San Manuel Revitalization Coalition
February 27, 2021 Update
Pinal County and San Manuel Revitalization Coalition have finalized a 12-month Operating Agreement for the San Manuel Community Center. This agreement provides SMRC with a community space where they can:
invite the community and conduct their monthly meetings, enhancing communication across San Manuel;
provide a space that community members can access for private parties and functions;
coordinate a monthly event that brings together all members of the community in a fun and safe environment.
Next, SMRC will begin applying for grant funding to supplement the programming they can now create for the new San Manuel Community Center.
Additionally, through funding provided by APS, SMRC will provide four small business workshops in San Manuel in the Spring of 2021 that address licensing for businesses and food producers, basic computer skills for business and community members, and resume building for local job seekers.
“This process brought so much more to the community than just infrastructure. The healing that resulted through facilitated communication between myself and my neighbors has brought me even closer to the place that I call home.”
Where It All Began:
In 1953, San Manuel, AZ was built as a company town to serve the then-new San Manuel copper mine, mill, and smelter complex. When copper prices fell in the late 1990s, the owner of the mine shuttered both operations, causing more than 2,500 people to lose their jobs. As an unincorporated community, San Manuel has struggled to (1) provide a centralized resource for programs commonly provided by a municipal entity; (2) manage community properties and minimize illegal dumping; (3) establish a plan for business retention/recruitment or community development that would help stabilize the local economy.
In 2019, local community members reached out to Local First Arizona for guidance. The Mammoth-San Manuel Unified School District was preparing to consolidate grades K-12 onto one campus leaving a variety of properties, parks, and other assets vacant and without purpose. Nearby BLM currently utilized for an annual Motocross event was about to be fenced off due to illegal dumping, restricting access and opportunity for additional events and community enjoyment. Finally, a vacant community center was underutilized due to a lack of resources to manage the center and potential activities.
Following a community tour and through funding provided by BHP Billiton, a series of Community Town Halls were convened in San Manuel to discuss ideas aimed at realizing a vibrant, sustainable community able to retain and attract a new generation of long-term residents and families. Three strategic goals were identified including (1) Development of centralized non-profit organization to ensure that community services and programs are accessible to San Manuel Residents; (2) Address waste and beautification challenge in San Manuel and increase access to healthy food; (3) Identify programming and resources that would provide opportunities for the community to engage with one another and build pride and connection within San Manuel.
In January 2020, the San Manuel Revitalization Coalition was formed as a solution for this unincorporated community to have one centralized resource and provide a unified voice to Pinal County for concerns and needs. With a volunteer board of fifteen community members, the group finalized its status as a recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and was able to raise over $10,000 in start-up funding for community programming.
