Texas Midwest celebrates 25th year
Envisioned in 1993, the Texas Midwest Community Network will celebrate its 25th anniversary at the annual conference to be held Oct. 24 at the Abilene Convention Center.
The Network’s story began as a group of community leaders getting together in July of 1993 to brainstorm about strengths, weaknesses, and needs of the area around Abilene.
It didn’t take a forecaster or economist to know that when rural communities in the area experienced economic decline, the economy of the urban community was also affected.
Quickly the idea grew into a core of committed volunteers who wanted to see the region prosper. The initial gathering, called the Big Country Development Forum, was sponsored by Abilene Reporter News, Abilene Chamber of Commerce, and West Texas Utilities and was attended by representatives from 15 area communities.
In January and February of 1994, area meetings were held in Haskell, Comanche, Breckenridge, Ballinger, and Sweetwater. Community leaders were identified in as many communities in the region as possible and invited to attend the meetings and engage about what was needed for the region.
The information gathered at the area meetings was reviewed by the task force and a plan was developed to move forward with a regional organization.
In June of 1994, a membership drive was announced and by the end of the same year, 21 communities had joined the Network.
Today, the TMCN has 51 member communities stretching across 31 counties in the Texas Midwest and is proudly supported by the Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, Hendrick Health System, TSTC West Texas, Jacob & Martin Engineering, Enprotec/Hibbs & Todd, AT&T, Atmos Energy, and Howard College-San Angelo.
By providing training and education in all areas of economic and community development, effective tourism and marketing platforms, and opportunities for members to interact with their state legislators, the Texas Midwest Community Network is building stronger communities and has become a voice for this region of Texas.
To learn more about TMCN and how to engage in the conversation of rural Texas, visit the website at www.tmcn.org or www.facebook.com/TexasMidwest.
