Community

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The cities of Cripple Creek and Victor in Colorado owe their existence to historical mining operations, and in many ways, this historical relationship has allowed the CC&V mine to remain an integral part of its community.

In the past 11 years, since start-up of current mine operations, AngloGold Ashanti, as manager of the joint venture known as Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Company (CC&V), has played a pivotal role in developing positive and constructive community relationships by raising its visibility amongst the community and becoming a point of contact for community members and leaders. The intention has been to create a relationship of trust between the community and the mine, and a positive climate for mine personnel to discuss with the community matters which may have an impact on the area and its people.

CC&V's community affairs department has sought to develop these relationships via two important routes:

• encouraging employees to participate actively in community initiatives;
• encouraging employees to participate on local structures, and interact with other local groups

Through this close interaction CC&V seeks to develop a good sense of community priorities, and to learn how its assistance and support can have an optimal impact.

Management of CC&V has sought to develop a particularly productive relationship with the Southern Teller County Focus Group (STCFG). STCFG is a group of local community leaders and others interested in the continuing development of Southern Teller County, where CC&V's operations are located. STCFG conducted a review to determine how best to achieve its goal of continuing development of Southern Teller County and determined that tourism could have a long-term sustainable impact. In conjunction with CC&V, STCFG is providing a forum for education about historic mining activities, to create economic development opportunities for the region, and to promote the protection of historic areas. In co-operation with the STCFG, six hiking trails have been established around CC&V's active mining operations, which provide access to historic mining sites, along with interpretive signage. The trails have proved to be popular and attract some 10,000 people annually. The STCFG also works together with property owners to gain and administer grants for the assessment and preservation of historic structures.

Through this association, CC&V has sought to play a meaningful role in identifying historically significant structures which are then moved out of the path of mining operations. The Hull City Placer ore sorting house and headframe have been temporarily moved, and will be replaced after the completion of reclamation; the Joe Dandy ore sorting house and headframe have been reinstalled on Globe Hill within view of the city of Cripple Creek.

An important focus area is sustainability after the cessation of mining. "It was a particularly proud moment for me when the AngloGold Ashanti choir from South Africa was invited to contribute the final performance for the inaugural season of the Colorado Festival of World Theatre. The choir proved to be excellent ambassadors for CC&V and for AngloGold Ashanti," comments Jane Mannon, CC&V community affairs manager. Plans are in place to grow and expand the CFWT by including an educational component for the youth.

Other CC&V community projects include sponsorship of little league baseball and soccer. CC&V also encourages its employees to become involved as volunteers in the community, rewarding them by treating volunteer time as paid leave.

It is hoped that through these activities and its participation in local chambers of commerce, economic development groups and other community structures, CC&V has successfully become integrated in this community. "By contributing time, resources and funds, we believe we have made some positive strides in developing key groups for a sustainable community," says Jane Mannon.