As states get closer to accepting applications for $42.5 billion in BEAD rural broadband funding, more defaults in the previous RDOF rural broadband funding program could be coming.

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has announced its inaugural cohort of 65 fellows and host communities, including two in East Texas. 

The Broadband Development Office is hiring a Broadband Program Specialist!

This new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas examines how the Texas economy is changing and, with it, the state’s need for education and training.

Marfa students are immersing themselves in the world of vertical farming, blending classroom instruction with firsthand experiences on village farms.

 Wildfires are perhaps the most dreaded natural disaster in the Panhandle. Since 2006, when Amarillo Area Foundation opened the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund (PDRF), residents have experienced the accumulated loss of millions of dollars in homes, businesses, out-buildings, vehicles, livestock, grazing land, and fencing.

Join for this in-person conference, where statewide and regional experts will come together to discuss the dynamic demographic changes happening in Texas and provide updates on new data products, programs, and services.

Hot off the presses! The latest draft of the Texas Digital Opportunity Plan (TDOP) was submitted to NTIA on February 28, 2024. 

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance hosted a webinar with the FCC on the ongoing ACP wind-down. View a timeline here.

Libraries for Health, an initiative designed and funded by Texas Rural Funder St. David's Foundation and in partnership with Via Hope and RAND, seeks to reimagine the delivery of mental health services by building upon a community anchor - a local public library - that is already in place.

A new brief from the Benton Institute analyzes the economic impact of ACP through the lens of financial benefits for subscribers.

The 2024 NACDEP conference "The Power of Together" aims to provide a space for extension professionals from land-grant universities to exchange ideas, explore collaborative projects, and strengthen partnerships.

Join WeTeach_CS for a 2-day conference to catch up with colleagues from across Texas and beyond, all while delving into the latest computer science (CS) and cybersecurity best practices.

According to a new report from Episcopal Health Foundation there is an opportunity for pharmacists to increase access to healthcare in Texas.

Kevin Lambing of T.L.L. Temple Founation collaborated with colleagues Carrie Shaver, DHA, FACHE and Lisa Rantz to write a policy paper for the National Rural Health Association. This informative brief highlights the impact of Medicare Advantage (MA) on rural communities

Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce's report counters to some degree the popular narrative that rural America has been “left behind.”

TX Rural Funders created a social media toolkit which highlights key points from the Benton Institute's data brief

Beginning in January, Humanities Texas will conduct in-person and online teacher professional development programs on a number of exciting topics, ranging from the Harlem Renaissance to teaching landmark Supreme Court cases.

This Dashboard provides actionable measures of health and its drivers calculated at the congressional district level, showing users how their district is doing on health outcomes, social and economic factors, and more.

The East Texas town has maintained a reliable bus route since 2016, providing a model for rural areas with limited transportation.

This dashboard visualizes the data released on Affordable Connectivity Program utilization by the Universal Service Administrative Company.

Policy engagement — fundamental to improving the social and structural determinants of mental health — has always been a strategic priority for the foundation, which has become a trusted resource for mental health and substance use policy issues in Texas. Yet, the state’s mental health and substance use policy community is limited in size, capacity, and training.

The 2023 edition of Rural America at a Glance examines rural population and migration trends, poverty, housing insecurity, unemployment, and clean energy jobs. It finds that rural employment levels and annual growth rates have nearly returned to levels seen prior to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has announced the launched a dashboard showing the progress of states and territories as they plan to implement the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

We asked and NTIA responded with alternatives to the BEAD Letter of Credit requirement!

ECMC Foundation’s Basic Needs Initiative addresses basic needs insecurity among postsecondary students.

This initiative aims to address the critical One Health Crisis in rural areas of Texas and create a sustainable solution through education and community development.

This analysis identifies programs specifically relevant to rural community and economic development, based on three key classifications: rural exclusive, rural stipulated, and rural relevant.

Failure by Congress to fund this program will force millions of households  on tight budgets to choose between internet access and other essential services. Visit DontDisconnectUs.org to contact your legislator!

Library Freedom Institute is a privacy-focused 6-month virtual training for librarians. This curriculum gives librarians the tools they need to become privacy champions in their libraries. Once-a-month, LFI will provide a 2-hour training that covers a variety of topics.

Greenlights Grant Initiative provides tailored and free resources to assist nationwide school districts access school safety grants.

This toolkit is designed to assist practitioners working in agriculture and economic development in learning more about the range of finance tools available to assist underserved farmers and ranchers with obtaining capital to start and grow their businesses.

We need everyone to get the word out because time is running out for the ACP! Share information about the ACP, legislative actions, and resources for Americans relying on ACP. Find a Wind-Down Fact Sheet in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Rural recreation counties added to their pre-pandemic employment numbers, but other rural economies struggled to recover.

More than 90% of Texas’ 32 border counties don’t have enough primary care services, sites or providers to meet local medical needs, according to federal data.

For decades, millions of Americans have been forced to go without internet or pay for subpar service, which thwarts opportunities to participate and thrive in today’s society, especially for Black communities in the rural South.

Jim Reiff completed the Federal Reserve’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Survey this summer. The survey results show that his experiences mirror what other CDFIs across the country have faced.

TORCH is an organization of rural and community hospitals, corporations and interested individuals working together to address the special needs and issues of rural and community hospitals, staff and patients they serve.

Steady State Impact Strategies can help any organization find critical leverage points, advise senior leaders, and build strategies and infrastructure leading to improved organizational effectiveness.

Empower Schools is a nonprofit that partners with communities to develop sustainable solutions that improve student success at school and in life.

The Texas Association of Counties (TAC) is the representative voice for all Texas counties and county officials and, through TAC, counties communicate the county perspective to state officials and the general public.

Texans for the Arts is a highly effective, non-partisan statewide arts advocacy organization that provides coordinated information about legislative activity related to arts issues and organizes advocacy efforts in order to protect and increase public funding for the arts at the state, national and local levels.

Watch an ever-growing archive of Texas film and videos through the decades. Discover the experience of Texans, explore education and preservation resources.

BookSpring builds literacy skills and the motivation to read through increasing home libraries and reading aloud activities for children.

National Civilian Community Corps, or AmeriCorps NCCC is an AmeriCorps program that engages 18- to 24-year-olds in team-based national and community service in the United States.

Texas Rural Funders invited rural communities to attend this session showcasing free resources that promote cultural and economic development

Dedicated to serving the health needs of rural Texas, the State Office of Rural Health (SORH) staff work with local health care providers and other partners to support access to quality health care for rural Texans.

PeopleFund creates economic opportunity and financial stability for underserved people and communities by providing access to capital, education, and resources to build healthy small businesses. Read their annual report.

Thrive, not just survive, animates development work in East Texas, where a local family foundation, T.L.L. Temple, and a community development financial institution, Communities Unlimited, are teaming to develop bottom-up structural solutions to building rural capacity.

On November 7, Texas voters weighed in and voted YES on Prop 8!

This article highlights 5 questions for family foundations to consider while crafting a strategic plan, and features TRF Member, Hogg Foundation.

The legislation behind the historic investment directs state agencies to send money to the state’s smaller, cash-strapped towns that have difficulty paying for upgrades. Federal money is also expected to flow to regions that need broadband.

STARS College Network provides resources for students to understand college costs, guides to admissions processes, and offers a community platform.

This resource from Postsecondary National Policy Institute offers data on rural student enrollment in higher education.

The guide draws from several sources: data analyses of student outcomes, interviews with college leaders, virtual site visits to high-performing rural colleges, in-person site visits to rural colleges as part of the Aspen Prize process, and convenings of leaders of rural colleges.

Find current grants and our grant writer list here.

In 2022, No Kid Hungry invested over $1.8 million in grant funds to 53 school districts and community groups across the state. During this period, grantees we supported provided over 90 million meals to Texas kids and families. 

The San Miguel coal mine and power plant operation in South Texas has the dirtiest groundwater in the entire U.S., according to research. Now this company wants to expand the mine even more, and this time they want to drive ash across an essential source of drinking water for many South Texans – the San Miguel Creek, which is one of just two tributaries to Choke Canyon Reservoir.

In late 2022, Ascendium launched an effort to better understand the landscape and best practices of funder collaboration in advancing educational and workforce outcomes for low-income rural populations.

PLACES reports county, place, census tract, and ZIP Code Tabulation Areas data and uses small area estimation methods to obtain chronic disease measures for the entire United States.

Texans for the Arts Foundation launched the Municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax Toolkit, an online resource for arts, municipal, hotel, and tourism leaders sharing what you need to know about Texas’ Municipal Hotel Occupancy Tax.

This web application is designed to help communities and organizations make informed decisions about broadband deployment while considering natural hazard risks.

The Texas CDFI coalition's mission is to engage and strengthen the Texas CDFI sector, and promote comprehensive community development that produces financially sustainable & equitable results.

More than ever, people are visiting and moving to places with inspiring natural amenities. Yet rapidly growing outdoor recreation economies can also come with serious drawbacks.

Uvalde CISD enters the final stretch of the Uvalde Moving Forward campaign to fund the design and construction of Uvalde's new elementary school, with updates to share.

This case study examines how three rural schools in Texas addressed three challenges rural schools face.

This amateur documentary from the Texas Archive of the Moving Image, made by Ouida Whitaker Dean in 1976, focuses on women in agriculture in the rural East Texas town of Timpson, as well as in America at large.

Diminishing springs and aquifers due to heat, drought and high for demand water highlight the urgency for Central Texas conservation districts to prioritize climate-focused management, potentially involving reduced pumping for sustainability.

In an extraordinary slice of luck, a small area of the Lone Star State will witness October's annular solar eclipse and April's total solar eclipse. Most of the places where the eclipses will be visible are rural communities!

As part of their series on funders who support rural communities, Inside Philanthropy featured five place-based funders supporting rural communities in Texas, including five Texas Rural Funders!

The Southwest Regional Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department of Education will provide input on federal technical assistance priorities will be reviewing public comments along with other data and resources as part of a needs-sensing process, and they want to hear from you!

The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute is leading a 12-month learning experience that equips districts to effectively develop and implement evidence-based school mental health programs. This opportunity is free of cost thanks to the support of the Texas Pioneer Foundation.

The Pottsboro Library and TekWav are pleased to announce a partnership to bring internet service to the patrons of the library through the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program.

The Texas Film Round-Up provides FREE digitization for Texas-related films and videotapes in exchange for the donation of a digital copy of the materials to TexasArchive.org.

Books Beginning at Birth is a statewide program that provides young children and their families with free to books and resources to support the development of early literacy skills and foster a love of reading.

Access to broadband has transformed our economy and our society. This new document from Texas Rural Funders helps demystify funding and clarify the vocabulary of broadband development.

The rural/urban divide is too simplistic to apply to real lives, says a researcher who studies political and social divisions.

Episcopal Health Foundation, examines hospital responses of a national survey from the American Hospital Association.

For community colleges to reach their full potential as drivers of prosperity and equity, states must create strong, stable, coherent finance systems that enable and incentivize colleges to better meet pressing state interests and student needs.

It remains a priority to strengthen the capacity of rural communities to compete for federal funds and build the mechanisms and technical expertise they require to secure and manage federal awards.

On the eve of a historic investment in connecting the Lone Star State, advocates worry maps that will help establish which communities get funding have bad information.

Thousands of low-income, Latino residents in Texas still do not have safe drinking water. In one El Paso colonia, some residents are using solar distillation to generate water from the air.

Episcopal Health Foundation partnered with the Texas Association of Health Plans and the Texas Association of Community Health Plans to conduct the first ever Texas survey to capture Medicaid health plans activities to address non-medical drivers of health care.

This library in Pottsboro, Texas reinvents the traditional library by offering a "library of things."

Operation Connectivity formed to connect Texas's 5.5 million public scchool students with an e-learning device and reliable internet sufficient for learning.

The State Office of Rural Health created this funding resource guide for rural health facilities in order to help them more easily find resources relevant to their needs and geographic area.

As part of the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, the NTIA announced Texas’ $3.3 billion allocation.

Community devel­opment financial institutions, or CDFIs, are mission-driven nonprof­its and for-profits that deliver a range of financial products, services, and education to underserved individuals and communities.

Based on best practices and tailored to Texas, this report works through strategies that serve Texas households, local communities, and private internet service providers.

Governor Greg Abbott has named Richard “Rick” Rhodes, TRF's Rural Engagement Coordinator chair of the Texas Workforce Investment Council.

A partnership between the Center Economic Development Corporation and Etex Telephone Cooperative has resulted in multiyear project to build a new state-of-the-art network to develop critical connections to the City of Center in Shelby County.

An estimated 500,000 people live in thousands of colonias along the Texas-Mexico border. Largely built between the 1950s and 1980s, these communities have been promised water — but it has never come.

Freshwater resources in Texas are facing unprecedented pressures. Increasing competition between water users, coupled with increasingly variable supplies, is giving rise to water scarcity across the state.

This resource is meant to demystify the available tools for groundwater management and make groundwater planning and management more accessible across the Hill Country.

This guidebook is focused on different local policies that can guide development that is protective of Texas' Hill Country. Each guide includes links to example ordinances from around our region, as well as links to more in-depth information on the subject.

The Texas Border Small Business Broadband Fund will invest in high-speed connectivity, digital transformation, and skills development for businesses in Hidalgo and Cameron counties

As new rural outdoor recreation economies take root, this report from Aspen Institute created this call to action to ensure sustainable and equitable economic systems to support rural life.

Book examining how large corporations that control cable and internet access in the United States use their tremendous lobbying power to tilt the playing field against competition, holding back the infrastructure improvements necessary for the country to move forward.

The National Broadband Resource Hub is a philanthropic initiative empowering government and community leaders to build a better broadband future.

Book analyzing the promise and the failure of national rural broadband policy in the United States and proposes a new national broadband plan.

This unique series focuses on broadband development finance with an emphasis on the legal, technical, and financial challenges facing communities working to develop broadband.

A national organization focused on bringing open, affordable, high-performance broadband to all people in the U.S. to ensure a thriving democracy.

The Texas Broadband Development Office provides a variety of tools and resources supporting the expansion of broadband access across Texas.

The Texas Department of Agriculture is a state agency responsible for matters pertaining to agriculture, rural community affairs, and related matters.

Texas Electric Cooperatives represents the interests of 76 electric cooperatives with more than 3 million members throughout the state.

Aim Hire Texas is a statewide consortium of advocates, employers, non-profit organizations, and education and training providers working to improve the Texas workforce system for the benefit of all Texans and their employers.

Report from Texas Rural Funders that tells broadband stories across Texas counties, identifies key broadband stakeholders, offers policy recommendations.

Through a Listening Tour and Focus Group meetings, this 2018 report examines broadband access identified in rural Texas and prioritizes recomendations to empower Rural Texas.

SA Digital Connects is a broad coalition of public, private, and community partners are working together to reduce the digital divide.

LIFE works to economically mobilize its community by teaching financial literacy, creating economic stability, and building generational wealth.

The Dallas Fed is working with several communities to highlight barriers to expanding broadband access.

Borderplex Connect is a regional coalition of public, private, and nonprofit partners dedicated to promoting digital inclusion in the Borderplex region.

The Deep East Texas Council of Governments and Economic Development District is a voluntary association of local governments in an 11 county region in East Texas.

Dallas Innovation Alliance is a coalition of stakeholders invested in Dallas’ continued evolution as a forward‐thinking, innovative, ‘smart’ global city.

Find free wifi in Texas using this map.

Broadband maps showing availability of broadband at various speeds in all 254 Texas counties.

To bridge gap between funders and community uptake, Connected Nation developed this 2018 Texas Broadband Funding Guide highlighting public and private programs across the state.

Coalition co-founded by Texas Rural Funders which seeks to ensure all Texans have equitable access to reliable and affordable digital connectivity.

Texas 2036 is a non-profit dedicated to enabling Texans to make policy decisions through accessible data, long-term planning and statewide engagement.

Tool from the U.S. Department of Agriculture features Rural Investment Dashboards to expand access to Rural Development financial data, highlighting Rural Development investments for people in rural America.

The Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Interim Report covers a wide range of topics and recommendations that address water issues the state faces. Interim charges 1-4 and 9 are focused on water.

Overview of new federal initiative, Rural Partners Network, that seeks to help rural areas maximize the benefits available from the federal government.

Overview of a regional partnership created by the Coastal Bend Council of Governments and the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi that builds capacity of communities to strengthen resilience and mitigate disaster risk.

Water markets can be an important tool for ensuring efficient use of available water, including ensuring adequate water for the environment. Read the first statewide analysis of historic water market trends.

Annual data on Texas public librarians, including statistics, trends, and more.

Website from the National Wildlife Federation that aims to connect stakeholders (including community planners) with sources of federal funding for infrastructure projects that incorporate natural elements.

Statewide non-profit that seeks to support all Texans in accessing and leveraging broadband.

United Ways in Texas fight for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is a state agency that assists the people of Texas to effectively use information, archival resources, public records and library materials to improve their lives, the lives of their families, and their communities

TORCH is an organization of rural and community hospitals, corporations and interested individuals working together to address the special needs and issues of rural and community hospitals, staff and patients they serve.

ARCIT serves small cities and counties in Texas. It offers a strong voice and resource to state and federal government to promote the best practices, policies and programs for rural and small communities, while enhancing the quality of life for all Texans.

Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC) is the statewide association of regional councils, whose members are focused on enhancing quality of life through regional strategies, partnerships and solutions.

Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) is an Austin-based professional association for economic developers across the state of Texas.

The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions promotes collaborative, community-based efforts that build the power and influence of those with the least access to opportunity.

Founded in 1948, The Pew Charitable Trusts uses data to make a difference. Pew addresses the challenges of a changing world by illuminating issues, creating common ground, and advancing ambitious strategies that lead to tangible progress.

With residents and partners, Rural LISC supports resilient and inclusive rural communities as great places to live, work, and innovate.

Digital media organization that covers politics and a range of policy issues that affect all Texans.

The Texas Water Infrastructure and Funding Guide helps Texas utilities, municipalities, and decision makers navigate the resources available for water infrastructure.

Toolkit to help rural communities take full advantage of federal funding for electric vehicle charging stations.

Texas OnCourse Academy offers webinars, tools, and resources to encourage family engagement in schools.

Tool for rural residents, policymakers, and investors to see the diversity of rural America and to better invest in its full potential.

Annual report examining transportation issues and highlighting examples of solutions being implemented across the United States.

Video featuring rural teachers talking about what being a rural teaching means to them. Created by the National Rural Education Association and Rural Schools Collaborative.

Podcast about rural education, business, and health with a mission to increase awareness and expand dialogue on the most important issues facing rural stakeholders.

Opening remarks from the 2022 Investing in Rural America Conference highlighting important ways to build rural capacity, including: helping communities write grants, creating pools of match funding, and building local capacity.

Map from the US Census Bureau highlighting population change by counties, including rural population gains and losses.

The first comprehensive system map of the Texas water sector which captures how various water entities interact and connect.

Toolkit from Empower Schools offering in-depth resources to ensure rural student and community success.

Guidebook that helps communities evaluate and meet specific connectivity needs. It outlines community needs and how philanthropy can help.

Monthly podcast from Rural Health Information Hub focused on current issues in rural healthcare and population health.

Interactive map identifying funding (philanthropic and opioid settlement funds) available by state. Also provides detailed information about resources available for substance recovery on a county level. Created by the Fletcher Group.

Updated Federal Broadband Funding Guide to provide a one-stop-shop of resources for applicants.

Toolkit of evidence-based resources for organizations working to improve health literacy in rural communities across the United States.

How much does it cost to afford a modest apartment in your state? Tool from National Low Income Housing Coalition, documenting gaps between renters' wages and the cost of rental housing across the United States.

Rural capacity map identifying communities where investments in staffing and expertise are needed to support infrastructure and climate resilience projects.

Access to Emergency Medical Services is critical for rural residents, but providing pre-hospital services in rural areas is challenging. This resource answers frequently asked questions about rural emergency medical services.

The Farm State of Mind Resource Directory provides dozens of tools and resources to help farmers and their families address stress and mental health concerns.

Guide from Texas Rural Funders with a step-by-step approach to securing fast, reliable, affordable broadband internet service in communities. 

Information to help rural communities understand the available resources under the infrastructure law, where to apply, and how find more information.

The Public Library Association announced digital literacy courses and training materials developed in collaboration with AT&T. 

Playbook from America Achieves and Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. with recommendations on growing the nation's broadband workforce.

2011 was the driest year on record for Texas, causing an estimated cost of $7.62 billion in crop and livestock losses. A dry and hot June has many sounding alarm bells about 2022.

Report from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture identifying solutions for rural community resilience and environmental sustainability.

Thrive Rural Framework tool designed to spark new ways of thinking and acting to move communities, regions, and systems toward producing more widespread and equitable rural prosperity, health, and well-being.

Action-oriented guide for healthcare organizations pursuing rural partnerships - with communities, economic development and other sectors - to support improved community health.

Researchers at Texas State University's Meadows Center are working on a new public dashboard to answer questions about water flow in Texas for communities statewide

The American Rescue Plan provides new and expanded opportunities for rural America. Aspen CSG is collecting links and resources explaining federal opportunities for rural people and places.

News story about the Rural Economic Assistance League providing free transportation for rural communities to and from college campuses in the Coastal Bend region.

Report summarizing findings from a 2021 survey on how urban Texans perceive rural people and places.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing billions of dollars in rural communities across the country. This playbook can help rural communities understand the available funding.

The Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (the Affordable Connectivity Program's predecessor) was intended to connect the unconnected. A recent study shows that the program did not achieve this goal, but local areas can increase program participation.

Article detailing the role of public libraries in expanding digital equity through partnerships with government entities and other efforts.

Tool created through a partnership between Rural LISC and Heartland Forward, showing where households have enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Lone Star Stock provides stock photos, videos, and music representing the state of Texas at an affordable price. The site is also seeking creators to continue building the assets available through the site.

Pew Charitable Trusts has launched Opportunity Broadband, an alliance of partners committed to helping communities across the country use the nation's investment in universal, affordable broadband.

The Rural America Placemaking Toolkit includes a variety of resources, including placemaking activities, projects, and success stories across rural America

The Texas Broadband Development Office gathered input from the Texas Broadband Listening Tour and survey responses to create the first Texas Broadband Plan