Develop a MASTER STRATEGIC PLAN, convey this plan to all involved, adhere to it, show the community support that everyone talked about, and FOLLOW THROUGH.
Request assistance from Agriculture Extension Service and/or Natural Resource Conservation Service for ideas on crop diversification, by-product marketing, and other marketing ideas. Maybe they could have a workshop for farmers.
Break the "Turf Barrier" and form something like a "Comanche County Co-op". Remember, there is strength in numbers.
Have tax records evaluated to see where all the money is going or being used. Address the tax issue to see how more dollars can be put into street and road improvements. Talk to other counties who are using the Unit Road System to see if it should be implemented here.
See why more school tax money isn't going toward better school facilities (computers, gym, equipment).
Create a Vocational Mentoring program for High School Juniors and Seniors.
Promote a sensitive but encouraging County-Wide Adult Literacy program.
A strong, concerted effort needs to be made to alleviate the Hospital problem before it is too late. Possibly combine the taxing efforts, create a building fund, and build a new County Hospital with state-of-the-art technology to attract qualified physicians. Existing hospital buildings could be made into Physician Complexes, rehab facilities, EMS training, student nurse training, Home Health Care facilities, free clinics, etc...
Start a PAL program for kids from broken homes or kids who need direction.
Renovate one of the local empty buildings (one which is still safe) to create a video arcade.
Possibly a larger building or combination of two could be turned into a theater.
Have a local meeting of parents and teachers to see if there is a need and want for a PTA organization.
Form a "support group" for single parents. This can be used as stress relief and can be educationally driven.
Bring the DARE program in for all grades. Even small kids need to know how to Just Say No!
Create a program like "Adopt a Grandparent" where students help an elderly person run errands, pay bills, do grocery shopping, etc... (This also looks good on scholarship applications).
Organize and promote a community "Clean-up" effort and enlist volunteer youth (another activity that looks good on scholarship applications). Also, amend and enforce city ordinances on trash, old cars, etc. You might call this effort "PROJECT PROUD."
Look for interested parties to build low-to-moderate-income housing such as rental apartments, complexes, or homes that can be purchased with low interest payments.
Select a few interested people (sponsored by County/City) to attend grant-writing workshops. This can create a few jobs and also help secure grant money to do some of these projects.
Tap the local resources:
Use the knowledge and skills of your many retired people who still have a lot to offer (SCORE program).
Invite the attendance and input of youth in town meetings.
Also do the same of the Hispanic community.
Hire the services of a Marketing/Tourism director to expand and enhance De Leon's many wonderful attributes. This person can create promotional ideas for every month of the year.
Request help from your RC&D coordinator in getting the Texas Rural Leadership Program going in all of Comanche County. (This may help create some bonds and break some barriers).
Make a new and determined effort to form a cooperative agreement with the Army Corps of Engineer to allow boating, skiing, sailboating, etc. on Lake Proctor. These activities could open the door to a tremendous amount of tourism by attracting fishermen, birders, boating, real estate, retail business, boat rental, motels, gas stations, fishing tournaments, wildflower drives, and so on.
The Train Depot would be a great place for a museum.
