La Jicarita EC
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1999Funding Report
State: New Mexico
Counties (Census Tracts): Mora (9552), Rio Arriba (9543, 9544, 9636), Taos (9528)
Community Population: 9,591
Community Area: 947 sq. mi.
Poverty Rate: 37.0 %
Unemployment Rate: 13.4 %
Per Capita Income: $8,012.00
Education: 31.6 %
Overview
Spearheading the effort for revitalization of the EC area is a group named Helping Hands, Inc. Their focus is on enabling people to perform at a higher level through better job opportunities and improved education. This tandem focus will reap more economic rewards than simply overloading the area with capital.
There was a strong commitment to plan through letters of endorsement, and excellent discussion groups have characterized the planning sessions. As a result, grass roots people from diverse backgrounds participated in the planning sessions, and tackled issues on community development, cultural diversity, poverty and related subjects.
The vision statement speaks that residents are now buoyed with the hope that they will accomplish the economic recovery needed for a sustainable community through their wit and talent and with only a little assistance from the federal government.
Key Activities
Economic Opportunity:
The program will create an environment for entrepreneurship, and enable a sizeable corps of artisans to become more productive by working at home. The planners believe that the increased income generated will enable small villages and communities in the area to become stronger economically. In support of the artisans, the strategic plan calls for the creation of an army of former residents, located throughout the nation, who would serve as a marketing network for the items created by the artisans.
Community Building
Local government is responding to customer demand. Community input has become the norm rather than the exception. Each county has developed a Comprehensive Land Use Plan and an Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan with community input as a key element. A major re-building of the infrastructure in the three counties is anticipated. High on the priority list is public safety. The community will develop a crime prevention program and community policing approaches. There are plans to develop satellite fire stations and to provide ambulance service in rural areas.
Sustainable Economic and Community Development:
Planners have created a position of Socio-Economic Extension Agent position to assist small communities and their residents improve their quality of life. Taking a step in that direction, the State government has assisted each of the three counties to develop healthier community programs with Federal grants. As part of the Healthier Community program, each county is constructing Youth and Family Centers to accommodate a variety of social service type activities.
This effort has led to create a new corps of Extension agents called "Socio-Economic Extension" agents. This group will work with business development and its traditional family assistance efforts.
Major Public Sector Commitments
Community business funds will be used in the development of a cadre of Socio-Economic Extension agents who will be able to turn community problems into economic opportunities.
Local Government Resources:
The region is in the process of re-tooling parts of its service delivery from the single service entity provider to an Inter-governmental Council model. In this respect investments from funds already received in this region will serve to strengthen the activities of the EC.
State Government Resources:
Collaborative support from the State is well documented.
Contact:
Name: John Martinez Address: P.O. Box 546, 14155 State Road 75 Penasco, NM 87553 Phone: 800-458-7323 Fax: 505-587-1687 Email: johnmartinezljec@aol.com
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