Council of Governments Promotes Regional Economic Development
Published Dec 03, 2008
With a temperate climate and a central Texas location within easy reach of major metropolitan areas, the Heart of Texas is a vibrant region that increasing numbers of businesses call home.
Encompassing the counties of Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone and McLennan, the region is anchored by Waco, which has a diverse economy led by education, government, health services, manufacturing, transportation and utilities.
The Heart of Texas Council of Governments provides a forum for developing solutions to matters that transcend political boundaries. The 41-year-old organization has more than 80 members, including counties, cities, school districts, special districts and community colleges. Its board of directors is composed of one or more elected officials from each member government.
HOTCOG’s work impacts more than 300,000 people in the 5,611-square-mile region. Its responsibilities include planning for development, implementing regional plans or recommendations, providing review and comment on proposals seeking federal and state financial assistance, and implementing grant services from federal and state programs.
The council also sponsors training for newly elected officials and provides workshops for city and county officials on emerging regional issues.
“We are able to bring a diverse group of folks together in one organization,” says Kenneth L. Simons, executive director. “All the individual issues the various counties have to deal with can be brought together, and we can help them reach some kind of consensus.”
Simons says HOTCOG often has opportunities to support economic development by pairing potential new businesses with county officials.
“We have good relationships with the economic development corporations,” he says. “We helped form the Heart of Texas Economic Development District to serve our six-county region.”
Major initiatives in the region include significant new investments in downtown districts, ground breaking on a host of distribution projects, additions and upgrades at the region’s health-care providers and expansions and relocations in the manufacturing sector.
The council is financed through local, state and federal funding, with state-administered resources covering most of the budget. Local funds come from dues paid by member governments.
“Community support has been outstanding in the past few years,” Simons says. “Everyone has consistently come together to support economic development throughout the region.”
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