“To me, the Hermosa difference is getting a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of my community’s transformation.”
– Sandra Moraga
Community Specialist
Mining companies invest in the minerals beneath our feet, but the people, families, and institutions that surround them can often feel left out. Hermosa strives to be different.
To me, the Hermosa difference is getting a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of my community’s transformation. The level of social investment we are bringing to our community has the power to improve people’s lives now and for generations to come.
The Hermosa Difference is being active and engaged in our community, and being a force for good wherever, whenever we can. That’s why our Hermosa team has established strong relationships with local governments, school districts, and nonprofits – setting a new standard for community engagement. By regularly collaborating with the people in our community, we can find new ways to create shared value and learn how we can maximize our impact.
These local partnerships have helped us establish new ways to give back to the broader Santa Cruz County population by unlocking new ways to help local businesses and community organizations flourish.
On the community front, we’ve created the South32 Hermosa Community Fund. Twice a year, this fund awards grants to local nonprofits that are driving positive change in areas like education, the arts, history, environment, and civic engagement. To date, the fund has awarded 121 non-profits with grants totaling over $1 million.
On the commercial side, we’ve taken a different approach. To help local businesses raise their own status, we’ve established a specialized event sponsorship program. When businesses need support with a large event, they can turn to Hermosa for some behind-the-scenes financial and tactical support to put their plan into action, while ensuring the spotlight remains squarely on their enterprise.
While these financial contributions and community partnerships are important parts of building shared value between Hermosa and Santa Cruz County, so too is the simple practice of listening.
Hermosa is a new neighbor here, and we have a duty to show respect for the land and environment we share. This is why we’ve made a commitment to prioritize local voices and empower our community to play a role in charting Hermosa’s path. Through early engagement, rigorous local studies, and a freshly-evolved community advisory panel, we’ve brought a diverse pool of community members to the table to hear their thoughts and feelings, and let their input guide Hermosa’s development.
As part of that community trust, we are partnering with local third-party public health organizations to regularly monitor and report findings to ensure South32 is held accountable.
This collaboration is not just talk. We are in active negotiations with local government officials from Santa Cruz County, Nogales and Patagonia on a mutually-agreed-to Community Protection and Benefits Agreement, which will serve as a legally-binding agreement between South32 and local governments concerning key commitments the Hermosa project will adhere to as we develop and operate the site now and into the future. Working together with the community, we’re putting Southern Arizona in the driver’s seat of the clean energy race. And that’s going to unlock new opportunities and shared value for the entire region, improving people’s lives now and for generations to come.