Rural Texas Communities Going the Extra Mile

Guest blogger: Rick Rhodes, Assistant Commissioner for Economic Development

Rural tourism throughout Texas is a growing trend. Whether shopping for antiques or visiting a farm or ranch operation, Texas offers plenty of opportunities for getting away.

Some rural Texas communities are going the extra mile to attract more tourists.
Levelland, for example, is a certified GO TEXAN Rural Community that is breaking ground on a new event center. The Mallet Event Center & Arena will host events such as rodeos, fairs and conferences that are sure to bring extra tourism dollars to Levelland.

On Wednesday, July 28, the public and community leaders will hold a groundbreaking for the new center. Below is a photo of what the event center will look like once it's completed. Congratulations to Levelland for promoting rural tourism.


For more information on becoming a GO TEXAN Certified Rural Community, visit www.TexasAgriculture.gov and click on Retire in Texas.

Panhandle Communities Receive Economic Development Awards

During these challenging economic times, it was great to meet with hardworking Texans in the Panhandle who aren’t looking at Wall Street as much as they are focusing on Main Street. Earlier this week I got together with these folks at an Economic Development Summit Conference in Canyon.



During the summit we added a pair of cities to the GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Communities (CRC) program. With this week’s addition of Canyon and Tulia, Texas now has 21 CRCs. Launched in June 2006, the Texas Department of Agriculture’s CRC initiative helps Texas communities attract retirees and potential retirees to reside in their respective locales. The CRC Program also encourages tourism.


As Texans, we know it is important to maintain the economic health of our rural communities, so I was honored to present Texas Capital Fund awards to the cities of Crosbyton, Dimmitt, Floydada, Levelland, and Plains. The grants will be used toward revitalizing the historic downtowns, which serve as the heart of every community in the Lone Star State.


It was inspiring to see a room full of Texans at the conference dedicated to preserving and advancing their Panhandle communities. By taking steps to enhance the historical charm and Texas pride in each city, I know tourism and national recognition are bound to follow. Great work, Texas!

See more photos from the event here: