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This group became the force behind the first steering committee. It was decided after much discussion to adhere to the White House Administration's emphasis on regionalism and submit one application representing the whole region. The Steering Committee came to realize that there was still strong sentiment to submit several applications - one for Zavala, Uvalde and Val Verde (under the out-migration criteria), and the other for Dimmit, LaSalle and Maverick (under the general poverty criteria) - but in doing so they risked the possibility of competition within the region. Eventually it was decided that one application would be submitted for specific census tracts in Dimmit, Zavala, Uvalde and Maverick counties and developable sites in LaSalle, Maverick and Dimmit counties (to meet the limited area requirements). Because the lead entity for the application had to be a 501(c)(3) organization, the application was submitted under the auspices of the Middle Rio Grande Development Foundation (MRGDF).
The Steering Committee also became the initial Board of Directors, and included representatives of governmental agencies, community based organizations, centers of learning and social service groups, and private businesses. The ten-year designation of Middle Rio Grande FUTURO Communities, Incorporated was made in January of 1999 with an award of Round II Enterprise Community. The original application benchmarks were thus reduced to meet the funds available under this designation, and FUTURO was awarded $250,000 for first year.
The signing of the MOA between USDA, FUTURO and the MRGDF took place in May of 1999, and in July of 1999, FUTURO was officially incorporated. An Executive Director was hired to oversee the beginnings of the organization whose ultimate goal was to implement the hard-won regional strategic plan. The first success came in the form of a Community Technology Center grant from the Department of Education. On October 23, 2000, FUTURO Communities, Inc. was granted 501(c)(3) status by the Internal Revenue Service as a true tax-free, nonprofit organization, and thus no longer rely on the Middle Rio Grande Development Foundation's 501(c)(3).
Of the first year award given to FUTURO, $130,000 were set aside as “pass-through” funds to the Local Area Committees (LAC) for use in funding any local projects that met the objectives of either the regional or a local strategic plan. To stimulate interest in local projects, FUTURO issued an RFP to any agency or corporation who had a local project that met the strategic plan and would benefit residents of the Enterprise Community. As a result of that competition held in August, 2000 eight local projects were awarded funding. They ranged in scope from a capital campaign to raise funds for the construction of a multi-million dollar library and museum in Uvalde, to the purchase of land to build a new fire department substation in Eagle Pass, the purchase of supplies for two FAST (Family and Students Together) programs to be started in Crystal City and Uvalde, the expansion of the services offered by the Dimmit County Library in Carrizo Springs, and an increase in the qualifications of the EMS service in Uvalde who will train personnel in up-to-date life saving protocols. Funding is done on a reimbursement basis. FUTURO will not fund more than 50% of any project, but the average is 10% of projects.
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