County alert · County notice
Sealy is now a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community
The City of Sealy in Austin County has earned the Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community designation from Travel Texas after finishing the program’s multi-step certification process, the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office announced Oct. 13, 2026.
The Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, part of the Office of the Governor, announced on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, that Travel Texas has recognized the City of Sealy as a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community.
What it means. Sealy earned the designation after completing the program’s multi-step certification process. The state says the designation shows the Sealy Convention & Visitors Bureau’s commitment to developing tourism as an economic growth strategy, adding local jobs and drawing more visitors.
What the state says about tourism. The release, quoting Gov. Greg Abbott, says travelers to and within Texas generate more than $200 billion in annual economic impact and support 1.3 million jobs across the state.
Local reaction. Sealy Mayor Carolyn Bilski said she was pleased to receive the certification on behalf of the City Council and residents. Discover Sealy Tourism Manager Charlie Wade said the designation reflects the city’s commitment to making tourism part of its economic future. State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst and State Rep. Stan Kitzman, who represent Sealy, also congratulated the city.
Who can apply. The Tourism Friendly Texas Community program is open to local governments or nonprofits that lead tourism promotion and development in their community. The state lists benefits such as building relationships for tourism development, educating local leaders on tourism’s importance, setting local strategies and learning about Travel Texas and other state programs.
Program details: https://gov.texas.gov/travel-texas/tourism-friendly-texas.
Original source: Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office (Office of the Governor) release "City of Sealy Recognized As Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community," Oct. 13, 2026. Notice Nearby wrote this brief in its own words.
What to read next: the Austin County hub (https://noticenearby.com/tx/austin), the Texas hub (https://noticenearby.com/tx) and all public papers (https://noticenearby.com/papers). Local businesses, parks and places nearby are on ZOST.app (https://zost.app).
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