FANNIN COUNTY, TX- Team or Teach, empower, assist, and motivate will be the goal of the new facility. Officials say many Fannin County residents are in need of government assistance, education, and housing programs. They want to provide them with the assistance they need all in one location. And that will take a T.E.A.M. effort from area agencies. Rita Kotey has the story.

Right now this land is just dirt and grass but in the next few months it will be the home of a new 4,500 square foot assistance facility. With the turning of dirt the new team center is becoming more of a reality.

Located on West 16th street in Bonham, it will house agencies like TCOG and the Fannin County Literacy Council. They will work from one building to provide a number of free services like education, benefits and social security counseling, housing, and energy assistance programs.

"The agencies understand what the other is doing and know what services are being provided so you don't have duplication of services. On the other hand it is very helpful for the citizens because generally they are needing multiple services and when you can have those available in one location they are not running all over the place trying to figure out who they need to talk to they can come to one location almost one stop shop and access all those different services," TCOG executive director Susan Thomas said.

"With the new building we are going to be able to add even more computers and can serve more people," Marsha Lindsey said.

Marsha Lindsey with Workforce Solutions Texoma says this facility will be an extension of the offices they already have and the first step in providing more efficient service in Fannin County.

"If they come in to get GED services and they need medication assistance they would be able to access that at the same time," Lindsey said.

"We are about changing lives and improving the quality of life for the citizens in this region and this particular building will provide that opportunity for the citizens of Fannin County, " Thomas said.