Alamo Area Development Corporation’s (AADC) mission is to enhance the lives of all residents in the region by developing effective strategies to meet the many challenges that confront the region and to coordinate regional strengths that offer solutions to these challenges. The corporation is organized and will be operated for the benefit of the regional planning area consisting of the Texas counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, McMullen, Medina, and Wilson to enhance the planning and services of the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG). Defined as a political subdivision of the State of Texas, AACOG was established in 1967 under Chapter 391 of the Local Government Code as a voluntary association of local governments and organizations that serves its members through planning, information and coordination activities. AACOG serves the Alamo Area/State Planning Region 18. AACOG provides general technical assistance and direct services to member governments in their planning functions, preparation of applications, and the administration of area-wide programs.

AACOG offers program specific technical assistance and direct services for regional planning including, but not limited to, aging services, intellectual and developmental disability services, veteran services, joint land use studies, economic development, 911 systems, homeland security, criminal justice, resource recovery, air quality, transportation, weatherization, and workforce development. In addition, AACOG sponsors special projects in response to local government needs or requests. Support for these activities is provided through local dues, state appropriations, state and federal grants that are matched by local monies, and other public and private funds.

AACOG has over 50 years of experience providing technical assistance for regional planning and direct services for vulnerable populations, including the aging and elderly, developmental disabilities, and low-income. AACOG, through the Alamo Area Development Corporation provided Workforce Development Services for over 25 years. AACOG has been the Alamo Area Agency on Aging and Bexar Area Agency on Aging through contracts with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for over 20 years, and also contracts with HHSC to provide the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) for the region. AACOG is the first regional council in Texas to serve as a Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (I/DD) Authority; functioning as the front door for publically funded I/DD services in Bexar county for over 10 years. AACOG is also the Rural Public Transportation provider for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). AACOG operates the following State and Federal programs through grants for the identified agencies, with a total 2017 annual budget of $45,095,000; • Air Quality/Natural Resources-Texas Commission on Environmental Quality • Alamo Area Agency on Aging-Texas Health and Human Services Commission • Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services-Texas Health and Human Services Commission • Alamo Regional Transit-Texas Department of Transportation • Aging and Disability Resource Center-Texas Health and Human Services Commission • Bexar Area Agency on Aging-Texas Health and Human Services Commission • Government Services-US Economic Development Agency • Joint Land Use Study-US Department of Defense • Public Safety-Texas Department of Criminal Justice • Veterans Services-Texas Veterans Commission • Weatherization Assistance Program-Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs, US Department of Energy

Progress towards AACOG’s mission is assessed through multiple qualitative and quantitative measures, including advisory committees, monthly performance reports, monthly financial reports, and ongoing satisfaction surveys. In addition, AACOG has implemented both Internal Audit and Quality Assurance programs as an integral part of the agency’s business model to self-monitor and ensure adequate financial controls and delivery of efficient, quality services. Every program operated at AADC/AACOG is required to develop quantitative measures that indicate the success of a program. Each program is also required to develop a yearly budget which projects monthly revenue and expenditure targets. Both the performance reports and financial reports are presented to the Board of Directors on a monthly basis.

As the region continues to experience substantive change, the team at AADC/AACOG has worked to further nurture, and in some cases redevelop, working relationships with funders and strategic partners to better serve the region. During 2018, AACOG received multiple special recognitions. The State of Texas continued to recognize the Law Enforcement Academy as one of the top programs in the State. AACOG received the 2018 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for three program areas [I/DD, Law Enforcement Academy, and Military & Veterans] recognizing their work and positive impact on consumers. Our Executive Director, Diane Rath, was presented the Texas Association of Regional Councils’ (TARC) 2018 Regional Unity Award in recognition of her dedication to regionalism. AACOG’s strategic partnership with Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of community partnerships. In a first for the Alamo region, AACOG led the effort to analyze the feasibility of partnerships for our member governments with JBSA. In particular, working to ensure the military value of the bases and training ranges in our communities are protected and enhanced. I/DD Services is leading the way with successfully submitting discretionary grants for innovative programs; partnering with the San Antonio Chamber and Morgan’s Wonderland to develop hiring and training initiatives to meet the needs of both business and the I/DD community. Aging Services successfully integrated two separate departments to eliminate duplication and increase efficiency. Alamo Regional Transit’s ridership has increased from nearly 90,000 in 2016, 101,000 in 2017, to 113,000 through November 18, 2018.