General Information
Agency Overview: Economic Development Administration (EDA)
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) was established under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121), as amended, to generate jobs, help retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically-distressed areas of the United States. EDA assistance is available to rural and urban areas of the Nation experiencing high unemployment, low income, or other severe economic distress.In fulfilling its mission, EDA is guided by the basic principle that distressed communities must be empowered to develop and implement their own economic development and revitalization strategies. Based on these locally- and regionally-developed priorities, EDA works in partnership with state and local governments, regional economic development districts, public and private nonprofit organizations, and Indian tribes. EDA helps distressed communities address problems associated with long-term economic distress, as well as sudden and severe economic dislocations including recovering from the economic impacts of natural disasters, the closure of military installations and other Federal facilities, changing trade patterns, and the depletion of natural resources.
Agency Overview: Small Business Administration (SBA)
The U.S. Small Business Administration, established in 1953, provides financial, technical and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses. With a portfolio of business loans, loan guarantees and disaster loans worth more than $45 billion, in addition to a venture capital portfolio of $13 billion, SBA is the nation's largest single financial backer of small businesses. Last year, the SBA offered management and technical assistance to more than one million small business owners. The SBA also plays a major role in the government's disaster relief efforts by making low-interest recovery loans to both homeowners and businesses. America's 25 million small businesses employ more than 50 percent of the private work force, generate more than half of the nation's gross domestic product, and are the principal source of new jobs in the U.S. economy.
Agency Overview: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA)
TDHCA Mission Statement: To help Texans achieve an improved quality of life through the development of better communities. The Department's services address a broad spectrum of housing and community development issues that include low interest mortgage financing, emergency food or shelter, rental subsidy, energy assistance, weatherization, economic development, and the provision of basic public infrastructure for small rural communities. The Department also provides titling, licensing, inspection, enforcement, and customer service in connection with manufactured housing. The Department is viewed as a valuable financial and educational resource by individuals and communities attempting to deal with problems of housing, poverty, public facility needs, energy assistance, and economic development. Owners of manufactured homes rely on the Department to provide a regulatory environment that will protect their health, safety, and welfare.
Agency Overview: Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA)
The Texas Community Development Program is administered by the Texas Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA). Funding is available to eligible non-entitlement incorporated cities and counties for a broad range of eligible program activities. The Houston-Galveston Area Council administers the ORCA programs for their 13-county region and serves as staff to the Regional Review Committee.Regional Review Committee: The role of the Regional Review Committee (RRC) is to participate in the process of determining regional priorities and to share in the scoring of applications in a fair and equitable manner to ensure that the identified needs of the region are met. The RRC is comprised of 12 members who are local elected officials and appointed by the Governor for two-year terms.Funding Availability: TDHCA implemented a biennial funding allocation for their community development programs. Applicants from throughout the region applied for these funds and the next available funding cycle will be for the 2005 program year.
Agency Overview: Texas Department of Economic Development (TxED)
Texas Economic Development's mission is to market Texas and to assist communities to maximize economic development opportunities in a global economy. Texas Economic Development partners with communities to further their economic development efforts. It is the TxED's role to market Texas to compete both nationally and internationally. This includes marketing the state's business climate, strategic location, workforce and natural and cultural resources. We offer economic development incentives and information to enhance a community's ability to compete, diversify and prosper.
Overview of Texas Capital Fund Programs: Texas Department of Agriculture
The Texas Capital Infrastructure and Real Estate Program provides resources for an eligible applicant to receive funds to make infrastructure and/or real estate improvements in support of a specific business (either a for-profit or a non-profit entity). The business must create or retain jobs for Texans.Funding Cycle: The Texas Capital Fund (Except the Main Street Program) will be available every four months on a competitive basis to eligible applicants on a statewide basis. Please contact the Texas Department of Agriculture to verify the availability of funds before preparing and submitting applications.
Agency Overview: US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development
USDA Rural Development. Rural Development is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. Through their programs, they touch rural America in many ways.Their financial programs support such essential public facilities and services as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. We promote economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools. We offer technical assistance and information to help agricultural and other cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their member services. And we provide technical assistance to help communities undertake community empowerment programs.
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