|
|
WELCOME
TO TRES PIEDRAS COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT
This website is designed for anyone interested in what is going on in Tres Piedras,
NM.
ABOUT T.P.C.E AND TRES PIEDRAS
Tres Piedras
Community Enhancement is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to improving the living conditions of the residents of Tres Piedras
and surrounding communities through the construction and maintenance of a community center in Tres Piedras.
Located in
Taos County, Tres Piedras is home to approximately 258 people. To the east we are blessed with an unobstructed view of the
Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range 30 miles away and also Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico at 13,141 ft. ASL.
To the west are breathtaking views of the Carson National Forest. To the north you can see the San Antonio Mountain;
a free standing volcanic mountain with its summit at 10,900 ft. ASL.
Our winters
are usually snowy with average maximum temperatures in January around 36 degrees Fahrenheit and average minimum temperatures
at about 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Our summer days are warm in the upper 70’s and nights in the mid 40’s. The humidity
is usually very low and we average 310 days of sunshine annually. Our air is clean, our nature is unblemished and many believe
that Tres Piedras is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
 Unfortunately, the natural beauty of Tres Piedras is sometimes marred by the living conditions of
the community. According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income of the community is only
$17,500 (compared to a national household income level of $41,194 and an average state household income level of $34,133.)
23% of our families live at or below the national poverty level compared to 9% of the families living below poverty level
in the rest of the country, and 26% of the community have some form of a disability status. These numbers
are particularly disturbing when one considers that 89% of the residents of Tres Piedras are high school graduates and 35%
have a bachelor’s degree or a higher level of education. This means that, although the members of this community are
considered slightly better educated than the rest of the country, we are also one of the poorest areas in the nation.
Out
of 208 housing structures in Tres Piedras, 54 are lacking complete plumbing facilities, 39 are lacking complete kitchen facilities,
and 59 have no telephone service. Cellular service is extremely unreliable in the area, leaving many families
with no means of communicating with the outside world. No data is currently available indicating how many
families are lacking electricity or running water in their homes, but the numbers are significant. Perhaps even more
disturbing, many of these families with no electricity and no access to ready water in their homes also have no reliable
means of transportation. These circumstances combined force some of our residents to hitch-hike the 30 miles to Taos,
NM with gallon jugs in order to provide water for themselves, their pets, and their families.
 Obviously, the residents of Tres Piedras are in great need of a change. This is
where Tres Piedras Community Enhancement comes in. With the construction of a local community center TPCE
will create local jobs, provide a meeting place for the community, and much more. Our long term goals include
the creation of a technological center where residents can obtain access to broadband internet and computer courses for free
or at a very low cost, an organic community greenhouse, a food co-op, a public park, a public library, and a recreational
center.
If you are interested in learning more about TPCE, or if you would like
to find out how you can help, take a few moments to explore this website or contact us for more information.
Together we will make Tres Piedras a better place to live! -
MISSION
STATEMENT TRES PIEDRAS COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT, INC.
As a reflection of our desire to unite the residents of Tres Piedras, and in an effort to improve the financial, educational,
recreational, and healthcare opportunities of the community, Tres Piedras Community Enhancement, Inc. is dedicated to improving
the lives of the residents of Tres Piedras now and for many years into the future. By building and managing
a community center in Tres Piedras, we will make the town a better place to live.
 |
|
We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donation is completely
tax deductible.
DONATE TO A
GOOD CAUSE!
Would you like to
help make our dreams a reality? If so, please visit our getting involved page. We are currently accepting donations of any kind. Many grants and other public funding sources require
that we match any funds with matching contributions of our own. If you, or anybody you know, is willing to donate land
to TPCE in a tax deductible donation, please contact us at your convenience.
THE
COMMUNITY SURVEY AND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT One of the most common questions we
have been hearing lately basically amounts to, "Why should I bother filling out the survey, isn't it kind of a waste
of time?" After hearing variations of this question several times, we wanted to quickly explain the importance
of the community survey to our cause. First and foremost, we are using the survey and the statements included in the
survey, to show community support to potential funding sources including grant providers, state legislators and local politicians.
These decision makers want us to show proof that we have the support of the whole community, not just the support of a couple
of people at a community meeting. Without these statistics, we cannot acquire the proper support for funding
and it will be extremely difficult to receive substantial monies for the community center. Secondly, a common
requirement on almost EVERY grant proposal that we have researched is that we must show a community need for funding.
These surveys are how we demonstrate a community need. As long as community members don't take the time to fill
out surveys we have no basis to proceed with grant proposals. Finally, each completed survey gives us a better idea of
what kind of community center you want. So PLEASE take a moment to fill out the community survey, it is a vital tool to the success of this project. View here completed surveys.
|
|
