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STATEWIDE SUPPORT FOR RURAL BILL
Mar.24.2009 |
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 | | Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples |
Traylor & Associates President, Gary Traylor, was among a large contingent of supporters who traveled to Austin on March 17 to express their support for House Bill 1911.
The Bill, authored by State Representative Carl Isett of Lubbock would create the Texas Rural Investment Fund. The purpose of the funds would be to promote economic development in towns and cities up to 50,000 in population and counties up to 200,000. Those speaking in favor of the bill represented a broad cross-section of elected officials and economic development professionals from around the State.
Traylor, in his testimony to the House Agriculture Committee, emphasized three main points; 1) that the Fund is needed due to supplement the inadequate amount of economic development funds that is currently available to rural areas; 2) that much of the existing funding for rural economic development, such as the Texas Capital Fund, is actually federal in origin and is constrained by complex and inflexible federal regulations; and 3) to support the Bill's plan to place the new Fund under the management and direction of the Texas Department of Agriculture.
"The Department of Agriculture is by far the most appropriate agency to oversee the Texas Rural Investment Fund...hands down", said Traylor. The Department has a 100 year record of working successfully with rural areas in the interest of the rural economy. Traylor also emphasized the need to have the Fund overseen by an agency whose day-to-day activities are under the direct supervision of a State elected official. "The culture within the Texas Department of Agriculture is different and more service-oriented than most other state agencies. I believe that is because Commissioner Todd Staples insists on it. He has done a wonderful job for Texas, and his Department is the most logical choice to advocate for and promote rural economic development. I urge all Texans to support House Bill 1911, and call on the Legislature to not only create the Texas Rural Investment Fund, but appropriate General Revenue of at least $20 million to it during the next biennium".
Other recent developments:
Expressing his support, State Representative Joe Heflin (Crosbyton) signed on as a joint author of the bill on March 19. An identical Senate version of the bill, SB 1988, was introduced on March 12 by Senator Craig Estes. His support for the bill is good news. Estes is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
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