2008 Annual Report Executive Summary
Desert Communities Empowerment Zone
The Desert Alliance for Community Empowerment (DACE) continued its focus accomplishing the implementation and development of established projects under the strategic plan. DACE is a broad based non-profit corporation serving a 4,000 sq mile region of eastern Riverside County in Southern California consisting of 8 distinctive rural regions and four tribal reservations. DACE is the operating organization for the Desert Communities Empowerment Zone addressing six strategic priorities Economic Development, Education, Community Development, Community Capacity, Health and Housing. During 2008, the organization was awarded the Excellence in Economic Development by the US Economic Development Agency under the category of Community and Faith-Based Entrepreneurship.
COACHELLA, November 6, 2008 — DACE Executive Director Jeff Hays announced the receipt of a $472,000 grant award from USDA Rural Development to provide drought relief assistance to low income farmworkers in the Coachella and Palo Verde Valleys. Grant funds have served to assist individuals and farmworker households, to help supplement the burden on food banks as a result of reduced employment opportunities attributed to drought. DACE is one of five organizations in the nation, three of which are in California, to receive funding from the emergency and disaster grant program.
Working in partnership with the community, city and other partners, DACE completed numerous projects over the past year including: “Blyth Ranch Market” which created over 60 new jobs. The Blyth Ranch Market is a medium sized full service market. Tenants and leasers include: a new 15,000 square foot space general merchandise retailer to open in Spring 2009. A small pharmacy has also signed a lease for 1,500 sq ft, which will serve as a training site for pharmacists. Staff are coordinating bringing in a local non profit to consolidate two sites into one vocational training center at the BVC.
Rancho Housing celebrated the grand opening of the Las Serenas senior apartments in the City of Coachella. The 12 unit complex serves low income seniors in a small one bedroom units with stove, microwave, washer/dryers and Age in Place interior features such as ADA compliant bathrooms.
DACE broke ground on the San Felipe Migrant Housing project in December 2008. Completion is estimated for April 2009. The site will house up to 48 migrant workers as well as serve as a community center for local activities.
The Poder Popular program concluded with the determination to establish a new non-profit organization better suited to continue its holistic outreach effort . Rancho broke ground on the second phase of 5 homes in Mesa Verde, CA. In partnership with the Palo Verde Economic Development committee, DACE secured a USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grant and engaged a national branding and marketing consultant to help vitalize the tourist economy in the region.
Partnership with Riverside County will result in two new community centers after they are developed in Mesa Verde and N. Shore. DACE donated the properties and Riverside County is funding the development of each center.
DACE co-sponsored the Salton Sea Speed Week, a national speed boat event that brought back to life the boating history of the Salton Sea. With over 30 boats participating, 14 speed records were established confirming the event into an annual national tourism event.
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