Program & Application Information

About The GO Texan Certified Retirement Community Program is a certification and promotion program provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The program helps Texas communities encourage retirees and potential retirees to make their homes in Texas communities.

About This program: Promotes Texas as the premier retirement destination to retirees and potential retirees in and outside Texas; Assists Texas communities in their efforts to market themselves as desirable retirement locations and to develop communities that retirees would find attractive for a retirement lifestyle; Assists retirement communities and long-term living communities in driving economic development, attracting potential workforce, and enriching Texas communities; and, Encourages tourism to Texas.

About The GO Texan stamp of approval ensures each certified community has demonstrated through its application that it can meet the living, employment/volunteer, health, entertainment, education and safety needs of its citizens and visitors.

Certified Retirement Communities San Augustine County Shelby County South Padre Island Texarkana Van Alystyne West Columbia Winnsboro

To become a Certified Retirement Community, each community must complete a rigorous application process including a retiree desirability assessment. Each application is reviewed and scored by an independent advisory committee comprised on volunteers who are experienced in various aspects of community and economic development.

Who Can Apply An applicant community must be a unit of general local government (a city or county).

Application Requirements Designated Local Contact Person – responsible for working with the department during the application process and will serve as the primary contact for disseminating information to potential retirees through the CRC program if certification is approved. Community Retirement Board/Panel must be appointed by the sponsoring government entity.

Application Requirements Provide Retiree Desirability Assessment – self assessment, which will help determine your community’s desirability to retirees, should include facts regarding crime statistics, tax information, recreational opportunities, housing availability, and other factors. Demonstrate community support from churches, clubs, businesses, media, hospitals, banks, utility providers, nonprofits, elected officials, retirees, and other entities.

Application Requirements Complete a marketing plan detailing the mission as applied to the community; the target market; the competition; an analysis of the community’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats; and the strategies the community will employ to attain the goals of the program Complete a long-term plan outlining the steps the community will undertake to maintain its desirability as a destination for retirees, including an outline of plans to correct any facility and service deficiencies identified in the retiree desirability assessment described in this section.

Application Requirements $5,000 application fee upon approval

Expiration & Renewal A community’s certification expires on the fifth anniversary of the date the initial certification is issued. To be considered for recertification, an applicant community must: Complete and submit a new application; Submit data demonstrating the success or failure of the community’s efforts to market and promote itself as a desirable location for retirees and potential retirees; and Submit a new certification fee as outlined in program rules.

Application Review & Scoring All application fields must be completed and application must be signed and dated by the community’s chief elected official. There are total of 185 possible points: Retiree Desirability Assessment – 120 points Community Support – 20 points Marketing Plan – 25 points Long-Term Plan – 20 points

Application Review & Scoring Small Communities: Cities with less than 10,000 in population (per most recent Census) and counties with less than 25,000 must have at least 130 points to be certified Mid-sized Communities: Cities with a population from 10,001 to 50,000 (per most recent Census) and counties from 25,001 to 200,000 must have at least 150 points to be certified. Large Communities: Cities with a population greater than 50,000 (per most recent Census) and counties greater than 200,000 must have at least 170 points to be certified.

CRC Benefits Participate in State marketing campaigns Listed on Retire In Texas Website Events promoted on Retire In Texas Facebook Page Highway Signage recognizing CRC designation Potential to Attract Businesses Focused on Retiree Needs – i.e. Assisted Living, Health Care Providers

Buda Involvement in Program In 2009, the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce and the Buda EDC embarked on an effort to apply to be a CRC. On May 18, 2010 a presentation regarding the CRC program and Buda’s application was presented to the City Council. The City Council voted to table submittal of an application. No action has been taken since May 18, 2010 by City Council regarding becoming a CRC.

Buda Involvement in Program In 2013, community members approached both the Buda EDC about making an application to become a CRC. There was minimal interest. In 2015, EDC Board Members requested a presentation about the CRC program at an EDC Board Meeting.

Buda Information 2010 Census Population – 7, Years and Over – 6.8% Resources for Seniors Onion Creek Senior Center Creekside Villas – Housing Huntington Senior Apartments Onion Creek Villas Assisted Living Memory Care Facility Seton Medical Center Hays (Kyle) Hays Drive a Senior In Home Medical Care Pharmacies

Buda Application Steps Buy in and support from Buda City Council Appointment of Retirement Board/Panel by City Council Completion of Application/Supporting Documentation Letter of Community Support Development of Marketing Plan

Buda Application Steps Development of Long-Term Plan Submission of Application Approval/Denial Approved = Payment of Application Fee

Possible Buda EDC Involvement Serve on Retirement Board/Panel Provide Information for Assessment/Application Assist with Application Letter of Support Payment of Application Fee Involvement in Marketing/Long-Term Plan Implementation

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