1999 Annual Report Executive Summary*
Five Star Rural Enterprise Community
The primary accomplishment for 1999 was getting the Memorandum of Agreement signed with USDA. In order to get to this point required a major revision of the strategic plan budget in order to convert from an EZ to the EC that we received. Community Committees were formed in each of the 5 census tracts. The executive board was defined as two representatives from each of the 5 census tracts, plus the non-voting lead agency Executive Director. A set of By-laws were developed and adopted. A system for evaluation and reviewing benchmark proposals was developed. A system to bring benchmark proposals to the Executive Board was established. The budget and administrative budget was developed. The budget was apportioned to each census tract on an equal basis after the administration and an emergency reserve was deducted from the full grant amount. Each of the census tracts sent a representative to the National Meeting in Memphis. During this busy time prior to the signing, meetings at each of the subzones were held biweekly.
Executive Board meetings were held weekly. In some subzones news coverage has been excellent in others it needs to be improved. Partnerships have been developed with Keybank and with the state department of Community Trade and Economic Development (CTED). The Bank has provided funds, expertise and assistance for several of our projects that are ineligible for EC grant funds. CTED has written an agreement with us and USDA to provide technical assistance to the subzones. The first USDA funds were received in December. A system for submitting funds to the Executive Board has been developed and implemented. New officers have been elected for each of the subzones and on the Executive Board. Executive Board meetings are now being held once a month, as are most of the subzones committees.