3702 Loop 322 • Abilene, TX 79602 • 325-672-8544

EMPLOYMENT     PRIVACY POLICY    EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
Community Plans

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

Revolving Loan Program

Community Development Block Grant

Contact Us

Community Plans

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

Revolving Loan Program

Community Development Block Grant

Contact Us

Community And Economic Development
Driving Economic Expansion

Our Mission

The West Central Texas Economic Development District serves as a catalyst for economic expansion and prosperity while preserving the integrity and character of the Big Country region. Strategic development occurs through creation of sustainable wage jobs, establishment of innovative projects and businesses, strong alliance with local economic development efforts, provision of technical assistance, collection and interpretation of economic data, and vigorous evaluation and procurement of services and resources.

The Community and Economic Development Department within WCTCOG is available for general assessment of grants. Let us help you with technical assistance and administrative support.

Community Plans

WCTCOG takes an active role in providing assistance to member cities, counties, school districts and special districts seeking funding for various community and economic development projects. Staff is available to meet with city councils, commissioners’ courts, and other interested citizen groups concerning the application process available. WCTCOG provides contractual management services, grant writing services and grant administration as well as training and other special projects as well as basic technical assistance

Examples of the types of grants available including but not limited to the list below:

Texas Parks & Wildlife
Texas CDBG Program
USDA And Rural Development

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a tool through which the region examines its capacities and resources and encourages regional collaboration between the public and private sectors to build a plan for economic development.   

The CEDS provides a large-scale detailed look at the ongoing plans on future economic development in the Big Country, as well as providing key data points relating to population size and growth projections, job and wage information, and more. 

Download A Copy of The CEDS

Census Maps For Included Districts

Top Menu

Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) Program

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) oversees the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) Program, with support from the staff in the West Central Texas Council of Governments (WCTCOG) region. This program offers local community development planning, grant writing, and administration services.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

  • Develop viable communities
  • Provide public infrastructure
  • Create suitable living environments
  • Expand economic opportunities, primarily for low and moderate-income individuals

ELIGIBILITY

All incorporated cities and counties in the WCTCOG region qualify, except for Abilene, which receives direct CDBG funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

FOCUS

In the WCTCOG region, the program priorities basic infrastructure for rural communities, emphasizing:
  • Water system improvements
  • Sewer system improvements
  • Street Improvements
  • Structure improvements

FUNDING PROCESS

  • Annual formula-based allocations to 24 state planning regions
  • Competitive application process
  • RRC consists of 12 governor-appointed local elected officials
  • Grants awarded to highest-ranking applicants until funds are exhausted

KEY ASPECTS OF THE TxCDBG PROGRAM INCLUDE

Click each heading below to learn more about the key aspects of the TxCDBG program:

The primary aim is to provide the communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs, particularly for low and moderate-income residents.
CDBG is one of the longest-running programs of HUD. It provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties.
Communities have considerable flexibility in how they use these funds, allowing them to tailor solutions to local needs.
  1. Acquisition of real property
  2. Relocation and demolition
  3. Rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures
  4. Construction of public facilities and improvements
  5. Public services (within certain limits)
  6. Activities relating to energy conservation and renewable energy resources
  7. Provision of assistance to profit-motivated businesses for economic development activities
  1. Benefit low and moderate-income persons
  2. Prevention or elimination of slums or blight
  3. Address community development needs having a particular urgency
In Texas, CDBG funds are distributed to smaller, non-entitlement communities through the TxCDBG program. Larger cities and urban counties receive funds directly from HUD.
In the WCTCOG region, communities compete for funds through an application process. Applications are scored based on criteria developed by the Regional Review Committee and the Texas Department of Agriculture.
These grants often play a crucial role in updating and maintaining essential infrastructure in rural and small communities that might otherwise struggle to fund such projects.
Recipients of CDBG funds must comply with various federal and state regulations and reporting requirements to ensure proper use of the funds.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

PLANNING/CAPACITY BUILDING FUND

  • Provides grants for local planning activities
  • Aims to improve local capacity for identifying and addressing short and long-term needs

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FUND (CEDAF)

  • Offers information and assistance to connect caregivers with support services
  • Helps caregivers access support group

About Section 3

Under the Section 3 program recipients of certain HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent possible, must provide training, employment, contracting and other economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons. This is especially true for recipients of government assistance for housing, and to businesses that provide economic opportunities to low- and very low-income persons.

Individuals may qualify as a worker, targeted worker or Section 3 business concern by meeting one or more of the following criteria:

  • Recipient of government assistance for housing
  • Income falls below HUD’s income limits

Businesses may qualify as Section 3 business by meeting one or more of the following criteria:

  • Ownership/control by low-or very low-income persons(s)
  • Owned and controlled by public housing residents
  • Business that has at least 75% of labor hours using Section 3 workers
For more information about Section 3, visit https://www.hud.gov/section3 or https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/FPM/documents/Section-3-FAQs.pdf
To register your business as a Section 3 business or to be matched to Section 3 jobs and training opportunities, or contracting opportunities, visit https://www.hud.gov/section3.
Top Menu

Revolving Loan Program

The West Central Texas COG locally operates USDA small business loan funds for approved small and emerging rural businesses in the region. The intent is not to compete with local banks but to be a resource for lenders who may not be able to approve funding to higher risk clients. West Central Texas COG undertakes this program to promote economic development and job creation projects.  The loans can provide funding for equipment, working capital, real estate, or inventory. All loans are approved through a loan review committee. Borrower is responsible for paying all closing costs, attorney and filing fees.

  • Flexible Terms
  • Fixed Rate
  • Minimum 580 credit score
  • Collateral Based 1:1 Ration of Collateral to Loan

 

For more information and to receive an application contact our office 325-672-0495

325-672-0495
Get More Information
Top Menu

Contact Us

Terra Moreno

Director

Email Terra

Brittany Genoway

Regional Coodinator

Email Brittany

Keiona Taylor

Regional Coordinator

Email Keiona
Top Menu
WEST CENTRAL TEXAS
COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
3702 Loop 322
Abilene, TX 79602

325-672-8544

PROGRAMS

STAFF LOGIN >
PRIVACY POLICY
We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have access to/collect information that you voluntarily give us via email or other direct contact from you. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone. We will use your information to respond to you, regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request for information. We take precautions to protect your information. If you submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and offline. Whenever we collect sensitive information online, that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way; however, we are not encrypting personal information that you supply to us.Offline, only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. Any personally identifiable information is kept in a secure environment.

© West Central Texas Council of Governments. All Rights Reserved.