor is a valuable local asset. Not only does the lake provide water to numerous communities but it also offers valuable recreation to the area. This lake is governed by the Army Corps of Engineers, and past efforts of residents to establish recreational-type business enterprises around the lake, have failed. Developing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Corps to permit establishment of businesses near the lake would increase employment opportunities in the area, create a broader variety of recreational activities for residents, and attract visitors to the lake.
Each group expressed the need for more activities for the youth, and the senior citizens desired a health club/exercise area for their use. There are some vacant buildings in the community that could possibly be renovated to satisfy this need. The city auditorium is already in place and could be renovated to answer this request. There is a Ministerial Alliance already in the area, and with all of the different civic organizations and city officials working together, a larger facility offering more varied activities could be developed. For this project to be effective, there must be input from all segments of the population, including youth, Hispanic residents, senior citizens, and members of church and civic organizations working with the Ministerial Alliance. Again, volunteers could supply the labor.
Chemical dependency and gang involvement were two major concerns expressed in the meetings. These are problems that must be addressed immediately or they will quickly worsen. Residents of all ages need to be educated about these problems and also about effective means of eliminating them. A joint effort among local law enforcement, the school system, and the local churches could bring a variety of programs into the area for educational purposes. Prisoners from the county jail, or local residents who were previously involved in drug or gang activities, are often very effective in advising young people of their experiences and the implications of leading this kind of lifestyle.
Another beneficial project would be implementation of a "Junior Patrol" to allow the local youth to patrol the community with local law enforcement officers. This could open lines of communication between the youth and police force, stimulating efforts to work together to resolve drug and gang problems.
There is currently a farmers' market in the city, but it is not promoted. Local farmers sell their produce to the public on Market Street. Enhanced marketing and promotional efforts would create a larger customer base for the products. Market Street extends only on block, but if the Peach and Melon Festival grounds were developed, the farmers' market could be moved to the new location, which could provide more space for producers to take advantage of this service.
