ED-Central


In This Issue


When it comes to economic development resources, Texas has all bases covered. A number of service, programs, and publications are just a click away for local government, businesses, and job-seekers.



Knowledge is Power

When it comes to economic development resources, Texas has all bases covered. A number of service, programs, and publications are just a click away for local government, businesses, and job-seekers.

Office of the Governor

With tools like the Texas Enterprise Fund and the Emerging Technology Fund, the Office of the Governor is committed to creating jobs and promoting economic development throughout the state. The Texas Enterprise Fund provides grants to attract businesses and jobs to the state. The Emerging Technology Fund is used to award grants for higher education programs, companies, and as matching awards to create public-private partnerships.  

Another effort by the Governor’s office to promote economic development in Texas is the privately financed TexasOne Program. TexasOne uses member participation from businesses, organizations, and individuals as well as fundraising efforts to market Texas in both nationally and internationally. For more information on the TexasOne Program and other resources available through the Office of the Governor, visit http://www.texasone.us or http://governor.state.tx.us.

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

On the Comptroller website you will find a link to TexasAhead, a portal that gives access to a number of economic resources targeted toward local government, economic developers, and businesses.

The Texas EDGE Data Center gives communities and businesses access to a number of reports meant to aid in making economic development decisions as well as a variety of ways to work with the experts at to gather specific data. The website also includes a calendar of events that are held around the state and will also be offering webinars. To see what TexasAhead has to offer, visit http://www.texasahead.org.

Texas Department of Agriculture

The Rural Economic Development division of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has a number of programs that set out to help rural communities and businesses. For example, the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program allows the division to promote “agricultural diversification, small town revitalization, and rural tourism” as described on the TDA website. The TDA also has staff located across the state to provide assistance and work closely with organizations on a more local level. For more information on the programs available through the Texas Department of Agriculture, visit http://www.agr.state.tx.us.

Texas Workforce Commission

Visit the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) website and you will find information for Businesses & Employers, Job Seekers & Employees, Service Providers, Researchers & Policy Makers, and Boards & Network Partners. The TWC oversees and provides workforce development services across the state. Regional Workforce Development boards provide everything from grant writing services to strategic planning assistance. For more information on the Texas Workforce Commission, visit http://www.twc.state.tx.us.

Knowledge is Power

In order to maximize your communities economic development opportunities you must familiarize yourself with the resources available. Spend time reading through the websites of entities that offer economic development services, publications, and programs. Attend any of the seminars or webinars you are able to attend. Introduce yourself to to your regional representatives and ask questions. The more active you are within the economic development community, the more opportunities you will find.