Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
The Association of Rural Communities in Texas (ARCIT) held their regional meeting in Mabank Jan. 22 in the Mason Eubank Hall. ARCIT Board of Directors Executive Director Daniel Tejada (from left), Board Treasurer Mark Meuth, Nichole Bermea, Bert Cunningham, Vice-President Keith Whitfield and Eric Kleinsorge welcome community leaders to the regional meeting.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Mabank Mayor Randy Teague (left) and son John Carter Teague welcome members of ARCIT to the regional session held in Mabank Jan. 22.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Attending the Jan. 22 conference is Tool Mayor Vera Bennett (left) and Tool City Administrator Julius Kizzee.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Gun Barrel City Council Member April Burns and Gun Barrel City Mayor Brian Crull attend the ARCIT regional meeting.

MABANK–The Association of Rural Communities in Texas (ARCIT) held their regional meeting Jan. 22 at the Mason-Eubanks Hall in Mabank. ARCIT is an organization that advocates for Texas cities with a population of 50,000 and under and counties with a population of 200,000 and under.
ARCIT board member Nichol Bermea said board members gather information from small rural cities by attending regional conferences like the one in Mabank. They then take the concerns to Austin and advocate for the small rural communities, she added.
Regional meetings, like the one that took place in Mabank, features guest speakers such as Texas Representative Keith Bell, who spoke on the 89th legislative session. Various vendors that collaborate closely with rural communities deal with offer help with infrastructure, grants, loans, water towers, consulting with city councils and so much more.
City of Bowie City Manager and Board Member Bert Cunningham commented on the regional conference that allows members and vendors to get together. One of the goals for ARCIT is to bring unity to small municipalities in Texas. Cunningham said, “When legislators know you are with ARCIT, they listen.”
ARCIT Vice President and Italy City Administrator Keith Whitfield spoke about, grant funding from the state saying, “We're working on putting together a subcommittee that will go down and legislate for us.” Whitfield continued, “We had the opportunity in February of 2025 to spend the day in Austin. We talked with several legislators about the voucher program, the different infrastructure, monies that are being released, different programs in that aspect.  We also talked to them about streamlining the grant process and the loan process so that it doesn’t take so long." 
Whitfield commented about his own experience. “I'm seeing a grant come through now that was applied for two years ago when I needed the funds,”  he said. "But our goal is to continue to bring the unity of the smallest house, that we'll have a bigger voice so when we go to talk to our legislators, that we will make our voices heard, that we will go and we will vote, and we will represent the smallest power,” Whitfield expressed.
ARCIT not only advocates for small cities, but they work with Economic Development Corporations, counties and school districts. 
For more information about ARCIT, visit www.arcit.org.