- Community Development
- Criminal Justice
- Economic Development
- Housing Policy
- Report Illegal Dumping
- Solid Waste
- Transportation
From economic development and infrastructure to sidewalks and fire trucks, the Community Development program can assist local communities around the region with establishing projects that seek state and federal funding opportunities. CAPCOG’s goal is to help its communities identify issues and a possible funding to resolve them.
CAPCOG has assisted cities and counties in applying for Economic Development Administration (EDA), Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) funds. It works on various aspects of the grant application process depending on a community’s needs to include identifying grant opportunities, assisting with grant writing, coordinated site visits, and researching and organizing data to support applications.
Get assistance with an EDA grant
CAPCOG provides technical assistance for local governments seeking EDA Public Works Program grants that strive to increase regional economic opportunities. The grant program supplies funds to communities to revitalize, expand or upgrade their physical infrastructure to attract new industry; encourage business expansion; diversify local economies; and generate or retain long-term, private sector jobs. It also can be used for acquisition or development of land and infrastructure investments needed to establish or expand industrial or commercial enterprises.
Find more about EDA funding opportunities.
Contact Kaileen McHugh, CAPCOG planning and economic development coordinator.
EDA Letters of Support
CAPCOG, in its capacity as the Capital Area Economic Development District, is pleased to recommend projects serving our region that are being submitted for funding consideration by the EDA. Prior to providing a letter in support of the project, CAPCOG conducts a review to determine if the application is structured correctly per EDA’s requirements and to ensure the project aligns with our adopted Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), also required by EDA.
Please submit by email a brief project summary and a copy of your application at least three weeks before the EDA deadline for submission. This does not apply to those jurisdictions working directly with CAPCOG staff on their applications.
The email should be directed to Charles Simon, CAPCOG Regional Planning and Services director and copy McHugh.
Partner with CAPCOG
CAPCOG offers a broad set of services that support economic and community development. This includes providing in-depth economic analysis, managing special projects related to regional planning and economic strategy and helping communities devise new strategies for improved competitiveness.
To discuss specific projects or available services, contact Simon.
CAPCOG’s Criminal Justice Program is designated by the Office of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division (CJD) for regional coordination efforts on the subject in the 10-county CAPCOG region.
Each year the programs helps develop a regional strategic criminal justice plan by conducting a review and providing updates to previous year plans. It organizes several community stakeholder meetings and works with the CAPCOG Criminal Justice Committee, of which it provides staff support, to garner input and direction for the plan. The plan identifies gaps in direct victim assistance, juvenile justice, mental health, substance abuse, and criminal justice issues, so services, existing programs, new initiatives, and funding opportunities may be reviewed and resources targeted accordingly.
Read the regional strategic criminal justice plan.
The program also facilitates the grant application scoring process for four CJD grants — General Victim Assistance Direct Service Program; Violence Against Women Justice and Training Program; Juvenile Justice and Truancy Prevention Grant Program; and Criminal Justice Program.
Using information compiled during community stakeholders’ meetings, through surveying and work with the committee, it develops the grants’ funding priorities that assists the committee in ranking grant application. The program also provides technical assistance to applicants for CJD grant funding opportunities to include criminal justice, juvenile justice and victim services-related programming.
Read more about the criminal justice grants and get other documents related to the grant process.
To further aid applicants in receiving CJD funding, the Criminal Justice Program has compiled resources that can potentially assist with applications.
Criminal Justice Resources
The following data is compiled from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Crime in Texas Report. The state report makes use of Uniform Crime Reporting, which has an objective to generate reliable crime statistics for use in law enforcement administration, operation, and management as a means to make it possible to analyze crime trends primarily through the Crime Index. Definitions of the terms and crimes used in the compiled data can be found on the state’s public safety website, dps.texas.gov.
Crime Statistics and Information in CAPCOG
The tables and maps below give provide information on seven index crimes included in the Uniform Crime Report, a FBI report on data collected from law enforcement agencies in the United States. Useful definitions include:
- per 100,000 residents: The number of reported incidents, divided by a jurisdictions population, and multiplied by 100,000.
- Arrest Rate: The number of arrests, divided by the number of reported incidents, and multiplied by 100.
- Clearance Rate: The number of incidents cleared, divided by the number of reported incidents, and multiplied by 100.
- Cleared: Crimes are cleared by arrest or exceptional means, if making an arrest is beyond the control of an agency.
This data was collected and displayed by CAPCOG under contract with the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division using data from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Crime in Texas Reports from 2008 to 2016.
Evidence-based Resources
Below are organizations that local communities can use to help identify solutions to problems and to see how the implementation of those solutions impacted other communities. CJD is interested in funding projects whose potential for success are backed up by evidence. These resources can provide this evidence.
Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
CrimeSolutions.gov is a clearinghouse website that provides resources for researching evidence-based practices. It is maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice. Criminal Justice Advisory Committees and applicants are encouraged to review CrimeSolutions.gov and other resources to prioritize the funding of projects that have been shown to be effective.
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention-Local Services
The U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention maintains a Model Programs Guide (with information about evidence-based juvenile justice and youth prevention, intervention, and reentry programs. It is a resource for practitioners and communities about what works, what is promising, and what does not work in juvenile justice, delinquency prevention, and child protection and safety.
Juvenile Justice Information Exchange Resource Hub
Another resource is the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, a project of the National Juvenile Justice Network, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange – a comprehensive source of information on cutting-edge juvenile justice issues and reform trends.
General Victim Assistance Direct Services Program
(Victims of Crime Act – VOCA)
The Office of Crime Victims-Office for Victims of Crimes Training & Technical Assistance Center
(OVC TTAC)
OVC TTAC is the gateway to current training and technical assistance for victim service providers and allied professionals who serve crime victims. It maintains several online resources. The Training and Technical Assistance Center has online trainings (Victim Assistance Training-Online), webinars, a directory of consultants, and offers limited in-person training upon request.
The resource library is a searchable collection of materials that can be used for organizational development and training needs. Inside are tools, promotional items, reference materials, and more.
OVC offers an array of resources to help build capacity to improve services and outcomes for victims of crime. Materials on this website address a full spectrum of issues that impact victims and the people who provide assistance and services to them. The resources are available in a variety of formats and delivery methods.
HELP for Victim Services Providers
OVC HELP for Victim Service Providers Web Forum: “a place where victim service providers and allied professionals can connect to peers, share ideas about best practices, and help change lives.” You can also contact OVC directly with questions via online contact form at (http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/askovc/) or phone: 1-800-851-3420 or 202-836-6998 (TTY 301-240-6310).
SANE-SART offers online and on-site learning for victim advocates, members of law enforcement, prosecutors and crime lab specialists. These learners practice and gain experience at investigating sexual assault crimes, assisting victims and prosecuting offenders.
Justice Solutions is a web site by crime victim professionals for crime victim professionals. It has online guides, articles, and other resources.
CrimeVictims.gov is a federal website with links to victim services resources.
The National Center for Victims of Crime (Resource Directory for Service Providers)
The National Center for Victims of Crime maintains a resource directory for service providers working with crime victims with disabilities.
The National Center for Victims of Crime (Publications)
The National Center for Victims of Crime maintains a library of publications on best practices.
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
The National Criminal Justice Reference Service is a federal government website with information on many topics, including victim services.
Violence Against Women Justice and Training Program
(Violence Against Women Act – VAWA)
Please refer to the Evidence-Based Practices resources listed above, as many contain information pertinent to the program areas funded under VAWA. Resources more specifically covering violence against women are the listed resources below.
End Violence Against Women International’s
End Violence Against Women International’s (EVAWI) website contains best-practices resources.
A 2015 Lancet journal article reviewing the topic, “Prevention of violence against women and girls: what does the evidence say?”
Michigan State University Consortium on Gender-based Violence
The Michigan State University Consortium on Gender-based Violence has information on their Evidence-based Advocacy Intervention for Domestic Violence Survivors program.
California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention operates a website on Sexual Violence: Prevention Strategies.
The Domestic Violence Evidence Project
The Department of Justice’s Legal Aid Advocacy Roundtable Toolkit
Other Resources
Sample Applications
CAPCOG has compiled a list of sample applications from projects that received funding from previous years’ grant process. While contained in a .pdf file format, the text and documentation of these applications are shown as they appear in egrant.gov.texas.gov.
The CAPCOG Economic Development Program supports broad-based, efficient, and sustainable economic growth in the ten-county region. The program provides data and analysis to local economic development organizations, cities and counties to help target economic development efforts throughout the region. CAPCOG also is designated by the Economic Development Administration as the Economic Development District for the region.
Working on behalf of the district, CAPCOG develops the Capital Area Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), a five-year plan that establishes regional goals and objectives for economic development. The strategy provides useful regional information, guidance, and perspective to local economic development stakeholders on a city, county, or regional level. It is produced during a year-long planning process that is inclusive of diverse representatives in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors throughout the Capital Area. The strategy intends to provide a conceptual framework for local actors to strengthen the competitiveness, economic resilience, and quality of life in the Capital Area.
Every year after the CEDS is completed, CAPCOG reviews the progress towards the goals outlined in the CEDS and publishes an update and performance report.
Read the original 2020-25 CEDS.
CAPCOG provides valuable tools and resources relating to economic development. From periodic reporting on economic trends to in-depth analysis and benchmarking, CAPCOG’s timely tools and information help jurisdictions, developers, community leaders and other stakeholders keep up with changes in the regional economy and prepare for tomorrow.
Specialized Economic Development Reports
CAPCOG is often commissioned to draft reports on a variety of topics related to economic development, planning and resiliency. Previous reports can be found on the CAPCOG Publications page.
The Disaster Resiliency & Recovery in the Texas Capital Area, The Economic Impact and Local Response to the 2015 Memorial Day Disaster Event report is one of CAPCOG’s latest economic development reports. It summarizes much of the available disaster data in an effort to quantify the economic impacts of the disaster event.
Data Request
CAPCOG is committed to providing the region with the information needed to make informed planning and policy decisions to include demographics, workforce data, information for site selectors, and more. Most available data can be found in the Data and Maps and Central Texas Regional Data sections, but if CAPCOG can help provide other regional data or analysis to your organization, let us know.
Contact Kaileen McHugh, CAPCOG planning and economic development coordinator.
The Capital Area Aging and Disability Resource Center and PED partner to advocate for housing affordability and accessibility throughout the region, particularly on behalf of the Capital Area’s older adults and disabled populations. The partnership works to catalogue existing stock of affordable and accessible housing, assess unmet housing needs, identify obstacles to constructing more affordable and accessible housing stock, and collaborate with local jurisdictions to implement solutions to housing challenges.
Learn about the Capital Area Aging and Disability Resource Center.
CAPCOG is the state designated planning agency for solid waste management issues in the region. The Solid Waste Program reviews applications for landfill permits and solid waste grants. Each year CAPCOG provides oversights on Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) funding for local government projects, including source reduction, recycling, local illegal dumping enforcement, solid waste studies, household hazardous waste collections, and public education efforts. CAPCOG provides technical assistance to local governments on solid waste issues and continuing education opportunities for local governments and solid waste professionals.
Solid Waste Grants
Using state funding generated from selected landfill fees, Texas councils of governments such as CAPCOG are able to support eligible projects within its jurisdiction that help implement the regional solid waste management plan. Grants are awarded on a biennium basis.
Regional Solid Waste Management Planning
The Regional Solid Waste Management Plan outlines the activities and priorities that will be initiated in the region throughout the planning period of 2023-2042. The plan includes population and growth patterns, economic activity, waste generation and characteristics, waste management systems, summary of needs and problems, goals and objectives, and an action plan for the region.
Municipal Solid Waste Facility Siting Ordinance Guidance
CAPCOG, through its Solid Waste Advisory Committee, has drafted an example ordinance for counties to prepare municipal solid waste facility siting ordinances. The example ordinance establishes guidelines of where solid waste disposal, processing, and storage facilities can be located. It was developed by solid waste professionals, not by legal professionals, to explain issues related to municipal solid waste facilities. Ordinances developed by counties that follow this model should be reviewed by legal counsel to ensure they meet their legal obligation. The example is not to be substituted for legal advice.
Conformance Reviews
CAPCOG reviews proposed municipal solid waste facility applications submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as part of its conformance review process with regional and local solid waste management plans. CAPCOG and the 23 other regional planning commissions are provided this opportunity by Texas statute when new facilities are proposed or a site expands.
To provide a proper review of a site application, CAPCOG developed a conformance review process and checklist that guides organizations for compliance with solid waste plans throughout the region. The process focuses on ensuring sites do not adversely impact human health or the environment by determining a proposed site’s impacts upon counties, cities, communities, groups of property owners, or individuals in terms of compatibility of land use, zoning in the vicinity, community growth patterns, and other factors associated with the public interest.
Each organization requesting a new site or site expansion will need to download and submit the Conformance Review Checklist to CAPCOG. The project will then be reviewed by the CAPCOG Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) and its Executive Committee.
Download the Conformance Review Checklist.
Submit checklists to Ken May, CAPCOG’s regional program coordinator.
CAPCOG recommends that organizations request a pre-submittal meeting with the COG, so they best understand the process, the checklist and address any issues prior to the review.
Contact May to schedule a pre-submittal meeting.
Conformance Review Meetings
After submitting the checklist, CAPCOG will schedule a SWAC subcommittee meeting to initially review the project before the project is reviewed during a later SWAC meeting. The applying organization is encouraged to attend and present to both the subcommittee and the SWAC. The SWAC will then make a recommendation on the project’s conformance to CAPCOG’s Executive Committee, which will then make a final conformance determination that is submitted to TCEQ as advisement. The applicant will be notified of all meeting times and several of the meetings’ times will be posted as required by the Texas Open Meetings Act.
Closed Landfill Inventory
In 1993, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 2537, which required Councils of Governments (COGs) to develop an inventory of closed municipal solid waste landfills for their regional solid waste management plans. The bill was in response to concerns and incidents involving public health and safety when development occurred over property once used for waste disposal.
Please note that persons have a continuing obligation to comply with Title 30 Texas Administrative Code 330.954 and 330.59(h)(2), relating to Permit Required for Development Over a Closed Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Unit, if an unrecorded municipal solid waste landfill is discovered or determined to exist.
View the Closed Landfill Interactive Map.
Find the Closed Landfill Inventory by clicking on the category in the Reports and Publication section.
Regional Environmental Task Force (RETF)
The Regional Environmental Task Force, a network of law and code enforcement officers who collaborate to combat illegal dumping and other environmental crimes in Central Texas, has served the 10-county CAPCOG region since 1996. Multiple jurisdictions the task force works together to conduct outreach and provide educational opportunities and operates an illegal dumping hotline to help bring violators to justice and protect public health and the environment across the region.
A board of directors representing the 12 member agencies – from 10 counties and the cities of Austin and Cedar Park – governs the group. The board in turn annually elects an executive committee to manage task force business.
CAPCOG’s Solid Waste Programs provides administrative support, coordinates RETF training and maintains the illegal dumping hotline. Funding for CAPCOG support comes from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s distribution of landfill tipping fees to COG solid waste programs.
The RETF conducts about three training classes per year in basic and intermediate environmental law enforcement. Certified instructors from various agencies, including the City of Austin and the Travis County Attorney’s Office, teach the classes. In addition to discussing the growing problem of illegal dumping and other environmental crimes, instructors address civil versus criminal prosecution, unauthorized discharges, solid waste and nuisance violations, search or administrative warrants and outdoor burning.
Classes provide continuing education credit for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, Code Enforcement, Sanitarians, and OSSF inspectors. While they are largely for RETF member agencies, sessions are open to the public as space allows.
Find the next training opportunity.
The task force also publishes a free Environmental Law Enforcement Guide — a handy resource on selected laws, definitions and tips related to illegal dumping, water pollution, outdoor burning and more.
Download the 2018-19 Environmental Law Enforcement Guide PDF.
Order a hard copy of the guide through Pocket Press.
Report illegal dumping
Whether it’s leftover tires thrown down a ravine; old furniture, plastics and chemicals tossed in a field; or other suspicious activity, report illegal dumping anonymously anytime by calling 1-877-NO-DUMPS (1-877-663-8677) or completing the convenient online form. CAPCOG forwards illegal dumping complaints to the appropriate jurisdiction for investigation.
Report illegal dumping using the online form.
Find facilities for proper recycling and disposal
Many types of solid waste require a variety of facilities for disposal. The RETF’s Google-powered interactive online recycler map shows the locations and contacts for all recycling centers, household hazardous waste facilities and landfills in the Capital Area Council of Government’s 10-county region. Simply select the placemark of your choice to view the contact information for that location.
View the interactive recycler map.
Resources
Workshops
CAPCOG provides a number of workshops on solid waste management for entities in its 10-county area. Workshops provided by CAPCOG have included topics about recycling, applying for solid waste management grants, disaster debris management and more. Check the below events for upcoming workshops.
Publications
The CAPCOG Solid Waste Program has funded and compiled a number of reports pertaining to solid waste collection and disposal throughout the region. Those reports can be found on the CAPCOG Publications webpage.
CAPCOG supports the Capital Area Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CARTPO), a group of elected officials representing each county brought together to discuss rural transportation issues. CAPCOG helps the regional group to identify and prioritize transportation needs throughout the region, share information across jurisdictions, and consolidate regional transportation advocacy efforts.
CAPCOG also aids in soliciting TxDOT funding opportunities and helps local jurisdictions coordinate applications to such programs. CAPCOG has paired its economic development planning expertise to draft Transportation and Economic Development Plan’s for several counties in the region. Such plans can be found in the reports and publications‘ section.
In addition, it supports the Commute Solutions program, a multi-agency, regionally coordinated initiative to reduce the number of single occupancy motor vehicles on roadways.
