Regional Focuses - Texas Association of Regional Councils

T E X A S A S S O C I AT I O N O F
R EGIONAL C OUNCILS
REGIONAL STRATEGIES, PARTNERSHIPS AND SOLUTIONS
Statewide Coverage
• Technical assistance to local officials
• Homeland security and emergency preparedness planning, including Citizen Corps programs
• Regional solid waste management planning and program design
• Regional community and economic development strategies and projects
Regional Focuses
• 9-1-1 technology operations
• Aging services
• Air quality management
• Business lending and technical assistance
• GIS data collection and analysis
• Housing rehabilitation and counseling
• Local law enforcement training
• Regional transportation planning
• Public transportation services
• Weatherization and energy efficiency
• Workforce development
TARC Member
Program Highlights
Building Globally Competitive
Economies and Communities
Providing Assistance to
Local Governments
Most COGs develop and implement
regional economic development
strategies with support from
the U.S. Economic Development
Administration (EDA). In addition,
our regional councils work with
local officials and partners to craft
comprehensive plans that address
a host of issues, such as air quality,
emergency preparedness, social
services, transportation, water
supply and quality, and workforce
development.
Each regional council receives
state planning assistance to pursue
regional and local economic
development initiatives, facilitate
stronger intergovernmental
collaboration and match federal
funds. This vital program allows our
members to design and implement
an array of special initiatives, from
enhanced GIS data collection and
analysis to regional innovation
and competitiveness projects to
high-priority projects for local
governments.
COGs use Geographic Information
System (GIS) tools to help our state
and local partners manage and
analyze vast amounts of data on
regional population, economic,
transportation and land-use
patterns. Our services are often
provided in cooperation with local
governments, the private sector and
state and federal agencies.
Assisting Local Entrepreneurs
A number of TARC members
manage U.S. Small Business
Administration 504 programs that
offer loans for qualified owneroccupied commercial real estate
projects. Others offer revolving
loan funds established with seed
capital from EDA, U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) for business
start-up and expansion. Many
COGs help with site selection,
loan packaging, feasibility studies,
business plans, incentive packaging,
referrals and job training services.
Strengthening Regional
9-1-1 Systems
Working in partnership with state
and local officials, COGs have been
tapped as the primary planning and
coordinating entities for emergency
9-1-1 communications in most of
Texas. The COGs working with the
Commission on State Emergency
Communications have fully
deployed advanced 9-1-1 services
for wireless callers and are among
the nation’s leaders in planning
for Next Generation 9-1-1. Many
COGs with 9-1-1 responsibilities
have also developed sophisticated
data and mapping programs, which
has allowed for the deployment of
more advanced regional and local
emergency notification systems.
Preparing Regionally for Disasters
TARC partners with the Governor’s
Division of Emergency Management
and Homeland Security to
coordinate and improve regional
homeland security preparedness,
planning and response activities.
This includes helping our network
of 24 regional councils plan and
“The success of regional economic
development initiatives is
commensurate with the ability of
neighboring local governments to
act in unison. The 24 Councils of
Governments in Texas are vital
players in building effective
relationships across political
boundaries and representing under-privileged communities
with insufficient resources.”
— Pedro Garza, Austin Regional Director,
U.S. Economic Development Administration
implement regional homeland
security programs, integrate
regional strategies and priorities
with state activities, and foster
enhanced communications and
program implementation among
state, COG and local officials.
Each COG plays a key role in
preparedness, prevention, response
and recovery activities at the
regional level.
Planning for Mobility
Many COGs are providing
vital leadership on regional
transportation initiatives, including
through mapping, planning and
prioritizing transportation projects.
Several COGs serve as federallydesignated Metropolitan Planning
Organizations (MPOs), while others
have voluntarily formed Rural
Planning Organizations to serve
areas outside of the MPO urbanized
boundaries. Regional councils have
also established regional and local
public transportation systems that
offer flexible and fixed routes, as
well as demand-response services,
in rural, suburban and urban areas.
Empowering Volunteers
Working in partnership with the
COGs statewide, TARC administers
the federal Citizen Corps program.
Citizen Corps volunteers provide
support for local first responders
through Community Emergency
Response Teams, Volunteers in
Police Services, Medical Reserves
Corps, Neighborhood Watch and
Fire Corps. With the added support
of citizen volunteers, emergency
response personnel have more
time to fulfill their highly skilled
responsibilities.
Rebuilding Homes
After Hurricanes Rita and Katrina,
seven COGs received nearly
$75 million in HUD Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG)
disaster relief funds. The Texas
Department of Housing and
Community Affairs awarded these
federal pass-through funds to
the COGs because we have the
management capacity, networks
and trust of local officials and a
proven track record of making
strategic public investments. The
COGs identified eligible families
and hired contractors to make
emergency repairs, rebuild homes
and replace manufactured housing
units. The state continues to
partner with the COGs for more
recent hurricane relief efforts.
Building Stronger Law
Enforcement Programs
Many of our COGs provide
training to law enforcement
personnel through regional training
academies. Housed within COG
offices, these academies provide
law enforcement, corrections,
telecommunications and other
law enforcement related training
designed to meet the needs of
cadets and licensed officers. The
academies are licensed by the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement
Officers Standards and Education.
Regional Workforce Solutions
Workforce development is a major
focus of many TARC members,
including those regional councils
who manage regional and local
Workforce Investment Boards.
Through the federal Workforce
Investment Act (WIA), COGs
may serve as the administrative
entity responsible for program
implementation for youth, adult
and dislocated worker job training
services.
Managing Solid Waste
With funds from the Texas
Commission on Environmental
Quality, each COG develops and
maintains an inventory of municipal
solid waste landfills, conducts
regional planning activities, and
maintains regional solid waste
management plans. Each COG also
administers pass-through grant
programs for local governments for
illegal dumping enforcement and
cleanup, recycling, hazardous waste
collection and transfer stations,
education and other solid waste
management efforts.
Caring for our Senior Citizens
Each regional council is designated
by the Texas Department on Aging
and Disability Services as an Area
Agency on Aging (AAA). Using
federal and state AAA funds, COGs
help seniors with information
and referral assistance, benefits
counseling, legal assistance, care
coordination and caregiver support.
Regional councils also coordinate
in-home support, legal awareness,
nutrition and ombudsman services.
AAA programs are offered through
subcontracts with local providers,
purchased services from vendors or
through direct services of our AAAs.
Mapping Regional Growth
and Development
COGs employ GIS skills and
technology to provide local officials,
private sector leaders and nonprofit
partners with geo-spatial data and
information needed to address
complex issues and decisions.
By using GIS, it is now easier to
analyze and project demographic
trends, infrastructure conditions
and locations, land use patterns,
environmental hotspots, public
safety and business locations.
Texas Association of Regional Councils
“Across Texas, regional
councils of government
The Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC) is a statewide
association focused on strengthening the economic competitiveness,
public services and quality of life within our state through regional
strategies, partnerships and solutions.
provide an invaluable
bridge between state
and local government,
TARC is a network of 24 multi-county Councils of Governments (COGs)
bringing efficiency
that provides vital policy and program support for state and local
and accountability to
leaders. Each COG, also known as a regional council, is comprised
of city, county and special district members working together to
many critical programs
implement cost-effective, results-oriented strategies that address
and services. Texans
statewide and local needs on a regional scale.
For nearly four decades, TARC has helped COGs develop the expertise,
forums and networks necessary to tackle a broad portfolio of regional
planning and development issues. Depending on regional priorities
and needs, COGs may be involved in community and economic
development, GIS and technology deployment, homeland security
and emergency preparedness, services for the elderly, solid waste
management planning, transportation and workforce development.
TARC is governed by a policy board of local elected officials, including
county judges and commissioners, mayors and city council members
from across the state’s 24 COG regions. Each COG executive director,
along with senior professional staff, also participates in TARC through
various advisory committees, program affiliates and working groups.
truly benefit from the
collaborative work of
regional councils.”
— Governor Rick Perry
TEXAS COG CONTACT INFORMATION
Alamo Area Council of Governments
Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission
Rio Grande Council of Governments
Gloria C. Arriaga, Executive Director
8700 Tesoro Dr., Suite 700 • San Antonio, Texas 78217
Ph: 210.362.5200 • Fax: 210.225.5937
www.aacog.com
Joe Brannan, Executive Director
568 Big Bend Drive • Victoria, Texas 77904
Ph: 361.578.1587 • Fax: 361.578.8865
www.gcrpc.org
Annette Gutierrez, Executive Director
1100 N. Stanton, Suite 610 • El Paso, Texas 79902
Ph: 915.533.0998 • Fax: 915.532.9385
www.riocog.org
Ark-Tex Council of Governments
Heart of Texas Council of Governments
South East Texas Regional Planning Commission
L.D. Williamson, Executive Director
4808 Elizabeth Street • Texarkana, Texas 75503
Ph: 903.832.8636 • Fax: 903.832.3441
www.atcog.org
Kenneth Simons, Executive Director
1514 S. New Road • Waco, Texas 76711
Ph: 254.292.1800 • Fax: 254.756.0102
www.hotcog.org
Shaun P. Davis, Executive Director
2210 Eastex Freeway • Beaumont, Texas 77703
Ph: 409.899.8444 • Fax: 409.347.0138
www.setrpc.org
Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Houston-Galveston Area Council
South Plains Association of Governments
Tom Wilkinson, Jr., Executive Director
3991 E. 29th Street • Bryan, Texas 77805
Ph: 979.595.2800 • Fax: 979.595.2810
www.bvcog.org
Jack Steele, Executive Director
3555 Timmons • Suite 120 • Houston, Texas 77027
Ph: 713.627.3200 • Fax: 713.993.2414
www.h-gac.com
Tim Pierce, Executive Director
1323 58th Street • Lubbock, Texas 79412
Ph: 806.762.8721 • Fax: 806.765.9544
www.spag.org
Capital Area Council of Governments
Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council
South Texas Development Council
Betty Voights, Executive Director
6800 Burleson Road • Building 310 • Suite 165
Austin, Texas 78744
Ph: 512.916.6000 • Fax: 512.916.6001
www.capcog.org
Kenneth N. Jones, Jr., Executive Director
311 N. 15th • McAllen, Texas 78501
Ph: 956.682.3481 • Fax: 956.631.4670
www.lrgvdc.org
Amando Garza, Jr., Executive Director
1002 Dickey Lane • Laredo, Texas 78043
Ph: 956.722.3995 • Fax: 956.722.2670
www.stdc.cog.tx.us
Middle Rio Grande Development Council
Texoma Council of Governments
Leodoro Martinez, Jr., Executive Director
307 W. Nopal • Carrizo Springs, Texas 78834
Ph: 830.876.3533 • Fax: 830.876.9415
www.mrgdc.org
Susan B. Thomas, Ph.D., Executive Director
1117 Gallagher Dr., Suite 100 • Sherman, Texas 75090
Ph: 903.813.3512 • Fax: 903.813.3511
www.texoma.cog.tx.us
Nortex Regional Planning Commission
West Central Texas Council of Governments
John P. Buckner, Executive Director
2910 Leopard Street • Corpus Christi, Texas 78408
Ph: 361.883.5743 • Fax: 361.883.5749
www.cbcog98.org
Dennis Wilde, Executive Director
4309 Jacksboro Highway • Suite 200
Wichita Falls, Texas 76302
Ph: 940.322.5281 • Fax: 940.322.6743
www.nortexrpc.org
Tom Smith, Executive Director
3702 Loop 322 • Abilene, Texas 79602
Ph: 325.672.8544 • Fax: 325.675.5214
www.wctcog.org
Concho Valley Council of Governments
North Central Texas Council of Governments
Central Texas Council of Governments
Jim Reed, Executive Director
2180 N. Main Street • Belton, Texas 76513
Ph: 254.770.2200 • Fax: 254.770.2260
www.ctcog.org
Coastal Bend Council of Governments
Jeffrey Sutton, Executive Director
2801 W. Loop 306 • Suite A • San Angelo, Texas 76904
Ph: 325.944.9666 • Fax: 325.944.9925
www.cvcog.org
Deep East Texas Council of Governments
Walter G. Diggles, Executive Director
210 Premier Drive • Jasper, Texas 75951
Ph: 409.384.5704 • Fax: 409.384.5390
www.detcog.org
East Texas Council of Governments
David Cleveland, Executive Director
3800 Stone Road • Kilgore, Texas 75662
Ph: 903.984.8641 • Fax: 903.983.1440
www.etcog.org
Michael Eastland, Executive Director
616 Six Flags Drive • Arlington, Texas 76005
Ph: 817.640.3300 • Fax: 817.640.7806
www.nctcog.org
Panhandle Regional Planning Commission
Gary Pitner, Executive Director
415 W. Eight Avenue • Amarillo, Texas 79105
Ph: 806.372.3381 • Fax: 806.373.3268
www.theprpc.org
Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission
Terri Moore, Executive Director
2910 Laforce • Midland, Texas 79706
Ph: 432.563.1061 • Fax: 432.567.1013
www.pbrpc.org
Texas Association of
Regional Councils
Penny Redington, Executive Director
701 Brazos, Suite 780
Austin, Texas 78701
Ph: 512.478.4715 • Fax: 512.275.9910
www.txregionalcouncil.org