Douglas Executive Summary

The Douglas community's extensive, cohesive approach to solving problems led to significant investment since the original Enterprise Community strategic planning sessions. The return on the investment is evidenced in the creation of 351 jobs in 1999. As a prime example of this investment, the community formed partnerships to construct a $2 million aquatic center, the first phase of a master-planned community center. Recognizing the need to provide for current and future economic growth, the City of Douglas and the Arizona Department of Transportation are investing $6.8 million to realign US Highway 80. The Douglas community agreed to water rate increases to finance the water system improvements following extensive public participation and discussion with the North American Development Bank. The City of Douglas Housing Authority has rehabilitated 52 homes for elderly and low-income families and established a Rental Rehabilitation Revolving Loan Fund to improve the quality and quantity of rental housing for low income families. In an aggressive, proactive move to retain young professionals working in the Douglas area, the City of Douglas will issue bonds this year to construct an unsubsidized eighty-unit multifamily complex at the municipal golf course.

The City of Douglas works closely with community-based organizations. Through key partnerships, the Douglas Entrepreneurial Development Center was established with a collaboration of the Arizona Council for Economic Conversion (ACEC), Cochise College, Parents Anonymous, People of Douglas Empowering and Rebuilding (PODER) and AriSEWna (an employee-owned cooperative). Grants totaling $750,000 have facilitated the Center's collaborative efforts to train and employ TANF and low-income individuals. These individuals will also receive assistance from the Douglas Area Food Bank, which will receive a $105,350 grant from the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Program.

Sustaining this growth will require further investment from the public and private sectors in Douglas. The accomplishments highlighted above are termed investments. The community has profited and will continue to profit from the returns in the forms of job creation and retention and an overall improved quality of life.

Nogales Executive Summary

The City of Nogales attained Enterprise Community Designation through the Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC) Program. This initiative has favorably impacted the community, empowering its leveraging potential by expanding its viability, enabling it to qualify for funding from a variety of sources. The original SSBG funds made available through this designation were allocated to projects determined by the EC Advisory Board, comprised of local residents, to be of most benefit to the community as a whole and that had high potential for completion. As a result of these specific projects and others that this community has initiated development both in the economic as well as educational and vocational job skills training fields has seen a tremendous increase. The educational progress has and is enabling this community to offer a better trained work force to prospective companies considering relocating to this area, thereby favorably impacting its economic outlook. The collaborative, partnering effort resulting since the inception of this empowerment concept is of a magnitude never before experienced by this community. The community has been able to come together and assess its needs and resources available and begin to bring them together. As a result of this cohesiveness, one of the outstanding achievements was the recognition of The Historic Nogales Main Street Program and Arizona USDA Rural Development by the Arizona Main Street Program upon receiving an award for the state's best example of a public-private partnership among Arizona Main Street participants. The Nogales Housing Authority received the Governor's Community Development Service award for having successfully trained residents in the area of construction which has helped some of them to acquire good paying jobs. The by-product of this community enhancement has enlarged the scope of improvement projects planned and has without doubt, triggered an uphill course for economic growth in this community.

San Luis-Gadsden Executive Summary

The San Luis-Gadsden area has and continues to experience a rapid growth rate. The partnerships and alliances with State and Federal Agencies have contributed immensely in investing funding into our area in order for the City to meet the needs of the community. Public participation has increased by implementing the foundations of the Enterprise Community Strategic Plan, the City of San Luis's General Plan, and by participation in the Arizona Public Service's Focused Future program. Through these strategic planning mechanisms, the public is encouraged to define their needs and implement their ideas in all three plans to sustain the growth of the area. The area does realize the obstacles down the road, but with collaborating efforts from our communities and state/ federal agencies, the solutions will emerge by reviewing our best practices and our accomplishments.

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