Texoma Council of Governments and the Texoma Region

Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG) is a voluntary association of local governments in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson Counties that works directly with citizens and local jurisdictions to improve and advance economic vitality and quality of life in Texoma. In collaboration with our public and private sector partners, TCOG delivers various programs and services designed to support the health, welfare, and future of our citizens, our communities, and the region as a whole. TCOG employees work hand-in-hand with elected officials and community leaders to develop sustainable and economically viable community and regional development solutions.

Many projects are funded through a state or federal funding allocation to the region. TCOG utilizes these funds for grant distribution, regional projects, and strategic development. Grant distributions fall into two major categories of homeland security funds and criminal justice grants. Regional projects include conducting household hazardous waste collections and recycling, information on recycling and proper disposal of waste. TCOG also serves as the Economic Development Administration’s designated Economic Development District in Texoma, producing the annual Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the region.

TCOG and our community partners have developed innovative projects to improve quality of life and build the region. One such project is the provision of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) support to rural communities that enhances planning, zoning and other development-related decisions. GIS is an essential emergency management tool, and many local emergency managers, 911 dispatchers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers take advantage of this cutting edge service. TCOG also offers training, strategic planning, and project management services.

In addition to the work we perform for our cities and counties, TCOG provides a vast array of direct social services, including the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). This program seeks to mobilize resources to provide education, economic opportunities, and advocacy for the needs of low-income families and communities of Northeast Texas. Services offered by CSBG are designed to promote self-sufficiency.

Other social services include: Section 8 rental assistance (over 600 vouchers each year), benefits counseling, care coordination for the elderly and disabled, caregiver support services, senior volunteer programs, employment and education support, utility assistance, home weatherization, and comprehensive information and referral assistance to seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income families.

Collectively, through the planning and development services offered to cities and counties as well as the direct social services provided to citizens, TCOG has played a crucial role in the growth and development of the region since 1968. An Economic Impact Analysis conducted in 2011 estimated TCOG’s overall impact in the region at $34 million for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, including 174 permanent jobs with $6.2 million total earnings, 182,000 volunteer hours served valued at over $4 million, and an additional $658,000 in tax revenues to local jurisdictions. Directly through our projects and services and indirectly through our overall economic impact to the region, TCOG is touching lives and changing communities.

The Texoma region consists of three north-central Texas counties, all bordering the Red River and the state of Oklahoma (see Figure A). These counties are Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson; common themes are shared by all, but each has its own distinct issues. Grayson County is the central county, the most populous, and the most urban (Sherman/Denison Metropolitan Area). Grayson is also the largest, at 979 square miles, followed by Fannin and Cooke at 899 and 898 square miles respectively.

Figure A: Texoma Region: Cooke County, Grayson County, Fannin County

Grayson County, with the largest population (124,231, ACS 2016 estimate), is also the center for major retail, industry, medical facilities, physician specialists, and higher education (Grayson College) for the region. Sherman is the county seat of Grayson County and is the largest numerically (40,112 ACS 2016 estimate). Denison, also in Grayson County, is closest to the Red River and Lake Texoma. Denison has an ACS 2016 estimated population of 23,080.

Cooke County is the westernmost county in the region, with a population of 38,878 (ACS 2016). It has only one large town, Gainesville, with a population of 16,169 (ACS 2016). The Cooke County economy centers on oil and gas production, and associated industries.

The easternmost county, Fannin, has an estimated population of 33,757 (ACS 2016). Bonham, the county seat and largest city in the county, has an estimated population of 10,040 (ACS 2016) with an estimated 2,000 incarcerated at any given time (three prisons/jails in the town). Fannin County is more rural and more agricultural.