2001 Annual Report Executive
Summary
Gadsden County Champion Community
Annual Narrative 2001 The GCDC conducted one county-wide and nine community forums in an effort to update the county's strategic plan. These forums provided an opportunity for residents to identify needs, express the challenges they face and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the community and Economic Development Plan. With this community exercise the GCDC utilized this opportunity to apply for the round III Empowerment Zone designation. This was a very rewarding experience for Gadsden in that its allowed us to take another shook at what we have and establish a direction for our community and economic development efforts. Support letters were written for 21st Century Community Learning Center Program Grant (Gadsden County School Board), the renovation of an old feed mill building for coop cannery, a Step-Up challenge Grant (North Florida Education Development Corporation), and a research project for Developing Community Based Eco. Tourism in Three North Florida Counties (University of Florida), for CDBG Economic Development Grant to construct infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of the proposed Wal-Mart project (City of Quincy). All these address one or more benchmarks of the Champion Community Action Plan. Over 1.7 million dollars were spent on projects addressing the tasks of Benchmarks 1, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 during 2001. Approximately 4 million dollars were applied for through various Federal and State programs but were not funded. The GCDC has identified 18 projects to be completed in the next 2 years. Those projects are designed to stabilize the organizations operational activities; update the Strategic Plan for 2002 to correlate with 2000 census report and the new census tract configuration; conduct feasibility studies for community center, use of abandon schools, county recreation programs and surveys to identify to determine infrastructure deficiencies and determine existing businesses present and projected skill needs, conduct a housing and health needs assessment.