Recommendations Submitted by Team Members:

• Ronnie Boston
• Tom Johnson
• Ruby Perez
• Mark Freeman
• Tori Dutton
• Patricia A. Butler
• Steve Barney, TRDC Intern
• Cheryl A. Hinkley

Recommendation Submitted by

Ronnie Boston

Although there are a lot of projects underway by different groups in De Leon, there does not appear to be a cohesive effort by the community to plan, prioritize, and allocate the resources to the highest priority efforts. Most of my recommendations will be based upon creating the mechanisms that will build the capacity of the community and enable them to more effectively address individual efforts. With limited resources available, rural communities cannot afford to split those resources into working on numerous projects without respect to their priority. My recommendations will be limited to those projects that can be the most easily accomplished and allow the community to have some successes regardless of how small the project may be.

1. Prioritize the recommendations within this report within 30 days of receiving the final report. The De Leon 2000 Committee could be the catalyst organization for getting this done. The community should be involved in the prioritization and given information about the process and the results should be disseminated throughout the process.
2. Hold regular public events such as "town hall" type meetings to secure continual citizen input and disseminate information. This could be a cooperative project between various community organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, the City, De Leon 2000, Churches and other community organizations. Conduct outreach efforts that win reach and involve all segments of the community including the significant Hispanic population.
3. Begin developing a comprehensive strategic plan that will guide community efforts for at least five years into the future. The plan should include:
   1. A vision for the community
   2. Realistic goals that will contribute to the vision.
   3. Specific strategies directed toward achieving the goals.
   4. A realistic time fine for completing strategies.
   This plan should be evaluated at least quarterly and specific information made available on progress on specific parts of the plan. A trained facilitator with experience in strategic planning should be enlisted to help the community guide the planning process.
4. Develop a database of resources that are available to help the community address the problems identified in this report or initiatives identified in the strategic plan.
5. Explore ways to develop partnerships that will result in a more regional approach to community development and problem solving. These partnerships should not be limited to Comanche County alone but should look to the region as a whole, including other entities and organizations with similar interests and goals.
6. Inventory the needs for education and training within the community. The inventory should include all facets of community life and all age groups. This information will help to design educational and training programs that will meet the needs of the community.
7. Conduct a through inventory of the natural resources in the area. This inventory should include plants, water, wildlife, landscapes, geology, scenic and aesthetic resources. This inventory should identify ways in which the natural resources can contribute to the strengthening of the local economy. The inventory may help the community make decisions about natural areas it would like to protect, as well as identify areas that are the most suitable for new growth and development.
8. Open lines of communication with all of the entities that have an interest or investment in Lake Proctor. Explore ways that this valuable resource can be utilized to diversify and strengthen the local and regional economy.
9. Develop an educational program that will help the entire community understand the economic development process and the importance of community involvement in the process.
10. Initiate a community-wide cleanup and beautification program. This would not be a complicated or expensive endeavor, but it would require a great deal of leadership and coordination. This effort could involve the whole community and could be the catalyst that would lead to larger projects.
11. Develop a community-based, non-profit, tax-exempt organization that will qualify as such under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This organization would not be a threat to, or designed to replace, existing organizations, but instead would compliment existing organizations and allow them to pool resources toward common efforts. As a non-profit, this organization could also provide the vehicle to access those private and corporate funding sources that are reserved for these tax exempt organizations. Such an organization could provide funding for projects to benefit other entities and organizations including:
    • Schools
    • City
    • Hospital
    • Senior Citizens
    • Youth programs
    • Fire Department
    • Peach & Melon Festival
    • Health Clinic
    • Library
    • Other community organizations
12. Offer continuing leadership development opportunities for the community. Reach out to those that are not normally involved in community affairs. This program should involve all groups within the community, from senior citizens to youth. Residents may be committed to building a better De Leon, but they must also have leadership skills in order to be effective leaders. You should be training your next generation of leaders and elected officials.

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