text: About ECCOGadmin2018-03-15T16:26:33+00:00
  East Central Council of Local Governments - More About Us
  MORE ABOUT ECCOG
  Although agriculture continues to be the major industry in east central Colorado, it is becoming ever more fragile. It is ECCOG's goal to strengthen this segment of our local economy, while at the same time encouraging economic diversification.
  Tourism is an excellent alternative and ECCOG has worked to develop tourist information centers and highway rest areas on the Plains, to increase local areas' awareness of their own attractions, and to market this region through brochures and other means. ECCOG also maintains a high profile and involvement in tourism efforts on the travel region and statewide levels.
  ECCOG assists communities with main street revitalization projects and with applications for economic development funds. An on-going achievement of ECCOG was the creation of the nonprofit Prairie Development Corporation (PDC). Together, ECCOG and PDC created a revolving loan fund for business development, now capitalized at more than three million dollars, and a second loan fund for increasing the stock of affordable housing for area residents having moderate or lower incomes.
  ECCOG and PDC also promote the area through the Our Journey heritage tourism marketing program. If you're looking for some fun on Colorado's Central Plains, click here!
  Designation of this region as one of Colorado's rural enterprise zones provides more than one million dollars annually in state income tax credits to area farms, ranches and other businesses, in return for creating new jobs, retaining existing jobs, or making capital investments in the area.
  Oil and gas exploration in the area continues to go through the "boom and bust" cycles, and ECCOG has been able to help local governments address problems created by both.
  For more information on Enterprise Zone Tax Credits, visit this Colorado Department of Revenue web page
  EZ Summaries
  Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) (2015-2020)
  The East Central Council of Local Governments 2015-2020 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson and Cheyenne County is available by clicking on the link above.
  The Prairie Development Corporation (PDC), a Colorado non-profit economic development group, was organized to promote and serve communities and businesses in Cheyenne, Elbert, Lincoln and Kit Carson Counties of Colorado.
  The COG uses federal grant funds and other dollars to support various local senior citizens' services, including information, referral, outreach, advocacy, LTC ombudsman, in-home (homemaker and respite care) and legal services, transportation, and the senior nutrition program.
  Outback Express Public Transit
  The COG offers part-time, scheduled public transit services to anyone, regardless of age, using wheelchair accessible mini-buses.
  ECCOG TEAM
  Candace Payne | Executive Director
  Debby Conrads | Senior Services & Transit Director
  Paulette Thompson | Fiscal Officer
  Eileene Andrews | Program Specialist
  Angela Brinkhoff | Senior Services Data Coordinator
  Kaylyn Perry | Special Projects Assistant
  Gary Beedy Troy McCue (Vice Chairman)
  Nancy Bogenhagen(Chairman) Hal McNerney
  Steve Burgess Don Means (Secretary)
  Julie Coonts Valeries Rhoades
  Linda Corbin Chris Richardson
  Dave Hornung(Treasurer) Trevor Smith
  We will be closed Monday Jan. 21 for Martin Luther King Day and Monday Feb. 18. for Presidents' Day.