June 22, 2022
We're Searching for an AmeriCorps Vista Volunteer - Advocate for Economic Development
See our post for an Agent for Economic Development
The East Texas Council of Governments is partnering with AmeriCorps VISTA to advocate for Economic Development. The VISTA will review and assist in improving our Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), assist in broadband planning efforts, and help establish the Brownfields Program to restore lost economic assets to the business community within the East Texas region.
View & Apply
As a team member, the VISTA will assist the ETEDD and regional stakeholders with the identification, application, and administration of economic development grant funds for the betterment of the 14-county region. They will learn how to analyze economic development data, assess the needs of individual communities, and provide solutions to those communities, so they have the greatest chance of future economic development success. The VISTA will collaborate with the Executive Director, the Division Director, other ETCOG staff, and regional stakeholders to accomplish these efforts.
This project is sponsored by the Austin Regional Office (AURO) of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and will be directly supervised by the East Texas Council of Governments in Kilgore, Texas. The overall EDA Mission is "to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development launched a new Rural Development Eligibility Lookup Tool, which has been integrated into Rural Development’s Eligibility site. This site now directs users to an eligibility mapping tool for the following programs: Community Facilities Electric OneRD Guarantee Rural Business and Cooperative Services Water and Environmental Programs The Rural Development Eligibility Lookup Tool enables user flexibility in determining programmatic eligibility based on their location across multiple programs simultaneously. USDA Income and Property Eligibility Site: https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do USDA Rural Development Eligibility Lookup Tool (direct link): https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/3c2f6c9581bb4f06a4ab68df8f34b0be This consolidated view of eligibility represents a significant modernization in how Rural Development assesses and communicates program eligibility. By centralizing eligibility checks, utilizing current geospatial technology and adhering to modern data governance standards, the tool significantly reduces staff workload and improves engagement with rural communities. This initiative supports Rural Development’s mission to provide efficient, transparent and accessible services while ensuring compliance with federal requirements and maintaining consistency with existing eligibility data sources.
ETCOG is proud to host the Texas Department of Agriculture on March 12th to hold a TxCDBG Regional Outreach Meeting. Join us to hear a TxCDBG grant program overview of requirements, allocation formula, upcoming funding opportunities, and TDA's one-year action plan. Eligible applicants in our region are all non-entitlement communities, which include all of our cities with the exception of Tyler, Marshall, and Longview. When Thursday, March 12, 2026 10:00 AM Where ETCOG Headquarters 3800 Stone Road Kilgore, TX 75662 Please RSVP your attendance !
ETCOG is proud to host the Texas Department of Agriculture on November 30th to hold a TxCDBG Kickoff Meeting. Join us to hear about grant allocations planned for our region and an overview of proposed changes to the application process.
