My Hometown of Palestine Approved as GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community

Congratulations to the City of Palestine for being approved as a GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community (CRC).

I extend my most sincere congratulations to the citizens and leaders of Palestine for achieving this notable certification. It's a great honor for my hometown.

Launched in June 2006, the Texas Department of Agriculture's CRC initiative helps rural Texas communities attract retirees and potential retirees to live in their respective locales. The CRC Program also encourages tourism. Palestine is the 17^th community in the state to be certified.

The Texas Department of Agriculture is looking forward to working with Palestine and our other certified retirement communities in a campaign to attract retirees and tourists to the Lone Star State. Not only do retirees have a significant economic impact on retirement areas, but they also bring a wealth of knowledge and energy for community service, employment and business.

Retirees spend an average $36,000 each year in their new communities while also paying $3,000 or more in state and local taxes. Texas is the second most popular retirement state, and native Texans account for one-fifth of retirees returning to Texas.

For more information on the GO TEXAN CRC Program, please visit our Web site. For more information on retiring in Texas, please visit the official state site at retireintexas.org. You can also call TDA's Rural Economic Development Division toll free at (877) 428-7848 or e-mail finance@tda.state.tx.us.