Founding Communities Recognized
The Texas Midwest Community Network started as a group of community leaders getting together in July of 1993 to brainstorm about the 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 West Texas Utilities and included a steering committee representing eleven communities from region.
Those eleven communities were recognized for their leadership and vision at the 26th Annual Texas Midwest Conference held on October 30, 2019 at the McNease Convention Center in San Angelo. The founding communities included Abilene, Albany, Anson, Breckenridge, Brownwood, Coleman, Haskell, Merkel, Munday, Sweetwater and Winters.