DETCOG board approves $3.2 mil for social services
Transportation and mentoring plans proceed

WALTER DIGGLES (right) will oversee mentoring programs for youth in the 12 counties joined in the Deep East Texas Council of Governments. Diggles is executive director of DETCOG, retired judge Joe Folk (middle) is board president, and John Windham (left) is mayor of Center.Windham presented the regional transportation plan approved by DETCOG.

The Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) board finalized the allocation of Social Services Block Grants at their meeting last week in San Augustine.

Acting on the recommendation of DETCOG's Hurricane Disaster Recovery Advisory Committee, the board approved $3,279,312 for social services agencies.

More than $210,000 went to the Angelina County Recovery Committee; $175,000 to the Nacogdoches Disaster Relief Council; $500,000 to the Deep East Texas Foundation; $870,000 to DETCOG's Area Agency on Aging; $300,000 to DETCOG's Youth Services; $250,000 to Lufkin's HOPE Center; and $973,565 to the Tyler County Hospital.

The final plan is subject to approval by the State Health and Human Services Commission before funds are released.

In other business, DETCOG authorized executive director Walter Diggles to promote mentoring programs for youth. The resolution says the board acknowledges that one of our most valuable resources is our youth, who are deserving of bright, healthy and promising futures.

The board also accepted the regional transportation plan developed by the Goodman Group and presented by Center Mayor John Windham..

The Goodman plan aims to meet transportation needs in six counties lacking public transportation, so that people have better access to medical care, shopping and work. Funding will be sought for pilot projects in the region.