Providing
REGIONAL SOLUTIONS 

for East Texas

OUR SERVICES

Providing
REGIONAL SOLUTIONS
for East Texas

OUR SERVICES

HELLO, WE ARE THE 
EAST TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

We are a voluntary association of counties, cities, school districts and special districts within the fourteen-county East Texas region. 

We assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development.


We serve as the bridge between federal, state, and local governments, helping cities and counties solve challenges and impact the future regionally.


Established in 1970, ETCOG, either directly or through its contractors, provides programs and services for East Texas seniors, employers, and job seekers. ETCOG and its contractors also build the 9-1-1 emergency call delivery system, provide peace officer training and homeland security planning services, and deliver rural transportation services, business finance programs, and environmental grant funding for the region. 


We serve Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood counties. 



SERVING EAST TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, 

SENIORS, EMPLOYERS, AND JOB SEEKERS

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NEWS, EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

A man in a striped shirt is sitting in a car with a tv on the wall.
By East Texas Council of Governments June 4, 2025
Recently, the Texas Veterans Commission's (TVC) Fund for Veterans' Assistance (FVA) announced its largest funding in the 16-year history of FVA programs, with 213 grants totaling $46,315,000 to provide services to an estimated 40,000 veterans. ETCOG is proud to be one of the grant recipients selected with $250,000 of those funds to provide GoBus transportation services for veterans in our 14-county service region. "It is an honor to receive this funding award from the Texas Veterans Commission and Chair Koerner, which allows us to continue our mission to support all East Texas veterans," said Vince Huerta, GoBus Director. "We are dedicated to growing the program and look forward to assisting more veterans this year." With the grant, our public transit system, GoBus, will fund trips to and from medical, dental, and mental health appointments, as well as trips for basic needs such as grocery stores, community meetings, voting, court appearances, and tax offices. These trips are available to veterans, veteran spouses and dependents, survivor spouses, and active military personnel. The grant is in partnership with over $46.3 million in grants for veterans, Governor Abbott announced on May 20 . “Texas is forever indebted to the brave men and women who answered the call to serve in our nation's military,” said Governor Abbott. “The State of Texas is home to over 1.5 million veterans—more than any other state. This has shaped our mission to provide wide-ranging services for veterans and their families. With over $46,315,000 in state grants, Texas will help thousands of veterans and their families access vital support and resources needed to thrive in our great state. Texas will always support our veterans and honor their sacrifices to our state and our nation.” Find out about all veteran transport services GoBus offers by visiting www.gobustransit.com/govet .
The sun is shining through the windows of an old building.
By East Texas Council of Governments June 2, 2025
ETCOG is calling on cities and communities across the region to nominate potential Brownfield sites for assessment and revitalization as part of a new initiative to support sustainable development and environmental stewardship. A Brownfield is any property, typically abandoned, underused, or industrial, that may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. Through ETCOG’s Brownfield Assessment Program, local governments and property owners may receive free environmental assessments to determine site conditions and open the door to redevelopment opportunities. ETCOG was awarded a U.S. EPA Brownfield Coalition Assessment Grant in 2023, so our region could access up to $1 million in funding to: Develop an inventory of Brownfield sites Conduct Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) Evaluate sites impacted by hazardous substances or petroleum Perform site investigations, asbestos and lead-based paint surveys Plan for cleanup and reuse strategies Benefits of Brownfield Redevelopment Include: Increased property values Enhanced public health and environmental safety New job creation and business development Reuse of existing infrastructure Elimination of blight and community eyesores Participation is completely voluntary, and all eligible activities could be covered at no cost to property owners. Communities are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to address challenging properties and bring new life to underutilized areas. Submit Your Site Nomination by using the form linked below. If you know of a site in your city that may be a candidate for Brownfield revitalization , please contact: Bridget Booty, Economic Development Specialist (903) 218-6421 Bridget.Booty@etcog.org
By City of Kilgore June 2, 2025
The City of Kilgore recently secured two Community Development Block Grants (TxCDBG) in the same round—thanks to strategic timing, guidance from local consultants, and support from the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG). One of these grants is helping fast-track long-needed sidewalk improvements in the city’s entertainment district, part of an ongoing downtown revitalization effort. “We were primed to get the maximum amount of points,” said Clay Evers, Kilgore’s Public Works Director. “It made sense to apply for downtown revitalization funding to complete sidewalk improvements along the rest of the corridor, which otherwise would have taken years if the city had to fund it alone.” The area near the historic post office and the newly renovated Texan Theater has seen increased activity, and this grant helps the city keep pace. Previous streetscape improvements had brought upgrades close to Main Street, and this new funding allows that work to continue—connecting key areas of Kilgore’s growing downtown. At the time of the grant application, this project wasn’t even listed in the city’s near-term plans. “It wasn’t on the five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). In fact, it wasn’t even on the ten-year CIP,” said Evers. “This project was so far down the list that without this opportunity, we wouldn’t have touched it for a very long time.” The grant was made possible, in part, by insight from ETCOG and other grant administrators who informed the city that it was likely to score well in the 2022 application cycle. That foresight made all the difference. “The good thing is that ETCOG, along with other partners, generally has a good sense of how your project will score,” Evers noted. “Their guidance helps us pursue opportunities that are truly within reach.” He expressed gratitude for the collaboration and funding that will help transform downtown Kilgore even faster than expected. “We’re grateful to our local partners and the Texas Department of Agriculture for considering our project and deciding it was worth funding,” said Evers. “This is a great boon to our entertainment district—and it’s going to put us five to ten years ahead of where we would’ve been.”
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OUR REGION

Councils of Governments (COGs) are voluntary associations of local governments formed under Texas law. The East Texas Council of Governments serves fourteen counties in the East Texas region.

Centrally located within the United States, East Texas is easily accessible by air, rail and road. Our region has top-notch education and workforce training institutes. And you just will not find anywhere else with the combination of rolling hills, piney woods and vast, clear lakes that comprise the largely undeveloped East Texas landscape. 
A map showing the location of dallas and east texas

OPEN MEETINGS


Our meetings are open to the public. Upcoming meetings are posted a minimum of 72 hours in advance.

MEETINGS

PROCUREMENTS


We seek quotes, bids, and proposals on an as needed basis. See what procurement opportunities we have available here.

PROCUREMENTS

JOB OPPORTUNITIES


Interested in joining the ETCOG team?
See what job opportunities are currently available.

JOBS


OPEN MEETINGS


Our meetings are open to the public.

Upcoming meetings are posted a minimum of 72 hours in advance.


MEETINGS

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY



ETCOG discloses the financial health of the organization in our Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. We provide this information in order to ensure transparency in all financial matters.



REPORTS


PROCUREMENTS



We seek quotes, bids, and proposals on an as needed basis. See what procurement opportunities we have available here.



PROCUREMENTS

WHAT OUR MEMBERS THINK

A man with a mustache is wearing a suit and tie

JUDGE BILL STOUDT

Gregg County

East Texas Council of Governments represents a collective initiative by member counties to make our Region of the State a better place to live and raise a family.

Judge AJ Mason

JUDGE AJ MASON

Camp County

The many programs administered by ETCOG touch the lives of every citizen in our 14-county region. We are fortunate to have this organization that constantly strives to have a positive impact on East Texas. The Leadership and Staff at ETCOG are second to none and East Texas is a better place because of it.

A man with a mustache and glasses is wearing a suit and tie.

COUNCILMAN BOB TARDIFF

City of Lindale

I am very honored to have been elected as Board Chairman for

an organization consisting of so many outstanding community

leaders. I continue to enjoy working with each of them and the ETCOG staff as we collectively

address the many shared concerns of our communities.