2004 Annual Report Executive Summary
Four Corners Enterprise Community (4CEC)
A real plus for the community is its frequent communication and close working relationship with the AZ Rural Development State Office and National Office of Community Development. Benchmark reporting in the automated benchmark system designed to help communities' report and measure progress reflects a large and varied group of projects and activities. There is community involvement and involvement by City Officials in all three EC areas which include the City of Douglas, the City of Nogales and the San Luis-Gadsden area. In addition to state, city and federal partners, numerous partnerships and alliances and also volunteers assist with youth services, business and entrepreneurial development, infrastructure issues, housing, highway improvements, tourism development projects, and international trade and commerce. Most significant is the transportation project which saw the completion of the first phase ($6 million) of a highway improvement project that will welcome visitors and residents with a scenic entrance to Douglas--complemented by an aesthetic linear park to the US-Mexican border. The community submits weekly reports on a regular basis and also very comprehensive annual and semi-annual reports are received. For the most part AZBREC measures progress in terms of overall completion and indirect benefits associated with the completion of primary tasks. The AZBREC's willingness to submit an application to Southwest Border Region Pilot Project resulted in their designation as a border pilot community. This designation provides a federal response team to assist AZBREC in addressing its most pressing needs in order to generate sustained economic development. Border projects focus on transportation, infrastructure, sustainable economic development and quality of life issues.