TCOG to offer household hazardous waste collection event in Sherman
April 11, 2022
Announcement: US Department of Labor to Offer Virtual Prevailing Wage Seminars
April 20, 2022
TCOG to offer household hazardous waste collection event in Sherman
April 11, 2022
Announcement: US Department of Labor to Offer Virtual Prevailing Wage Seminars
April 20, 2022

1. Introduction

What is CEDS?

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a region-wide plan for economic development. It creates a foundation for regional collaboration among public and private sectors and community stakeholders, in order to build capacity and better build prosperity and economic resiliency in a region. It is also a requirement of EDA grant funding that economic development districts complete a comprehensive strategy every five years, along with an annual update each year. In 2021, Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG) and Texoma CEDS planning committee began preparing for our 2022-2027 CEDS planning document.

Texoma Region

Texoma is an interstate region in the United States, split between Oklahoma and Texas. The name is a portmanteau of Texas and Oklahoma. The Texoma region consists of three north-central Texas counties, all bordering the Red River and the state of Oklahoma.

These counties are Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson; common challenges are shared by all, but each has its own distinct concerns. Grayson County is the central county, the most populous, and the most urban (Sherman/Denison Metropolitan Area).

Covering 874.6 square miles, Cooke County, Texas is the 175th-largest county in Texas by area. Cooke County, Texas is bordered by Montague County, Wise County, Denton County, Love County, and Grayson County.

Covering 890.6 square miles, Fannin County, Texas is the 160th-largest county in Texas by area. Fannin County, Texas is bordered by Hunt County, Delta County, Lamar County, Bryan County, Grayson County, and Collin County.

Covering 932.6 square miles, Grayson County, Texas is the 95th-largest county in Texas by area. Grayson County, Texas is bordered by Fannin County, Denton County, Bryan County, Marshall County, Love County, Cooke County, and Collin County. (Source: US Census County Profiles).

Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG)

Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG) is a voluntary association of local governments in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson Counties that works directly with citizens and local jurisdictions to improve and advance economic vitality and quality of life in Texoma. In collaboration with our public and private sector partners, TCOG delivers various programs and services designed to support the
health, welfare, and future of our citizens, our communities, and the region as a whole. TCOG employees work hand-in-hand with elected officials and community leaders to develop sustainable and
economically viable community and regional development solutions.

Many projects are funded through a state or federal funding allocation to the region. TCOG utilizes these funds for grant distribution, regional projects, and strategic development. Grant distributions fall into three major categories of homeland security funds, criminal justice grants, and rural community development block grants. Regional projects include conducting household
hazardous waste collections and recycling and composting demonstration projects. TCOG also serves as the Economic Development Administration’s designated Economic Development District in Texoma, producing the annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the region.

TCOG and our community partners have developed innovative projects to improve quality of life and build the region. One such project is the provision of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) support to rural communities that enhances planning, zoning and other development-related decisions. GIS is an essential emergency management tool, and many local emergency managers,
911 dispatchers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers take advantage of this innovative service. TCOG also offers training, strategic planning, and project management services.

In addition to the work we perform for our cities and counties, TCOG provides a vast array of direct social services, including the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). This program seeks to mobilize resources to provide education, economic opportunities, and advocacy for the needs of low-income families and communities of Northeast Texas. Services offered by CSBG are designed to promote self-sufficiency.

Other social services include: Section 8 rental assistance (over 600 vouchers each year), benefits counseling, care coordination for the elderly and disabled, caregiver support services, senior volunteer programs, employment and education support, utility assistance, home weatherization, and comprehensive information and referral assistance to seniors, individuals with
disabilities, and low-income families.

Collectively, through the planning and development services offered to cities and counties as well as the direct social services provided to citizens, TCOG has played a crucial role in the growth and development of the region since 1968. An Economic Impact Analysis conducted in 2011 estimated TCOG’s overall impact in the region at $34 million for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, including 174 permanent jobs with $6.2 million total earnings, 182,000 volunteer hours served was valued at over $4 million, plus an additional $658,000 in tax revenues to local jurisdictions.
Directly through our projects and services and indirectly through our overall economic impact to the region, TCOG is touching lives and changing communities.