Local leaders accept award in Dallas

During the 2023 Texas Municipal League (TML) Annual Conference and Exhibition in Dallas, the City of Linden received a 2023 Municipal Excellence Award in management innovations for cities under 25,000 in population. The award recognized the City for its regional economic development consortium.

Faced with population loss in Cass County, the City of Linden helped create a regional economic development consortium. The partnership is made up of four cities with economic development corporations and the county judge, and it discusses ways to collaborate on projects. So far, the consortium has preserved thirty jobs and five million dollars of investment in the county.

On hand at the Conference to accept the award were community leaders from Cass County: Linden City Administrator Lee Elliott, Councilor Mary Dowd, Councilor Bill Thomas, Cass County Judge Travis Ransom, Hughes Springs City Administrator Stephen Barnes and Atlanta City Manager Danica Porter.

The City of Linden believes in partnerships and innovation to improve our community. While Cass County and Linden have struggled recently with economic development, Linden created in December 2022 the Cass County Economic Development Consortium. The consortium is comprised of the Cass County Judge, the Economic Development Corporations of Linden, Atlanta, Queen City and Hughes Springs (now includes recent addition Avinger).

One basic tenant of economic development is regional economic development. Unfortunately, our communities were not communicating or partnering. The thesis of the consortium is to work together- the old adage, better together! To have succeeded in many avenues in such a short time, and to be acknowledged by the Texas Municipal League for our group, shows Cass County is innovative and moving towards a bright future.

As the creator, and representing the City of Linden, it is a personal honor to receive this attention. I have wanted to generate a consortium as an executive leader for more than ten years. To finally be able to perform it, the County Judge and EDCs to embrace it, makes me excited to see our positive results, said Linden City Administrator Lee Elliott.

TML’s Municipal Excellence Awards recognize and encourage the achievements of Texas cities in meeting the challenge of municipal governance. Innovative problem- solving, excellence in management, increasing citizen participation, and reaching higher service levels are all daily occurrences in Texas cities, and they deserve recognition. This awards program seeks out the best of these programs to honor. Awards are given in two population categories (under 25,000 and over 25,000) and five areas (management innovations, communication programs, city spirit, public safety, and public works).

The 2023 TML Annual Conference and Exhibition was held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas on October 4-6 and attracted more than 3,000 city officials, who learned ways to govern more effectively, discussed critical issues and shared best practices and solutions.

TML is a voluntary association of 1,175 Texas cities. Guided by its purpose state-ment— Empowering Texas cities to serve their cities—the League provides support and services to city governments. The City of Linden is a member of TML.

For further information about TML and the awards program, contact Jacqueline Redin at 512-231-7400 or jredin@tml.org.