Governor Greg Abbott announced that the City of Graham has achieved the designation of a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community. This certification, awarded by the Texas Music Office (TMO), marks Graham’s completion of the program’s multi-step process aimed at promoting music-related economic growth across Texas.
Governor Abbott commended Graham, stating, “Congratulations to the City of Graham on earning the Music Friendly Texas Certified Community designation. Music is key to the Texas brand and is deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of our great state.” He highlighted the significant impact of music on Texas’s economy, generating over 196,000 jobs and $31 billion annually.
Senator Brent Hagenbuch also praised the city, saying, “The recognition as a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community by the Texas Music Office highlights Graham’s strong commitment to supporting the arts and driving economic development.”
Mayor Alex Heartfield expressed his pride in Graham’s new status. “Our Visit Graham Texas team and Graham Municipal Auditorium Board have worked tirelessly through the years,” he said. Graham offers a variety of music-related events, such as the Food Truck Championship of Texas and a Summer Concert Series, which add to the local economy and cultural scene.
City Manager Eric Garretty echoed these sentiments, noting, “This designation is both a recognition of the hard work of our resolute team of music lovers and a reflection of our commitment to continue to host wonderful musical events in our fair city.”
Young County Judge Win Graham added, “I look forward to building on our reputation as a destination concert community as we continue to build on the annual Food Truck Championship of Texas concert and our wildly successful Summer Concert Series.”
To celebrate the designation, a ceremony co-hosted by TMO and Visit Graham is scheduled for April 12 at the 9th Annual Crawfish and Cannons Festival at Fort Belknap. Gini Mascorro, TMO’s Community Relations and Outreach Specialist, will present the certification.
Graham is now the 79th city in Texas to receive the Music Friendly designation. The Texas Music Office, founded in 1990, has been pivotal in encouraging the growth of Texas’s music sector through initiatives like the Music Friendly Community Program, launched in 2016. The office continues to facilitate connections between the music industry and government and support job creation and business expansion efforts through music business development.
