Alamo Area Council of Governments

"To enhance the lives of all residents of the Alamo Region by working in mutual respect and partnership with all levels of government, the business sector, and the community at large to meet regional challenges and to create regional strengths."

The Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) is a voluntary association of cities, counties, and special governmental districts. AACOG serves the Alamo Area/State Planning Region 18, which covers 12 counties and 11,354 square miles.

Local governments organized AACOG as a regional planning commission in 1968 under Chapter 391, Local Government Code. Defined as a political subdivision of the state, AACOG can plan, assist local governments, and deliver public services, but has no power to tax or to regulate. State law requires that the governmental body of AACOG be composed primarily of local government officials.

AACOG is located at 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 700, San Antonio, TX 78217-6228 (Directions to our location).

The general purpose of AACOG is to plan for the unified, far-reaching development of the region, eliminate duplication of services, and promote economy and efficiency through coordination. AACOG:

Organizes cooperative projects among local governments to save tax dollars;

Provides technical assistance to member local governments in economic development, grant applications, planning, management, and other areas;

Administers federal and state programs that benefit from regional cooperation;

Coordinates federal, state, and local projects and issues that cross the boundaries of individual local governments;

Plans for the orderly development of the region and for effective delivery of public services; and

Reviews and coordinates federal, state and local programs of regional significance.

AACOG has active programs for regional planning in the areas of aging services, economic development, 9-1-1 systems, homeland security, criminal justice, resource recovery, air quality, transportation, and weatherization. We also administer the Bexar Mental Retardation Authority. Technical assistance is provided by the staff to local governments on matters related to a number of other program areas, including census, housing, tourism, and human services. In addition, AACOG sponsors special projects in response to local government needs or requests.