About TMCN

The mission of Texas Midwest Community Network (TMCN) is to promote a regional approach providing the resources and awareness for its members to achieve economic and community growth.

The purpose and goals of TMCN is to identify, develop, and encourage leadership in the region, enhance regional communications and share information, address mutual community challenges, network on ideas and projects, develop regional marketing strategies, strengthen regional participation on statewide concerns, and establish ways to work together and combine resources for the betterment of the region.

TMCN consists of regional member communities including any corporations, businesses, or associations who are interested in the development of programs and projects for the advancement of the Texas Midwest region. The region is defined as a core of West Central Texas counties which are contiguous to each other beginning with the founding county of Taylor. Currently community members are located within thirty-three contiguous counties.

Types of members include 1) Community Members represented by an individual appointed by the community to serve as the official local liaison and community delegate, and 2) Partners in the region representing corporations, businesses, associations, or individuals that support TMCN through an annual investment. Abilene and San Angelo serve as Hub Cities and work in partnership with TMCN to leverage their influence and resources to encourage community and economic growth in smaller communities across the region.

TMCN is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of 6 community representatives, 2 hub city representative, 3 at-large business partners and the TMCN Past President. The Board is responsible for selecting the Executive Director, establishing the meeting schedule for the year, and meeting annually to review TMCN goals with a defined Plan of Action for the upcoming year.

TMCN started as a group of community leaders getting together in July of 1993 to brainstorm about strengths, weaknesses, and needs of the area around Abilene. Quickly it grew into a core of committed volunteers who wanted to see something good happen for the region.

The initial gathering, called the Big Country Development Forum, was sponsored by Abilene Reporter News, Abilene Chamber of Commerce and WTU and was attended by representatives from 15 area communities.

A task force of 11 volunteers and 5 advisers then began meeting regularly and established a plan of action to determine if the concept of a regional organization was something others in the region would like to see happen.

In January and February of 1994 area meetings were held in Haskell, Comanche, Breckenridge, Ballinger and Sweetwater. Community leaders were identified in as many communities in the region as possible and invited to attend the meetings and interact about what was needed for the region. The information gathered at the area meetings was reviewed by the task force and a plan was developed to move forward with a regional organization.