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In 1994 three communities in the Middle Rio Grande Region applied separately for Round I of the EZ/EC program. As a result, these three communities - City of Eagle Pass, City of Uvalde, and City of Carrizo Springs - were named Champion Communities. This allowed them to follow through with completing their strategic plans setting the stage for the Round II application process. In 1998, community entities interested in applying for Round II sent their representatives - along with staff from the Middle Rio Grande Development Council (MRGDC) - to the first USDA training meeting in Amarillo. Afterward, those people with continued interest in pursuing a designation as EZ met in Uvalde to begin the process of application and disseminate information from the training seminar.
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The corporation is led by a President, who is also the Chief Executive Officer. As CEO, this person has general and active management of the business and affairs of the corporation and oversees the carrying out of all orders and resolutions made by the Board of Directors and is responsible for the organization, administration, management, and coordination of all affairs and any programs and activities carried out under the corporation's responsibilities.
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The membership of the Corporation consists of all persons who submit an application for membership and show eligibility as provided below. Persons approved for membership must qualify under one or more of the following categories:
- Persons who reside in the FUTURO Empowerment Zone;
- Persons owning property in the FUTURO Empowerment Zone;
- Persons who work or attend school in the FUTURO Empowerment Zone;
- Members of the household of any person qualifying under the aforelisted items;
- Persons representing education, civic, business, housing, labor, agriculture, religious, community based organizations or government partners within the FUTURO Empowerment Zone;
- All Cheif Elected Officials within the Empowerment Zone cities and counties;
- Any person who directly affects the Corporation's programs.
Persons wishing to become a member of the Corporation may file an application with the Board of Directors. Such persons will become members, if they qualify according to one of the forelisted categories, upon their approval by a majority of the Directors present at any regular or special meeting. The Board of Directors may extend an invitation for membership in the Corporation to any individual not otherwise eligible for membership provided that this invitation be extended to persons with a clear interest in the Corporation and its programs and who also have a special expertise needed by the Corporation. Such persons must also be approved for membership by a majority of the Directors present at any regular or special meeting.
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The eleven-member FUTURO Board of Directors is composed of five regional representatives who embody the Public Sector, Community Based Organizations and Nonprofit Sector, the Private Sector, the Religious Sector, and the Educational Sector. There are also five LAC Chairman, appointed representatives, who advise the board on local matters and implement the Regional Strategic Plan in their EZ Counties. Finally there is a Region-At-Large member who is chosen by the Board of Directors to represent the needs of the entire region.
A Local Advisory Committee represents each county in the FUTURO Enterprise Community and consists of at least five members who meet monthly to discuss the needs of their communities and any local projects that should be undertaken to further the goals of the strategic plan. During the initial formation of the FUTURO corporate structure, three corporate members, who represented each of the five counties, were appointed by consensus by the county judge and mayor of their respective counties to serve on their respective county's LAC. The three then selected at least two additional members to complete their particular LAC, such that each had an odd number of members. Each LAC member serves a term of one year, and every January the FUTURO membership from each respective county chooses its new LAC members and chairman. The FUTURO corporate membership is made up of members of the community that both attended the initial strategic planning meetings and others who later joined to be part of the revitalization of the region. Membership to FUTURO is free of charge.
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FUTURO Communities, Inc. exists as an association of its members and was formed to provide local and regional strategies for job creation and economic development to reverse the economic decline of towns, neighborhoods, and communities within its Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Counties, all to be accomplished in a charitable manner within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. FUTURO received its tax-exempt status on October 23, 2000 and is thus able to apply directly for funding.
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(see maps at Region) |
Dimmit County-----Census Tract 9501, [9502 (Developable Site)]
Maverick County-----Census Tract 9505, 9506, [9501 (Developable Site)]
Uvalde County-----Census Tract 9505
Zavala County-----Census Tract 9503
LaSalle County-----Census Tract [9501 (Developable Site)]
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Chairman of the Board:
At-Large Representative-La Salle County
Leodoro Martinez
Vice Chairperson:
Oscar Garcia
Treasurer:
Special Interest Representative-Zavala County
Jose M Alcala
Secretary:
Community Census Representative-Zavala County
Sandra D. Zavala
Member:
Community Census Representative-Dimmit County
Mario A. Chavez
Member:
Special Interest Representative-Dimmit County
Efrain Garza |
Member:
Community Census Representative-Uvalde County
Sergio Porras
Member:
Special Interest Representative-Maverick County
Teresa Keypuros
Member:
Community Census Representative-Maverick County
Roberto Gonzalez
Member:
Community Census Representative-Maverick County
Bobby Rankin
Member:
Special Interest Representative-Maverick County
Larry Martin |
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Administrative Assistant-----Marisela Lugo
Financial Management Specialist-----Gena Salazar
Economic Development Program Director-----Johnny Martinez
Receptionist-----Melissa Flores
Director of Housing Programs-----San Juan Gonzalez
Housing Counselor-----Elisa Bonilla
Housing Counselor/Recruiter-----Rachez Gonzalez |
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The direct result of many months of town hall meetings, the FUTURO Regional Strategic Plan includes twelve broad areas of support that have been identified as being most critical to our EC Counties: Consolidated Planning, Public Safety, Amenities and Design, Sustainable Development, Supporting Families, Youth Development, Education, Affordable Housing, Drug Abuse, Health and Human Services, and Equal Opportunity. Once a year, in October, the FUTURO membership reviews and amends the strategic plan in a series of town hall meetings.
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