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

Tom Johnson

De Leon, like so many small Texas communities, is experiencing the discomfort that comes with change! Often, that discomfort stems from the unknown and/or an unwillingness to adjust to a changing economy, lifestyle and even our futures, as we perceive them.

Change, however, occurs and our futures are dependant upon our ability, willingness and desire to adjust and take advantage of the opportunities that change will often present. We can not do much with some of our fixed assets, such as demographics, geography, location, etc, but we can change our approach in how we use these assets to our advantage.

The community of De Leon should consider:

1. Searching for alternative agricultural products that lend themselves to "value added" manufacturing. Besides creating jobs, diversifying the economic base, and generating tax revenue, it creates local market for the area's agricultural community. Other communities have seized this opportunity in the forms of:
   • "Sweet Heat Co." -- Pickled Jalapeno Peppers
     Bonham, TX
   • "Hell-On-the-Red Co." -- Salsa and cheese condiments
     Telephone, TX
   • "Southern Style Nuts Co." -- Variety snacks
     Denison, TX
   These companies were formed by local individuals who were assisted by their communities and brought their concepts to the marketplace.
2. Consider adopting a 1/2 cent Sales Tax for Economic Development. Locally generated revenue from residents and visitors alike will provide funds that can be used to assist local business expansion, and to acquire and redo industrial buildings, generate marketing materials, and generally provide the revenue stream necessary to foster economic development. The existing Industrial Foundation could be merged into a newly created Economic Development Foundation and charged with the responsibility of generating new growth from within and without.
3. Consider creating a Regional tourism association to promote a cooperative/collective effort at marketing the entire region as a significant visitor destination. De Leon could ask their Council of Governments representative to initiate an effort to create collaboration among area communities and agencies. This may well be an opportunity to open some doors of communication in places that, up to this point, have not been receptive to a cooperative approach. Existing and future hotel/motel tax revenue could be used to assist in this effort. De Leon can contact members of the Red River Valley Tourism Association for information on their program.
4. Combine the efforts of thirteen churches, county, city, schools, and chamber of commerce to create and fund a non-profit organization to establish and operate a Youth Civic Center. Involve the youth by making them stakeholders in the process. This can be done by seating several young people on the Board of Directors and giving them the opportunity to buy in with sweat equity.
5. Use your Council of Governments as a facilitator to access the Economic Development Administration and Texas Capital Fund for local infrastructure projects involving job creation/retention, thus reducing local share costs.
6. Consider establishing an alternative "local" Main Street Program by providing low-cost, short-term loans for "retail renovation and beautification," including the entrance to City Hall. A newly-created "Economic Development Foundation," funded by a 1/2-cent sales tax could provide seed money or match a small amount of revenue provided by the community's Banks to initially fund this effort to face-lift the retail community.
7. Recently, some communities have initiated a solution to the problem of non-availability of multi-family housing by participating in a regional housing finance corporation. These are not public-housing projects, and they are financed privately. De Leon can investigate this possibility by contacting the Texoma Council of Governments in Sherman, TX, at 903/813-3512.
8. A Senior retail crafts center could be established at the current Senior Center to market the talents and abilities of the senior members of the community. By providing this "outlet" for Seniors' talents, the community can help to rejuvenate their pride and self-worth as well as provide a modest income for elderly residents.
9. The community can avoid "growing pains" by establishing a long-term, comprehensive planning program. "Me future appearance of De Leon and its continued ability to function can be ensured only by making firm decisions about "what we want to be" and "how we're going to get there"!

The establishment of a long-range comprehensive land-use planning program with accompanying ordinances such as zoning, subdivision regulations, local building codes, animal control, etc. is non-productive unless there is local willingness to apply uniform enforcement of these controls on a community-wide basis. As I stated at the town meeting in De Leon, I remain available as a resource if necessary and desired.

---