In 2001, the Texas Legislature’s House Bill 7 created the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA), a stand-alone state agency designed to ensure a continuing focus on rural issues, with activities ranging from researching problems, creating a rural work plan, and coordinating the state’s rural programs. In 2009, the Legislature changed the name of ORCA to the Texas … [Read more...] about New Name (Again), Same Mission: Help Rural Texas
Feature Story
Housing Grant to Help Disabled
Accessible Housing Within Reach State Program Helps Counties Remove Housing Barriers for Persons with Disabilities Bertha Hill had no problems getting about when she first moved into her Austin home nearly 40 years ago. But age eventually caught up with her, and she became increasingly frail and less able to move around the house. Simple tasks like … [Read more...] about Housing Grant to Help Disabled
Cooperative Purchasing
Option Targets Cost Savings, Compliance County governments exist in all sizes, with judges, commissioners and staff offering a wide range of purchasing and technical expertise. Nevertheless, all counties, whether or not they have purchasing staff or technical expertise must follow procurement laws 1, … [Read more...] about Cooperative Purchasing
A Week in the Life of a Texas County Commissioner
This pictorial review includes highlights from late-October depicting a “week in the life” of Williamson County Commissioner Cynthia Long. History? First elected as Williamson County Commissioner in November 2006, I am currently in my second term. After graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in business administration, I began my … [Read more...] about A Week in the Life of a Texas County Commissioner
Bringing Bastrop County Back
By Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald September 12, Day 9 - Bastrop Fire Complex “Even though this is a tough time in Bastrop County, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Dealing with this process has made us stronger.” Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald Interview with freelance journalist Mario … [Read more...] about Bringing Bastrop County Back