September 1, 2020
Economic Development Team Expansion
ETCOG
is here to support its members through two primary objectives: to provide a forum for local elected officials to solve common problems, and to be a solutions provider for our members. One way we directly assist our members and the business community is through our economic development team. This team has been recently expanded within the ETCOG Workforce & Economic Development division under Chuck Vanderbilt’s leadership as the Community and Economic Development Manager, and the addition of new team members: Lisa Smith, Economic Development Specialist; Sheila Rojas, VISTA Volunteer; Daniel Seguin, Regional Disaster Recovery Coordinator; and a pending hire as an Economic Development Specialist.
Along with assisting ETCOG members, the team administers the East Texas Economic Development District, leading regionally driven economic development planning, and offering grant research, writing, and administrative services; the East Texas Regional Development Company which provides new business lending options; the Solid Waste Action Committee; the Northeast Texas Air Care Association to improve air quality; and the Community Loan Center of East Texas, a low-interest, low-fee personal loan program partnership between employers and employees.
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.
