The Brazos Valley Council of Governments (BVCOG) is a multi-purpose voluntary organization of, by and for local governments. Originally designated as the federally recognized Brazos Valley Economic Development District in 1966, the council officially reorganized as the Brazos Valley Development Council in 1967 as the result of state legislation. The legislation created 24 statewide planning regions each comprised of a voluntary association of local governments. The regions’ boundaries were based upon a number of characteristics including geographic features, economic market areas, labor markets, commuting patterns, and even media coverage areas.
The BVCOG region consists of seven counties, including Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington.
Click here for a detailed map of the Brazos Valley Region.
These regional planning organizations, defined by the Texas Legislature as “councils of governments,” are charged with addressing regional issues and opportunities and are reviewed biennially by the Governor of Texas. In 1997, the council’s Board of Director’s voted to change the organization’s name to the Brazos Valley Council of Governments in order to more appropriately emphasize the cooperative spirit of the local governments and to reflect the legislative terminology.