2007 Annual Report Executive Summary
Tri-County Indian Nations Enterprise Community
Tri-County has a long history of providing technical assistance and training to rural communities in our area. The Tri-County Enterprise Community works to facilitate real opportunities for growth and revitalization in order for the communities in the Enterprise Community to become self-reliant. Selected examples of the most significant accomplishments during the past year include but are not limited to the following: Affordable Housing: Through Tri-County’s Self-Help Housing Program, we have finished ten out of our first 18 houses. We have six additional houses under construction, and hope to begin another group of homes in first quarter of 2008. Tri-County has partnered with a number of local faith-based organizations to build wheelchair ramps, paint homes, weatherize, clean debris from yards, and provide basic home repairs for low-income, elderly families. Tri-County partnered with United Way, Ada Area Community Emergency Shelter, Ada Chamber of Commerce, Ada Jobs Foundation, and the City of Ada to develop a Pontotoc County Housing FOCUS group to better address the affordable housing needs of the county.
Tri-County was awarded a SHOP allocation to further develop opportunities for Self-Help Housing. Health and Safety: Tri-County partnered with Red Cross, East Central University’s Principals of Management Class, and the county schools to get 9-1-1 address signs into the community. Tri-County wrote a number of successful grants that resulted in additional police vehicles and first responder vehicles throughout the Enterprise Community.
The Arts District developed as a direct response to the Century Community planning effort that clearly identified a need for entertainment option in the community. It is from this vantage that the community partners are aggressively pursuing the realistic, dynamic and synergistic response of engaging in community-based planning necessary to develop and sustain a Business Improvement District tied to the East Main Street corridor.
One of the most effective ways that the EC has found to engage the community is by getting out to and actively participating in local meetings. Tri-County is a active part of the Chambers of Commerce, a member of the Tishomingo Development Team, Partnership for Change in Coal and Atoka Counties, Ada Jobs Foundation, Success by Six Advisory Committee, Johnston County Industrial Authority, Stonewall Bank Building Committee, the Pontotoc County Century City Project, Southern Oklahoma Workforce Board, Pontotoc County Economic Development Roundtable, and the 2-1-1 steering committee. By making a concerted, visible effort to engage the community the EC is positioned to much more effectively respond to grassroots initiatives. Tri-County publicly announces all board meetings in order to get as much participation in the EZ/EC process as possible. Improving Community participation is one area we hope to continue to improve during the time remaining in the designation. meetings in order to get as much participation in the EZ/EC process as possible. Improving Community participation is one area we hope to continue to improve during the time remaining in the designation.
Tri County Indian Nations EC Summary Page Tri-County Indian Nations EC Funding Page