What is the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program?
The GO TEXAN Rural Community Program is an initiative launched by the Texas Department of Agriculture designed to promote the growth and prosperity of every rural Texas town, city and county. It is a certification program offering affiliation to qualifying cities and counties, as well as associate participation for those in support of rural Texas. This program creates a single rallying call for rural Texas, educating the public about all rural Texas has to offer and encouraging rural communities to share and promote successful ideas.
Who can join?
Certified affiliation is open to qualified rural cities and counties. Texas-based businesses with a location in rural Texas, individuals, chambers of commerce, economic development offices, councils of government, corporations, convention and visitors bureaus, organizations and associations dedicated to supporting rural Texas can apply to be a GO TEXAN Rural Community associate. What is the cost to join the program?
It's free! There is no fee to join either of the two program categories.
How is 'rural' defined?
For the purposes of this program, rural is defined as a non-metropolitan county (population less than 50,000) or a city with a population less than 20,000 whose city limits do not adjoin or attach to another city or group of cities' city-limit boundaries with an aggregate population of 50,000 or more. How does the application process work?
Interested communities, businesses and organizations can fill out and return a GO TEXAN Rural Community Program application, which is available from TDA by calling (877) 99-GOTEX or by going here. GO TEXAN Rural Community Program certified affiliates and associates are committed to the continued improvement and economic strength of rural Texas by supporting the development and implementation of local community projects such as tourism, revitalization, beautification, leadership training and so on. TDA will notify applicants about the status of their applications within 30 days of receipt. Once applications are approved, benefits will begin.
Once approved, how long does participation last?
All GO TEXAN Rural Community Program applications are valid for three years. At the end of three years, certified affiliates and associates will be sent renewals of their application and licensing agreement.
What are the benefits of joining the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program?
- Marketing for all participants
Statewide GO TEXAN Rural Community Program promotional campaigns
Online rural tourism events calendar
Online rural destination guide
Use of the GO TEXAN mark - Information for all participants
Marketing and rural tourism workshops hosted across the state
Guidebooks on event planning, downtown beautification and more
Infoletters highlighting topics important to rural Texas
E-mail alerts for the latest news and dates - Networking for all participants
Contacts and programs at other state and federal agencies
Online partner database
Secrets to small-town success from GO TEXAN Rural Community Program certified affiliates - Presence on Facebook and other social media Web sites
- Matching fund opportunities for certified affiliates
GO TEXAN Rural Community Hometown STARS Program
GO TEXAN Rural Community Bootstrap Bucks Program
What is the GO TEXAN Rural Community Hometown STARS Program?
Certified partners can apply for the Hometown STARS (Supporting Tourism and Rural Success) Program, a competitive, matching fund reimbursement program. This program helps offset the cost of promotional activities associated with marketing local tourism events. The program will reimburse communities half of their promotional costs up to $10,000. For funding consideration, an interested certified partner should submit a project proposal to TDA for review. For application deadlines and information, call (877) 99-GOTEX or go here. Unincorporated areas that wish to apply for a Hometown STARS grant must do so through their counties. Counties must be certified partners of the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program.
When was the Hometown STARS Program created?
In September 2003, Governor Rick Perry announced funding to TDA to support the promotion of rural tourism. A portion of this amount is used to fund the Hometown STARS matching reimbursement program.
Because a crucial focus of the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program is on empowering rural communities, TDA partners with the Texas Travel Industry Association (TTIA) to conduct workshops across the state focused on rural tourism opportunities and success stories.
What is the GO TEXAN Rural Community Bootstrap Bucks Program?
Certified partners may apply for the Bootstrap Bucks reimbursement program to help fund the promotion of their events. Participants can receive up to $2,500 in reimbursable funds for one of four eligible items: banners, posters, newspaper/magazine advertisements or radio/television spots. Bootstrap Bucks is for communities just beginning their tourism programs or communities adding new elements to existing programs. Plus, it has no matching funds requirement. For application deadlines and information, please call (877) 99-GOTEX or go here.
Unincorporated areas that wish to apply for a Bootstrap Bucks grant must do so through their counties. Counties must be certified partners of the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program.
Can unincorporated areas apply for Hometown STARS and Bootstrap Bucks funding?
Unincorporated areas are not eligible for certified partnership. If unincorporated areas wish to apply for a reimbursable funding program, they must do so through their counties. Counties must be certified partners of the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program.
What if an unincorporated area's county is a metropolitan county?
If the county is a metropolitan county as shown here, then that county is not eligible for certified partnership into the program. Another option for an unincorporated area is to partner with a rural city that is a certified partner. That city may apply for reimbursable funds on behalf of the unincorporated area.
My business is a participant of GO TEXAN Products and/or Restaurant Programs. How will the Rural Community Program impact me if I become an associate?
The focus of the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program is to spotlight rural Texas. GO TEXAN partners with business locations in rural Texas will receive an added boost to their GO TEXAN membership by joining. They will receive information on workshops and opportunities specific to rural Texas and will be included in the "Rural Communities" section of the GO TEXAN Web site. Business associates will be able to display the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program window decal at their place of business to indicate their support for the program, benefiting from its visibility. There is no cost to join, and participation will simply add another level of awareness and promotion to a rural business.
What do I need to do first to get involved in the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program?Simply fill out a GO TEXAN Rural Community Program application and send it in. You can also visit this Web site for the latest information and updates on the program.
Who can I contact to get more information?
Corinne Cleverley is the marketing coordinator for Rural Texas Communities and is pleased to answer any questions or inquiries about the program. She can be reached at (877) 99-GOTEX or corinne.cleverley@TexasAgriculture.gov. TDA also has rural economic development specialists located throughout the state. A contact list is included in the GO TEXAN Rural Community Program welcome packet and is also available under "Contact Us" on the menu bar.
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