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Lead Entity: Middle Rio Grande FUTURO Communities

Demographics

  Background

• Round I Champion Community
• Round II Enterprise Community
• 4 of the 5 counties are among the 20 poorest in the U.S.
• Extremely poor region including a large number of colonias (rural areas of substandard housing often lacking water, sewer and paved streets)
• Per capita income is $5,144
• The unemployment rate for the area is 20%
• 95% Hispanic population
• 38% High School education

Community Overview

Families United To Utilize Regional Opportunities (FUTURO) is a five county region, mostly Hispanic, in a remote area of rural Texas along the Mexican border. The community experiences pervasive, grinding poverty in less than substandard living conditions. The community came to realize that a region-wide proposal and strategy would best serve its population. FUTURO residents together with local government and participating business partners, agreed that funding for regional projects should benefit all participating communities rather than individual ones.

Strategic Plan Highlights

• Industry Development and Support

• Consumer Services (wellness center, stores, fair housing, recycling center, call centers)

• Education and Training Opportunities

• Recreation and Tourism Development

 Partnerships

FUTURO has formed a good network of 22 diverse partners, including local businesses, non profits and local, state and federal governments.

Leveraging

Leveraging during the calendar year 2000 was 72:1.

Community Involvement

The application stresses regional cohesiveness and the lead entity conducted extensive out-reach.  Over 200 people attended community informational, assessment and organizational meetings prior to and between the community planning workshops.  Around 615 people participated in community strategic planning workshops, 815 people filled out open-ended surveys.  Meetings were conducted in a bilingual format.  Local radio, newspaper and TV sources were used to reach the communities.

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