June 21, 2021
ETEDD News and Upcoming Grant Opportunities

This blog highlights some ETEDD developments, upcoming grants, and funding opportunities that ETEDD staff can help you tap into.

Broadband Planning Initiative
The ETEDD team is proud to share that we are well on our way to developing 42-70 broadband projects in East Texas. With the help of our counties, EDCs, cities, and broadband providers, we have completed the mapping work in 12 of our 14 counties. We are already working on engineering and budgets for five identified projects in Wood County, have identified up to five projects in each of six more counties, and have completed all of our initial project identification meetings in all but one county. This work is a critical component of broadband development in East Texas as broadband grant opportunities are already available. We will need engineered and budgeted projects to be eligible for those grant dollars.

The ETEDD would like to recognize Wood County and the Wood County EDC for their efforts to bring five potential areas needing broadband development. They are well on their way to having grant applications in by the end of the summer.

New Board Members
The ETEDD is proud to announce that it has three new board members. Rush Harris of the Marshall EDC, James Hubbard of the Jacksonville EDC, and Jana Russell of the Kilgore EDC have all joined the board of the Economic Development District. With an entirely new staff and some new board members joining the fray, we are excited for the future of the Economic Development District and the value that we can bring to East Texas Cities, EDCs, and rural areas.

Our Team

Chuck Vanderbilt

Community & Economic Development Manager

Lynda David

Economic Development Specialist

Daniel Seguin

Regional Disaster Economic Recovery Coordinator

We would like to hear from you about projects that you are working on in your area or ideas about how the ETEDD can better serve the region; please do not hesitate to reach out to Lynda – 903.218.6457 or Lynda.David@ETCOG.org.


As highlighted in the past, the ETEDD can help you find funding opportunities for City, EDC, or County initiatives, small businesses moving to the region, and non-profit industries. Below are some funding opportunities that are currently open or will be opening soon. Please take a look and reach out to us if you have a project and are looking for grant or loan funding sources.

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  • SBA 504 Low Fixed-Interest Loans

    If you haven’t worked with this loan program before, you may be pleasantly surprised at the terms. SBA 504 loans come in at historic low fixed rates for up to 25 years. This is a fantastic tool to help existing small businesses in your area refinance or consolidate debt, reduce debt service, and increase cash flow on fixed assets. In addition, it is excellent for assisting startups in getting a building and major equipment for their new business. Lastly, it is a helpful tool for companies looking to expand your city and finance that expansion.


    Other organizations in the region also offer these loans, but we have the smallest application fees and servicing fees (we charge the minimum SBA allows). For more information, please call or email Chuck – 903.218.6411 or Chuck.Vanderbilt@ETCOG.org.

  • NTIA Broadband Grants

    There are three funding opportunities from the Department of Commerce under NTIA:

    1. Broadband Infrastructure Program: A $288 million broadband deployment program directed to partnerships between a state, or one or more political subdivisions of a state, and providers of fixed broadband service to support broadband infrastructure deployment to areas lacking broadband, especially rural areas.
    2. Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program: A $980 million program directed to tribal governments to be used for broadband deployment on tribal lands, as well as for telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability, and digital inclusion.
    3. Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program: A $268 million grant program directed to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) for the purchase of broadband internet access service and eligible equipment or to hire and train information technology personnel.

    Note; Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Grants has a deadline of August 17, 2021. For the next steps, it’s critical and highly recommended to attend a webinar to gain technical information on pursuing these funding opportunities: https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/events/latest-events. 

  • TEA Connect Texas (TEACT) Initiative

    The Texas Education Agency has partnered with Connected Nation to map broadband access and availability across the state. They will identify disadvantaged students who do not have access, bulk purchase technology for deployment across the state, and partner with school districts and local providers to fund and deliver service to those disadvantaged students. For more information about this program and learn about how your school can get involved, reach out to customersupport@TEAConnectTexas.com.

  • EDA ARP allocation of $3 Billion

    Under the American Rescue Plan, the $3 Billion was allocated to the Economic Development Administration. These funds can be used for infrastructure projects that can be directly tied to job creation or retention. They can be infrastructure upgrades in a business park, water or sewer upgrades, broadband infrastructure, and more. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be published by the end of the month on Grants.gov and EDA.gov. If you have any upcoming projects in mind, especially if you have new business prospects looking at properties with needed infrastructure upgrades, please reach out to our team here at ETCOG. We can assist you in determining if your project is eligible, gathering the necessary documentation for your application, applying for the grant, and administering the grant. These grants do require local matching funds. Call 903.218.6457 or email Lynda.David@ETCOG.org for more info.

  • Solid Waste Grant Program through ETCOG – Application Opening in August or September

    The Annual Solid Waste Grant Program will begin accepting grant applications for solid-waste-related projects starting in August or September. Last year, the program had over $100,000 allocated to East Texas, which funded 19 projects in the 14-county region of ETCOG. These projects can include Community Collections Events, Natural Disaster Cleanup, Recycling Initiatives, Technical Studies, Educational Programs, Illegal Dumping Prevention, Trash Collection Stations, etc. Now is the time to start thinking about projects in your city or county that may be eligible for a Solid Waste Grant. Solid Waste Grants do not require any local matching funds. For more information, contact Lisa at Lisa.Smith@etcog.org or 903.218.6467.

  • USDA Announces $15.3M for Local, Regional Food Economies Affected by Pandemic

    USDA will award $15.3 million to Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) to fund public-private partnerships that build and strengthen the viability and resilience of local or regional food economies. Projects focus on increasing the availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products and alleviating unnecessary administrative and technical barriers. Projects can cover the planning and design of a local and regional food economy and implement or expand an existing one. Applications for this program are due 7/6/21.


    Applications undergo external expert peer review, and the process is highly competitive. In addition, all grants require matching funds from community partners or stakeholders. The amounts and match amounts vary by program and are specified in the RFAs.


    For more information, visit the FMPP webpage, LFPP webpage, or RFSP webpage.

texas capitol

ETCOG to Host TxCDBG Kickoff Meeting on Nov. 30

By East Texas Council of Governments • November 14, 2023
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.
apartment building

Fair Housing Survey: Ensuring Equal Opportunity for All

By East Texas Economic Development District • September 12, 2023
The East Texas Council of Governments wants to ensure that our region is well-educated on recognizing housing discrimination and how to avoid and report it if encountered. Your voice matters! Take our Housing Survey.
Man wearing white scrubs looking into microscope in a science lab.

EDA Announces University Center Program Funding Opportunity

By U.S. Economic Development Administration • May 22, 2023
In today's rapidly changing economic landscape, it has become evident that institutions of higher education play a crucial role in fostering vibrant economic ecosystems. These universities possess a wealth of economic development assets that can propel regional growth and innovation. Recognizing this immense potential, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has established the University Center program (PDF) to empower universities and consortia of institutions to establish and operate University Centers (UCs). The primary focus of these UCs is to harness the resources and capabilities of universities to build robust regional economic ecosystems that foster innovation, high-growth entrepreneurship, resiliency, and inclusiveness. Since as early as FY 1980, EDA-funded UCs have been actively responding to the needs of small- and medium-sized manufacturers and processors by providing crucial technology transfer and commercialization assistance. Today, these UCs continue to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of their regions. Some UCs are at the forefront of creating a digitally inclusive economy, offering valuable resources and guidance in this digital age. Others are addressing the economic impacts resulting from the closure of major plants by collaborating with stakeholders in their regions. The strength of University Centers lies in their collaborative approach. They work hand-in-hand with other EDA partners, such as Economic Development Districts (EDDs), to combine their expertise, applied research, and technical assistance. This collaboration is aimed at developing, implementing, and supporting regional strategies that lead to tangible outcomes like job creation, the cultivation of high-skilled regional talent pools, and business expansion within innovation clusters. University Centers focus on several key areas, each crucial for the growth and resilience of a region. One such area is regional commercialization efforts. By leveraging university assets and expertise, UCs help bridge the gap between innovative research and commercial viability. They facilitate the transfer of cutting-edge technologies and intellectual property into the market, propelling the growth of local businesses and industries. If you are a university or part of a consortium of institutions passionate about driving regional economic growth, innovation, and resiliency, the EDA's University Center program presents an incredible opportunity. Joining this program will enable you to leverage the vast resources, expertise, and collaborative network of UCs to make a lasting impact on your region. To learn more about applying for the University Centers funding opportunity, please visit https://bit.ly/3ot5EQn .
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