All of us at TCOG want to personally thank each of you for giving so generously of your time, energy, and expertise at the Texoma Made Conference. Spending the day with us—sharing your insights, stories, and experience—made the event truly special and inspiring for everyone in attendance.

We were thrilled to see the conference featured on local news channels KXII and KTEN!  Please visit the Texoma Made Conference website for additional highlights. Your contribution made this possible and reflects the incredible leadership and care you bring to our community. Your contribution made this possible, and the feedback we’ve received has been incredible—attendees are already asking when we’ll do it again!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping us connect people, inspire ideas, and strengthen our Texoma community. Your generosity and leadership made all the difference.

Until next time, we hope to see you again at future Texoma Made events!

With sincere gratitude,
TCOG’s Texoma Made Conference Team

TCOG to Host Texoma Made 2025

SHERMAN, September 19, 2025 – Eric Bridges, Executive Director of the Texoma Council of Governments announced today that Texoma Made 2025, a premier learning and networking event for business leaders, city officials, educators, and changemakers shaping the future of North Texas and Southern Oklahoma will take place from 8a to 4p on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at Austin College in Sherman.

“Our objective with Texoma Made 2025,” said Mr. Bridges “is to equip leaders with strategies, resources, and partnerships that strengthen economic resilience, promote our region, and drive innovations. With rapid growth in advanced manufacturing, workforce demand, and business development – alongside rising housing and infrastructure pressures – communities must act now to plan for a sustainable future.  By combining actionable strategies, expert insights, and cross-sector collaboration, Texoma Made 2025 will equip community leaders with the tools to turn lessons from resilience into measurable progress across Texoma.”

Texoma Made 2025 is funded in part by a grant from the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) with additional support from Hot 107.3 FM, First United Bank, Texoma HR, and Huitt-Zollars.  For additional event details, including how to register, go to www.texomamadeconference.com

The Texoma Council of Governments is a voluntary association of the local governments in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson counties. Established in 1968, Texoma Council of Governments promotes economy and efficiency in the coordinated planning and development of the tri-county region through its community and economic development activities. Both directly and through contractors, the Council provides housing, utility assistance, and weatherization services for low-income citizens in the region and assists the elderly through a variety of Area Agency on Aging programs. The Council also facilitates the delivery of grant funding for homeland security and criminal justice.

A. FY 2025 CDBG Funding:

HUD has released the formula allocation amounts for CDBG programs.  For FY25 (a continuing resolution from the FY24 appropriation) TxCDBG was allocated $71,178,309, a slight increase from the previous year.

• Based on this final number, TDA has invited 14 additional applicants to complete Community Development Fund Project Applications.  These applicants were notified last week, and an updated roster of applications by region has been posted to the TDA website.  All other applicants for the CDV 2025-2026 application cycle will remain on the wait list pending FY2026 appropriation information.
• TDA also issued Project Application invitations to 11 applicants for the 2025 Downtown Revitalization Program.  Selected applicants have been highlighted on the score sheet posted to the TDA website.
• Training opportunities for these applicants are posted to the TDA website.

B. 2025 Income Limits:

2025 Income Limits

HUD has released updated income limits, effective June 1, 2025.  TDA has posted the 2025 Survey Questionnaires with updated income categories to the TDA website.

All survey questionnaires dated June 1, 2025, or later must use the updated income limits.  Questionnaires completed prior to June 1 should use the income limits in effect on the date of the questionnaire – for surveys currently underway, do not repeat survey questionnaires completed before June 1 based solely on the new income limits.

Tomorrow’s session will be an in depth discussion of how grant amendments impact a project’s beneficiaries.

The CDBG Over Coffee sessions are brief trainings on a specific topic – watch the TDA Training and Events website for topics to be announced.

 This current funding round is only for local governments and not states.

The entities eligible to apply for the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities are political subdivisions of states and territories. EPA considers counties, cities, towns, parishes, and similar units of governments that have executive and legislative functions to be political subdivisions of states and territories.

 The total estimated funding for this competitive grant is approximately $58,000,000. The EPA anticipates awarding approximately 20 to 30 assistance agreements, with at least one award per EPA Region, depending on the quantity and quality of applications received. The minimum individual award amount is $500,000 and the maximum individual award is $5,000,000 for the grant period, which is up to three years.

Projects must achieve one or more of the following:

• Establish, increase, expand, or optimize collection and improve materials management infrastructure.
• Fund the creation and construction of tangible infrastructure, technology, or other improvements to reduce contamination in the recycled materials stream.
• Establish, increase, expand, or optimize capacity for materials management.
• Establish, improve, expand, or optimize end-markets for the use of recycled commodities.
• Demonstrate a significant and measurable increase in the diversion, recycling rate, and quality of materials collected for municipal solid waste.

See EPA’s website for eligible project examples and webinar recordings about the grant opportunity.

First Webinar Details:

• Date: October 29, 2024
• Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
• Registration Link: October 29th Webinar Registration Link

 Second Webinar Details:

• Date: November 12, 2024
• Time: 12:30pm – 2:00pm
• Registration Link: November 12th Webinar Registration Link

 Third Webinar Details:

• Date: December 3, 2024
• Time: 12:30pm – 2:00pm
• Registration Link: December 3rd Webinar Registration Link

Key Topics to be Covered:

• Overview of the new reporting requirements: Annual Reporting Requirement: Scrap Tire Generators and Land Reclamation Projects Using Tires
• Step-by-step guidance on completing the annual reports in STEERS

*Important Note: Prior to attending the training webinar, please ensure you watch the attached video and set up your STEERS account. This will help you follow along more effectively during the session. How to Setup an Account in STEERS (youtube.com)

Your participation is highly encouraged to ensure a smooth transition to the new reporting requirements. Remember you must report by December 31, 2024.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Texoma Council of Governments has recently received a Contract award from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for the Weatherization Assistance Program.  Accordingly, Texoma Council of Governments seeks to contract with a qualified contractor, registered to work in the State of Texas.

A bid packet is available for download here or by contacting the individual listed below.

Texoma Council of Governments must receive proposals no later than 3:00p CST, October 17, 2024 to be considered.  Bids received late or incomplete will not be considered.  Texoma Council of Governments reserves the right to negotiate with any and all individuals or contractors that submit proposals, as per the Texas Professional Services Procurement Act and the Uniform Grant and Contract Management Standards.

Attendees will gain insight about “Age-Friendly” Healthcare, clinical dementia screenings, how mood correlates with cognition, and best practices for utilizing medications as we age.  Participants will leave feeling informed and empowered to manage their own care or that of their loved ones, now, or in the future.

This symposium is free and open to the public.  Lunch will be provided.  RSVP is requested by September 6th, 2024.

Click here to register.

As many know, primary objective of the TxCDBG program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing, suitable living environments while expanding economic opportunities principally for persons of low to moderate income. Alysia will bring that objective to life during this 1 hour webinar by presenting cutting-edge economic and workforce development trends – any community will be inspired for the transformation that is on the horizon. We welcome you to come and learn innovative strategies for growth and prosperity.

Click here to register.