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HUD Commemorates National Fair Housing Month 2023

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development • Apr 04, 2023

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) kicked off Fair Housing Month 2023, commemorating 55 years since the Fair Housing Act was signed into law. This year’s Fair Housing Month theme, Choices for All Voices: Building an Equitable Future, underscores the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing equity in housing, combating discrimination in housing, and protecting fair housing rights for all who call America home.


“This April, we commemorate the Fair Housing Act, the landmark civil rights law that guarantees the right to housing of your choice, free from discrimination,” said Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “Though it has been 55 years since the Fair Housing Act was passed, we are still working tirelessly to fight housing discrimination. Today, we recommit to our mission to provide equality and opportunity to every person who calls America home, regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), disability, or familial status.”


"On the 55th anniversary of the signing of the Fair Housing Act, we reflect on the efforts HUD has made to deliver on the promise of the Act,” said Demetria L. McCain, Principal Deputy Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “This month and every month, HUD is taking meaningful action to end housing discrimination and segregation while helping to ensure true housing choice. We are committed to eliminating discrimination and disparities in housing in every American community.”


Each April, HUD, local communities, fair housing advocates, and fair housing organizations across the country recognize Fair Housing Month by hosting events that underscore the impact and significance of the Fair Housing Act. Throughout the month, HUD and its partners will host activities that enhance public awareness of fair housing rights, highlight fair housing enforcement efforts, and emphasize the importance of creating diverse and inclusive communities.


Secretary Fudge will commemorate Fair Housing Month with an Opening Ceremony on April 11th at 1:00 P.M. (EDT) that will also feature HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Demetria McCain and Lee “the Mother of Fair Housing” Porter, and the Texas Southern University Debate Team. The event will showcase HUD’s efforts to advance and protect fair housing rights to ensure that all people have the right to obtain the housing of their choice, free from discrimination. Register to attend the Fair Housing Month Opening Ceremony here. There is no cost to register.


HUD will close Fair Housing Month with a national activity, Building an Equitable Future: A Housing Policy Conversation with Gen Z College Students. On April 26 at 2:00 P.M. (EDT), HUD will host a virtual conversation with Gen Z college students and young adults on the importance of advancing fair housing protections for the next generation of housing consumers. Register to attend this free virtual event here.


In fiscal year 2022, HUD and its Fair Housing Assistance Program partner agencies received more than 11,000 complaints alleging discrimination based on one or more of the Fair Housing Act's seven protected classes: race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, and familial status.


For a complete listing of HUD Fair Housing Month events and activities, visit: https://www.hud.gov/FHM. Follow the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity on Twitter and Facebook for additional news and updates.


People who believe they have experienced discrimination may file a complaint by contacting HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at (800) 669-9777 (voice) or (800) 877-8339 (Relay). Housing discrimination complaints may also be filed by going to hud.gov/fairhousing.

A woman in a yellow vest is sitting in the driver 's seat of a bus

ETCOG to Host Hiring Event for GoBus Operator Positions May 14th

By East Texas Council of Governments • 16 Apr, 2024
ETCOG will host a Hiring Event on Tuesday, May 14th, for part-time and PRN (as-needed) GoBus Operator positions.
A group of people are sitting at a table having a meeting.

Public Hearing -TxCDBG Program Regional Project Types

By East Texas Council of Governments • 02 Apr, 2024
ETCOG will hold its next Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, May 9, beginning at noon. The agenda will incorporate a Public Hearing to discuss and determine the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) Program Regional Project Priority types. As part of the standard program process, each of the 24 regions in the State is encouraged to determine the regional project priority types for the program. During the Public Hearing, all stakeholders can discuss and provide input on what these CDBG Regional Project Priority types should be for the East Texas Region with the ETCOG Executive Committee. The meeting will include a public comment period. ETCOG invites anyone with input on the TxCDBG program to submit oral or written testimony in person or submit written comments directly to PublicComments@etcog.org by 11:00 a.m. on May 9, 2024. ETCOG will submit the adopted priority project types for the East Texas Region to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), which administers TxCDBG, by May 15, 2024. TDA will use these project types to score grant applications in the 2025-2026 funding cycle.
Gregg County Sheriff Maxey Cerliano and Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt posing with team

ETCOG Announces Regional Award Recipients for Exemplary Contributions to East Texas

By East Texas Council of Governments • 26 Mar, 2024
ETCOG honored regional citizens who exemplify excellence in performance, innovation, and contributions to the community at its 105th Semi-Annual Board of Directors Meeting last week at the Jeffersonian Institute in Jefferson, Texas. The meeting was led by ETCOG’s Board Chairman, Harrison County Commissioner William Hatfield, which included celebrating seven regional award winners at the ceremony.
Individuals standing in a gathering (circle) cheering with trash bags in hand.

$93,500 in Funding Allocated to 15 East Texas Jurisdictions in Solid Waste Reduction Efforts

By East Texas Council of Governments • 05 Mar, 2024
The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) announces $93,500 in grants from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) awarded to East Texas jurisdictions, special districts, and regional initiatives to support waste minimization efforts in ETCOG's fourteen-county region. This funding assists jurisdictions in establishing or expanding projects that would directly provide a measurable effect on reducing the amount of waste going into area landfills by diverting various materials from the municipal solid waste stream for beneficial use or reducing waste generation at the source. Applicants were eligible to apply for the following Municipal Solid Waste Grant Project Categories: 1) Local Enforcement, 2) Litter and Illegal Dumping Clean Up and Community Collection Events, 3) Source Reduction and Recycling, 4) Local Solid Waste Management Plans, 5) Citizens' Collection Stations and "Small" Registered Transfer Stations, 6) Household Hazardous Waste Management, 7) Technical Studies, 8) Educational and Training Projects. ETCOG annually helps jurisdictions apply for funds, which are then ranked and scored by our Solid Waste Advisory Committee. This committee is made up of local subject matter experts from the region. After the ETCOG Executive Committee approves the projects, we recommend them to TCEQ. The following grants in East Texas have been approved for funding by TCEQ. "ETCOG appreciates the efforts of many of our jurisdictions to apply for these funds, as well as the Solid Waste Advisory Committee’s commitment to making East Texas a cleaner place to live," said ETCOG's Economic Development Manager, Parker Harrison. “These essential projects led to the cleanup of hundreds of sites, almost 5,000 tires, and the collection of nearly a million pounds of solid waste last year. We look forward to seeing the results this year’s projects will bring to the region.”

Pinpoint your location on the 2024 solar eclipse viewing map

By East Texas Council of Governments • 27 Feb, 2024
The solar eclipse is fast approaching, so get ready to experience this rare event where the moon covers the sun, creating a breathtaking sight. ETCOG Regional Technology Solutions (RTS) has played an important role in enhancing your experience by determining if you are within the path of totality. The solar eclipse, marked by the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth, resulting in the temporary obscuration of the sun's light. During this occurrence, the moon casts a shadow on Earth, offering observers a unique glimpse of the sun's corona and a twilight during daylight hours. Remarkably, half of ETCOG's 14-county region finds itself within the path of totality, positioning East Texas as a prime location for eclipse enthusiasts. This event on Monday, April 8 marks the first total eclipse visible to East Texas since 1878. To make sure you make the most of this rare occurrence, RTS has built an eclipse map that allows you to pinpoint your location within the path of totality. You can access the map to view your location by visiting go.etcog.org/2024eclipse . Beyond the eclipse map, RTS specialized in the creation of interactive solutions, ranging from customized apps to digital maps, and prints. These services are offered to city, county, and partners, showcasing ETCOG's commitment to solving local solutions and a low cost. For more local information → www.visittyler.com/solar-eclipse
10 people standing in front of a bus posing for a photo.

GoBus Wins AdWheel Marketing Award from the American Public Transportation Association

By East Texas Council of Governments • 27 Feb, 2024
The East Texas Council of Governments' rural transit system, GoBus , is proud to be a recipient of the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) annual AdWheel awards, which recognize excellence in marketing and outreach efforts by transit providers nationwide. The APTA AdWheel Awards fosters creativity and innovation within the public transportation industry, highlighting best marketing practices that contribute to the betterment of public transportation. The selection process involves evaluations by industry experts for creativity, impact, community engagement, and overall effectiveness. “I am proud of our Communications, Human Resources, and Transportation teams for collaborating effectively to address an ongoing staffing need within our agency. To receive national recognition for these efforts means a lot to me and all of us here at ETCOG!” said ETCOG Executive Director David Cleveland. ETCOG received the award in the Special Event subcategory for the Best Marketing and Communications on Workforce Development. The award acknowledges team effort in hosting a one-day hiring fair dedicated to GoBus Operator positions. The event featured comprehensive activities, including on-site interviews, video highlights, and bus tours, providing prospective candidates with a glimpse of transit operations and a seamless hiring process for human resources. This recognition celebrates our commitment to workforce development and highlights the success of ETCOG’s strategic marketing and communication initiatives in attracting top talent. "We are honored to receive this prestigious APTA award,” said ETCOG Communications Director Lindsay Vanderbilt.” This recognition is a reflection of the dedication and creativity of our team and the collaboration across our agency to solve transportation hiring challenges.” A member of the ETCOG communications team joined other award recipients and marketing experts to share details on their award-winning campaigns and projects at the APTA Marketing Workshop held February 12-14, 2043, in New Orleans, Louisiana. APTA is a nonprofit international association of over 1,500 public and private sector member organizations and is the only association in North America that represents all modes of public transportation, including bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne services, and intercity and high-speed passenger rail.
Chalkboard with

Project Launch: Developing a Local Enforcement Environmental Crimes Toolkit

By East Texas Council of Governments • 31 Jan, 2024
ETCOG is excited to announce the collaboration with Carson Consulting, spearheaded by Cecile Carson, Ph.D., to develop a comprehensive Local Enforcement Environmental Crimes Toolkit. With over three decades of experience in partnering with local, state, and national organizations, Dr. Carson brings a wealth of expertise in creating litter and illegal dumping kits, training materials, and researching effective litter law enforcement practices. The primary goal of this toolkit is to equip local jurisdictions with the necessary tools and resources to empower enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and government decision-makers. The initiative, set for completion by August 16, 2024, aims to enhance environmental enforcement, foster collaboration with relevant entities, and provide guidance in reducing environmental offenses and illegal dumping. Key features of the toolkit include: Enforcement and Prosecution Section: Offering tools and resources for effective enforcement and prosecution of environmental crimes. Building Collaboration: Providing guidance on fostering stakeholder collaboration to achieve shared environmental goals. Public Education: Equipping users with resources to educate the public on the importance of environmental protection and legal compliance. We encourage our members to anticipate the forthcoming resources. Dr. Carson will initiate outreach to local enforcement officers in the coming weeks. For those with questions or want to learn more about this project, contact our Economic Development Specialist, Lisa Smith, at 903-218-6467 or lisa.smith@etcog.org . This project is funded in part by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and approved by the ETCOG Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
three individuals standing together looking at a clipboard with papers on it

COGWORKS' New Purchasing Contracts Bring Value to Your Agency

By East Texas Council of Governments • 30 Jan, 2024
We are thrilled to announce the latest developments at COGWORKS, our purchasing cooperative dedicated to empowering East Texas agencies through collective strength. As part of our ongoing commitment to providing unparalleled value to our members, we are excited to share that new contracts are now available, opening doors to many opportunities for your business or agency.
graphic with award with text overlay

ETCOG is Seeking Nominations for Regional Service Awards

By East Texas Council of Governments • 29 Jan, 2024
ETCOG invites the public to submit nominations for its annual Regional Service Awards program, honoring the achievements of individuals and organizations that positively contribute to the quality of life in the East Texas Region.
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