Regional Services
Creating Stronger Communities
AACOG’s Regional Services program serves its member governments and residents of the Alamo Region in efforts to create strong, viable communities, strong economies, and informed and trained public officials. The program provides technical assistance and advocacy in the development of projects and plans, which create jobs and build a stronger economy.
Economic and Community Development
Texas Community Development Block Grant Program (TxCDBG)
TxCDBG assists small cities and rural communities by providing decent housing, suitable living environments, and expanded economic opportunities principally for persons of low to moderate income.
TxCDBG funds community projects such as utility infrastructure, disaster response, and unique local economic development projects.
Community Development Block Grant Program for Rural Texas
For information, contact:
regionalservices@aacog.gov
Economic Development Administration (EDA) Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (PWEAA)
AACOG is one of the first Economic Development Districts (EDDs) designated by EDA. The designation enables AACOG and its member governments to apply for federal funding programs offered by EDA.
Through EDA funding under the PWEAA grant program, regions and their communities assist distressed communities in revitalizing, expanding, and upgrading their physical infrastructure. This program enables communities to attract new industry, encourage business expansion, generate local investment, and create or retain long term jobs through land acquisition, development, and infrastructure improvement projects that establish or expand industrial or commercial enterprises.
The Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program is EDA’s most flexible program. It provides a wide range of technical, planning, public works, and infrastructure assistance in regions experiencing adverse economic changes that may occur suddenly or over time. These adverse economic impacts may result from a steep decline in manufacturing employment following a plant closure, changing trade patterns, a catastrophic natural disaster, a military base closure, or environmental changes and regulations. Under EAA, EDA can also fund market and environmental studies, planning or construction grants, and capitalize or recapitalize Revolving Loan Funds (RLFs) to help provide small businesses with the capital they need to grow.
Economic Development Administration Funding Opportunities
Community Development Block Grant Program for Rural Texas
For information, contact:
regionalservices@aacog.gov
Grant Research, Writing, and Administration
Regional Services provides grant writing services to member governments on a case by case basis. Services also include grant and fiscal administration to meet the compliance requirements of state and federal agencies granting funds.
AACOG staff serve as a resource for project development and funding research, and work with local governments to pursue and obtain funding for resilient and sustainable community and economic development.
Grant writing services include the preparation of grant applications that are responsive to evaluation criteria.
Regional Services works to maximize funding resources, especially for unserved and underserved areas. Fees are negotiable.
View the Grant Writing Administration and Fiscal Services
For information, contact:
regionalservices@aacog.gov
Upcoming Regional Services Events
Resources
FAQs for Regional Services
What is Regional Services (RS)?
Regional Services supports the AACOG member governments in matters related to community and economic development. RS provides services such as grant writing and administration, grant research, project development, strategic planning, and training for volunteers, elected officials, and staff.
What is an Economic Development District (EDD)?
An EDD is a designation by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to encourage economic development planning and project implementation in distressed urban, suburban, and rural regions. The role of the EDD is to open the door for local communities to access grant and loan funding opportunities, administrative and technical assistance, data and technology resources, and other resources and support. AACOG is one of the first four EDDs designated by EDA in 1968.
Is my community located in an EDD?
Any county and/or community located in one of the 13 counties of the AACOG Region is in an EDD.
What is the population of the AACOG Region?
According to the most recent census update by the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the AACOG Region is 2.7 million.
What is the population of my community?
Click here for current Census information.
| County | Population (2024) | Growth Since 2020 Census | Median Household Income (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATASCOSA | 52,783 | 7.8% | $58,330.00 |
| BANDERA | 22,830 | 9.5% | $66,649.00 |
| BEXAR | 2,127,737 | 5.9% | $69,755.00 |
| COMAL | 201,628 | 24.8% | $99,871.00 |
| FRIO | 19,520 | 6.2% | $50,112.00 |
| GILLESPIE | 28,159 | 5.4% | $76,238.00 |
| GUADALUPE | 195,166 | 13.0% | $94,952.00 |
| KARNES | 15,137 | 2.9% | $62,059.00 |
| KENDALL | 51,828 | 17.0% | $112,618.00 |
| KERR | 53,900 | 2.5% | $64,662.00 |
| MCMULLEN | 565 | -5.8% | $71,112.00 |
| MEDINA | 55,619 | 9.6% | $70,707.00 |
| WILSON | 55,415 | 11.4% | $85,288.00 |
| Source: StatsAmerica StatsAmerica |
What is the unemployment rate of my community?
Click link for current unemployment rates – LAUS – Texas LMI
| COUNTY | DATA DATE | UNEMPLOYMENT RATE | MONTHLY CHANGE | ANNUAL CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATASCOSA | 6/30/25 | 4.3 | 0.2 | -0.1 |
| BANDERA | 6/30/25 | 3.7 | -0.1 | -0.6 |
| BEXAR | 6/30/25 | 3.8 | 0 | -0.4 |
| COMAL | 6/30/25 | 3.6 | 0.1 | -0.3 |
| FRIO | 6/30/25 | 6 | 0.2 | 0.7 |
| GILLESPIE | 6/30/25 | 3.1 | 0 | -0.1 |
| GUADALUPE | 6/30/25 | 3.7 | 0 | -0.2 |
| KARNES | 6/30/25 | 4 | 0 | -0.3 |
| KENDALL | 6/30/25 | 3.3 | 0 | -0.3 |
| KERR | 6/30/25 | 3.2 | -0.1 | -0.5 |
| MCMULLEN | 6/30/25 | 3.9 | -0.8 | -3.9 |
| MEDINA | 6/30/25 | 3.9 | -0.1 | -0.5 |
| WILSON | 6/30/25 | 3.6 | 0.1 | -0.1 |
| SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Do grant exists that fund a community center, food pantry, or resilience center?
Grants from federal and state agencies and private foundations exist that may be used for public facilities. Regional Services can assist with identifying those resources.
Where can I locate information on different funding sources?
AACOG member governments have access to GrantFinder, a funding resource database subscribed to by AACOG. For more information and access, please visit the Community Development Block Grant Program for Rural Texas or contact Regional Services at regionalservices@aacog.gov.
What are the main industries in the AACOG Region?
The predominant industries in the area are manufacturing, biomedical, construction, leisure and hospitality, transportation, and oil and gas. Manufacturing is predominant in the western and eastern parts of the region, while oil and gas are strong in the southern part. Transportation supports manufacturing, and oil and gas. Leisure and hospitality can be found throughout the Alamo Region.
What workshops or training does AACOG Regional Services provide to communities within the AACOG Region?
AACOG sponsors the following workshops annually:
- Elected Officials
- Planning and Zoning
- Brownfields and Water
