Texas Rural Communities, Inc. was founded by Texas Governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson
in 1934 to serve rural Texans whose lives were torn by the Great Depression.
It was funded by the Federal Emergency Relief Act of 1934, which gave birth
to Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal recovery program.
During the Depression, Texas Rural Communities established model farming
communities by buying large tracts of farmland, subdividing those tracts,
and mortgaging small farms to destitute families. These farm families received
extensive training in modern farming methods and sound financial management
practices.
The success of these families made the program one of the bright stars of
the New Deal. One TRC established farming community near Ropesville, for
example, saw no farm foreclosures for 50 years after its establishment in
1935.
The experience of Texas Rural Communities during and following the Great
Depression proved that rural Texas can adapt to a changing future when it
gets the help it needs.
TRC Annual Report Now Available
The 2004 Texas Rural Communities Annual Report is now available. The Report includes:
On-Line Small Business Resources
Help for Small Business Owners
Minority Scholarship Resources
You can now access 95 minority scholarship sites on the College Station-based Regional Educational Access Partners site sponsored by Kellogg TEXLINC. Please feel free to make use of the 56 THECB English and Spanish recruiting resentations/curricula featured there. The site also provides access a great career search program.
ORCA Offers Water Utility Seminars
The OFFICE OF RURAL COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is proud to offer a training session specifically suited to meet the needs of local leaders on water-related issues in the state of Texas – an innovative approach to managing your water utility – customized to meet the needs of rural communities.
Training Topics
Include:
General Management – Financial Management – General
Operations –
Water Supply and Resources – Regulatory Issues