Discover More About ETCOG Through Our 101 Workshop Series

Communities across East Texas will soon have the opportunity to apply for ETCOG’s Veteran-Friendly Community Designation, a program that recognizes cities and counties committed to supporting veterans and their families. The upcoming application period will open on August 31, 2026, and run through November 27, 2026. Eligible communities are encouraged to begin preparing now and consider how their local programs, partnerships, services, and outreach efforts help meet the needs of those who have served. The designation highlights communities that make veteran support a priority, from connecting residents with resources to promoting programs that improve quality of life, access to services, and long-term well-being. In the program’s inaugural year, Quitman/Wood County and Tyler/Smith County received the Veteran-Friendly Community Designation and the next year the City of Longview/Gregg County and the City of Winnsboro/Wood County were chosen as recipients.. The initiative has also earned national recognition, including the Achievement Award from the National Association of Regional Councils and the Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations. Why This Designation Matters Veterans play an important role in communities across Texas and East Texas. Many continue to serve their neighbors through civic involvement, public service, the workforce, and local leadership. At the same time, some veterans face challenges related to employment, housing, health, transportation, and access to services. By pursuing the Veteran-Friendly Community Designation, cities and counties can demonstrate their commitment to building a supportive environment for veterans and their families. The designation also helps identify and recognize local efforts that connect veterans with opportunities, resources, and assistance. Why Apply? Becoming a Veteran-Friendly Community shows that a city or county values the service and sacrifices of veterans and is taking meaningful steps to support them after they return home. The designation can help strengthen local partnerships, encourage community awareness, and set an example for others across the region.  ETCOG staff will be available to assist communities throughout the application process. Applications will be accepted from August 31 through November 27, 2026. For details and application materials, visit www.etcog.org/veteran-friendly-community .

Applications will be open from Monday, August 31, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026.

ETCOG's Economic Development District and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grant writing workshop in Tyler, TX, August 27-28, 2026. This training is for grant seekers from all disciplines. Attend this class to learn how to write winning government grant proposals and find the available grant funding. Beginning and experienced grant writers from city, county, state agencies, K-12, colleges & universities and nonprofits are encouraged to attend. Registration is $525 and includes everything you need: Grant Writing USA Workbook Two days of expert instruction Lifetime access to Grant Writing USA Alumni Resource Center Grant Writing USA is offering ETCOG members a $50 discount. Please use the discount code "less50" at the time of registration. When: August 27 - 28 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Where: 1421 S Beckham Ave, Tyler, TX 75701 For event details visit: https://grantstraining.com/ty0826

Registration is now open for the Texas Illegal Dumping Resource Center Illegal Dumping Class , co-hosted with the East Texas Council of Governments. This two-day training is designed to support city and county officials, enforcement partners, and others who work to address illegal dumping and related environmental concerns in their communities. About the Class Illegal dumping continues to be a challenge for many communities, impacting public health, safety, property, waterways, and the overall quality of life for residents. This class will provide information and resources to help local partners better understand enforcement tools and response strategies. Topics covered will include: Illegal dumping Outdoor burning Public health nuisances Water pollution Hazardous waste City and county enforcement considerations Other related environmental enforcement issues Event Details Dates: August 17–18 Time: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Location: Workforce Solutions East Texas Address: 1905 W Loop 281, Suite 40, Longview, TX 75604 Cost: $125 Continuing Education: 12 CEUs included Who Should Attend This class is suitable for professionals involved in environmental enforcement and community response efforts, including: County deputies Constables Fire marshals Code enforcement officers Emergency management coordinators Prosecutors Local officials Others involved in environmental enforcement How to Register Participants can register at https://tidrc.regfox.com/cee-illegal-dumping---longview---aug-18-19 ETCOG is proud to help bring this training opportunity to East Texas and support local partners working to protect public health, safety, and the communities we serve.

TDA is pleased to see interest from many communities in the upcoming 2027 Texas Community Development Block Grant applications. No action is required for communities at this time; however, here are several items that may be useful as you look forward to the release of grant applications this fall: Save the Date for your local governing body resolution. All TxCDBG grant applications require a resolution adopted by the local governing body to authorize submittal of the application, commit to adhere to the requirements of the TxCDBG program, and commit matching funds, if applicable. TDA recommends marking your calendar to complete this task at your October 2026 meeting. The required resolution language will be provided in the Application Guide, to be released in September 2026. Procure a grant administrator. Many Grant Recipients hire a consultant to be responsible for grant administration and reporting requirements. If your community would like to have a grant administrator also assist in preparation of the grant application, the services contract must be competitively procured prior to any participation by the firm in the application process. TDA has compiled a user-friendly guide to procuring a grant administrator according to TxCDBG policies: Solicitation and Contract Documents for Administration Services* Contracts The Unified Scoring Committee will determine at its meeting in September whether to offer an annual or biennial cycle for the Community Development Fund – the sample documents in this guide account for both options. A similar guide for engineering procurement will be made available later this fall. No engineering work is required for the first phase of the application process. Attend your regional meeting to establish Project Priorities (or review the adopted priorities once posted). Consider the projects important to your community in each of the Priority 1 categories, as well as other projects that are important to your community. ETCOG's regional meeting will be held Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 12 noon, at ETCOG headquarters TDA’s default priorities can be used as a reference for the available project categories; each region will identify its own priorities within this structure: 2027 Regional Project Priority Scoring Element - Default.pdf

ETCOG will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. during its Executive Committee meeting at 3800 Stone Road, Kilgore, Texas. The purpose of the hearing is to gather public input on the Texas Community Development Block Grant ( TxCDBG ) Program Regional Project Priority Types for the East Texas region. As part of the standard TxCDBG process, each Council of Governments region in Texas is encouraged to identify the project types that best reflect regional needs and priorities. During the hearing, ETCOG’s Executive Committee will receive comments from local officials, stakeholders, and members of the public regarding which eligible project categories should be prioritized for East Texas. These priorities may include needs such as water and sewer infrastructure, street improvements, housing, and other eligible community development activities. Regional project priority types play an important role in the TxCDBG application process. The priorities adopted by ETCOG will be submitted to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), which administers the TxCDBG program, for use in the upcoming funding cycle. Regional priorities account for a portion of the scoring used to evaluate grant applications. ETCOG encourages anyone with an interest in community development needs across East Texas to attend the hearing and provide input during the public comment period. 

The CO-OP Grant team will host a series of Grant Application Workshops to cover all the elements needed for a competitive application. Offered both online and at sites around the state, the workshop will provide application support and assist potential applicants with an overview of the application process, grant program requirements and priorities, scoring criteria, budget planning and eligible grant expenses, and answer questions from applicants. Opportunities for in-person project consultation appointments with grant staff will also be made available at the site-based workshops. The CO-OP Grant will begin accepting project proposals August 3, 2026, through October 1, 2026, at 5 pm CST. Grant Awards will be announced March 1, 2027, and programs will take place over 18 months. Eligible projects should engage program participants in areas of conservation, outdoor recreation, and environmental education and connect participants to TPWD sites, programs, and staff. Grant funding can support personnel, training, travel, food, fees, and supplies. There is no match requirement. This grant supports outdoor programs for populations that are under-served. The CO-OP grant does NOT fund any type of construction, trails, boat ramps, or vehicles. This is a reimbursement grant. REGISTER To attend at workshop, complete the online registration at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BA5AD2DA1F5C16-64420560-tpwd#/ ONLINE WEBINAR Monday, July 20th 2 p.m.- 4 p.m Live (Recording will be available on/after 7/22)

$16.5 Million in Grants Available