Nacogdoches Chamber Stakeholder Conference Call

Nacogdoches Chamber Stakeholder Conference Call
with a "Broadband in East Texas" presentation by Lonnie Hunt, Executive Director, Deep East Texas Council of Governments (pictured). 
Hear reports from community partners.
Sponsored by Austin Bank.

10:00 a.m.       Welcome & Speaker Introduction by C. Wayne Mitchell, President & CEO, Nacogdoches County Chamber
Broadband in East Texas by Lonnie Hunt, Executive Director, Deep East Texas Council of Governments  
City of Nacogdoches Update  by Mario Canizares, Nacogdoches City Manager
NEDCO/ City of Nacogdoches Update  by Larissa Philpot, President & CEO, NEDCO
Office of the Governor  by Betty Russo, Regional Representative for Governor Greg Abbott
Regional Update  by Nancy Windham, President & CEO, Texas Forest Country Partnership
Hospitality Industry Update  by Sherry Morgan, Director, Nacogdoches CVB
Social Services Update  by Gary Lee Ashcraft, President & CEO, Nacogdoches Area United Way
COVID-19/ Health Update  by Jessica Sowell, Communications, City of Nacogdoches
Nacogdoches ISD Update by Les Linebarger, Communications Director, NISD

About Lonnie Hunt
Lonnie Hunt is the Executive Director of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments and Economic Development District, better known as DETCOG.   DETCOG brings together counties, cities, school districts and other local governments across a 12-county region, working together to coordinate regional planning, provide important services, promote economic development, and improve the quality of life for residents of the region. 
 
Lonnie’s career has taken him all over Texas, but his home has always been Deep East Texas.   Born and raised in Polk County, he has been a resident of Houston County for 45 years and previously served as Houston County Judge.  He also has ties to Nacogdoches County -- his father grew up in Appleby and his grandparents and other relatives are buried at Bethel Cemetery.  In his previous position with the Texas Association of Counties, Lonnie visited all 254 counties of Texas.
 
DETCOG's regional broadband initiative began in 2018 with a regional feasibility study and market analysis.  The network design for Phase One of a regional broadband network is now complete and DETCOG is awaiting decisions on two major grant applications to fund its construction.