Bear River Association of Governments

What Bear River Association of Governments does

Bear River Association of Governments (BRAG) is a voluntary regional organization of local governments in northern Utah, formed in 1971 by Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties to coordinate intergovernmental planning and deliver human services across the tri-county region. Headquartered in Logan with a second office in Brigham City and mobile outreach to Garden City and Randolph, BRAG operates as the legally designated Area Agency on Aging, Regional Planning Agency, Community Action Agency, Regional Housing Authority, Economic Development District, Heritage Area Promotion, and Rural Transportation Planning Organization for the region, serving roughly 175,000 residents across 39 cities and towns with a staff of about 26.

BRAG's portfolio spans housing (Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8, START short-term rental assistance, Crown Village and Box Elder Commons affordable housing properties, First Time Home Buyer assistance, emergency home repair and weatherization), utility assistance (HEAT/LIHEAP), tax preparation (VITA), aging/disability/veteran services, transportation (Lifeline Mobility), benefit navigation, community justice/legal aid, business retention (BEAR), and CDBG administration with regional and local planning. Service delivery is human-staff-driven via a Central Intake model in offices and online, with no proprietary technology platform.

The business model is grant-funded: BRAG's revenue comes from federal pass-throughs (Community Services Block Grant from HHS, LIHEAP from DOE, HUD Section 8 and CDBG) and state allocations (Permanent Community Impact Fund Board), with services provided free or low-cost to income-qualifying households. The organization is governed by a 15-member board of elected county commissioners, council members, executives, and mayors from the three counties; it has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and is not publicly traded.

Name

Bear River Association of Governments

Legal name

Bear River Association of Governments

Website

https://brag.utah.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bear River Association of Governments is a 1971-vintage voluntary association of Utah local governments that delivers federally funded housing, utility, aging, tax, and planning programs across Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties, serving roughly 175,000 residents through two offices and mobile outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Government Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

Keywords

• Government social services
• Housing assistance programs
• Community action programs
• Regional planning services
• Aging disability services

Headquarters

HQ city

Logan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants - Community Services Block Grant: Primary funding from the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) from the Office of Community Services within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
2. U.S. Department of Energy LIHEAP Funding: HEAT (Home Energy Assistance Target) program is funded through the U.S. Department of Energy Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
3. HUD Community Development Block Grant: CDBG funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the State of Utah Division of Housing & Community Development.
4. HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program: Long-term monthly rental assistance program funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
5. Permanent Community Impact Fund Board (CIB) Funding: Statewide Regional Planner Program funding for local community planning assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bear River Association of Governments (BRAG) is a voluntary association of local governments serving Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties in Utah, formed in 1971 to provide regional planning and human services. The organization administers federally and state-funded social service programs—including rental assistance, utility (HEAT) assistance, home weatherization and rehabilitation, Housing Choice Vouchers, free tax preparation (VITA), aging/disability/veteran services, and benefit navigation—to low-income households, seniors, persons with disabilities, and veterans. It also delivers community and economic development services to local governments, including CDBG administration, planning, and coordination of the Bear River Local Homeless Council.

Product overview

Bear River Association of Governments (BRAG) is a multi-purpose government agency providing social services across Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties in Utah. Rather than a unified software product, BRAG offers a portfolio of distinct service programs delivered through its offices and website: housing assistance programs including short-term rental assistance (START), long-term housing vouchers (Section 8), and affordable housing properties (Crown Village Apartments, Box Elder Commons Apartments); utility and home repair services including HEAT utility assistance, weatherization, emergency home repair, and crisis service calls; financial assistance programs including the First Time Home Buyer program, Benefit Navigator, and VITA tax preparation; aging, disability, and veteran services; transportation assistance; community and economic development services; and regional planning. These programs operate independently under BRAG's coordination, serving low-income households, seniors, persons with disabilities, and local governments through direct service delivery rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HEAT Utility Assistance Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Low-income households receive ongoing rental assistance through Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CAPSA Domestic Violence SupportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026CAPSA provides domestic violence support services. BRAG partners with CAPSA as a core partner for the homeless services network, referring clients who need domestic violence support and receiving referrals from CAPSA for housing and other services.
• Department of Workforce Services (DWS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Utah Department of Workforce Services provides employment services and workforce development. BRAG partners with DWS as a core partner, including co-locating VITA tax preparation at DWS locations and referring clients for employment services.
• WAB Warming CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026WAB Warming Center provides emergency warming services for homeless individuals. BRAG partners with WAB as part of the homeless services network, referring unsheltered individuals for warming services.
• Neighborhood Nonprofit Housing CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026NNHC is committed to creating quality affordable housing opportunities and enhancing communities. BRAG partners with NNHC for housing services including first-time home buyer counseling, budgeting, foreclosure intervention, and financial coaching.
• Utah Families Feeding FamiliesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Food assistance partner organization in the community.
• Boys and Girls Club of Northern UtahminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Youth services organization serving children and families in the Bear River Region.
• Bear River Valley Senior CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Senior center providing services to seniors in Tremonton area. VITA tax preparation site location for BRAG services.
• Brigham City Community CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Community center providing senior services in Brigham City. VITA tax preparation site location for BRAG services.
• Cache Valley BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Cache Valley Bank is the second-largest regulated institution in Cache County. Partner in Family Financial Workshop providing financial services and homeownership information to community members.
• Cache Valley Humanitarian CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Humanitarian organization providing services to community members in need.
• Intermountain HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Healthcare provider partner supporting community services and wellness programs.
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Religious organization partner supporting community services and humanitarian efforts.
• USU Social Work DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Utah State University Social Work Department provides academic support and student volunteers for BRAG programs. Partner in community outreach and service delivery.
• USU Transforming Communities InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026USU institute focused on community transformation and development. Partner in research, training, and community programs.
• Credit Aid TodayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Credit counseling organization. Collaborating partner in Family Financial Workshop providing credit education, improvement, and counseling services.
• Celtic BankminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Banking partner. Collaborating partner in Family Financial Workshop offering homeownership advice, counseling, home loan qualification, and education.
• Cafe IbisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Local business partner supporting community services.
• Sellers Management GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Property management company that manages Crown Village Apartments and Box Elder Commons Apartments for BRAG. Handles leasing and property management for BRAG affordable housing properties.
• Utah State University Family Life CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026USU Family Life Center offers first-time home buyer workshops required for BRAG's First Time Home Buyer program participants.
• Bear River Local Homeless Council (BRLHC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Coalition of organizations providing insights and ideas about housing or homeless services in the Bear River Region. BRAG staff participate and provide staff support to council meetings.
• Bear River Valley Mental Health, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Developed Box Elder Commons Apartments (15-unit special needs housing complex) completed in June 2001. BRAG took over ownership and management on March 1, 2017.
• Utah Housing CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Utah Housing Corporation co-developed Crown Village Apartments with BRAG in 2006. The project utilizes tax credits and other affordable housing funding from Utah Housing Corporation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Six County Association of Governments: Utah AOG serving Iron, Kane, Garfield, Beaver, Millard, and Washington counties. Comparable rural multi-county government association providing community services, planning, and human services administration in a similar rural Utah setting.
• Uintah Basin Association of Governments: Utah AOG serving Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah counties. A rural three-county association of governments providing an essentially identical portfolio of social services, planning, and economic development programs.
• Mountainland Association of Governments: Utah COG covering Summit, Wasatch, and Utah counties. Provides the same combination of regional planning, aging services, housing programs, and economic development administration as BRAG, making it a near-twin peer in structure and mission.
• Wasatch Front Regional Council: A Utah-based Association of Governments serving Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Morgan, and Box Elder counties. Like BRAG, it operates as a regional planning agency, transportation planning organization, and administers federal programs — the most directly comparable COG in the state.
• Five County Association of Governments: Utah AOG covering Juab, Sanpete, Sevier, Piute, and Wayne counties. Operates the same mix of AAA, housing authority, planning, and human services functions for a small rural Utah region, mirroring BRAG's mandate and funding model.
• Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments: Utah AOG serving Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan counties. Comparable rural multi-county government association delivering planning, human services, aging, and housing programs under the same state/federal framework.

Others

• National Association of Regional Councils: National membership association for U.S. regional councils and COGs. Relevant as the ecosystem-level peer representing BRAG's peer group and the policy advocate for federal funding flowing to entities like BRAG.
• National Association for Community Development Organizations: National association for community development corporations and CDBG administrators. Peer relevance to BRAG's Community Action Agency and CDBG administrative functions.

Broad incumbents

• Utah Housing Corporation: State-level housing finance entity that co-developed Crown Village Apartments with BRAG and channels LIHTC funding. Comparable as a larger, statewide housing provider that overlaps with BRAG's affordable housing mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BRAGHS
• Instagraminstagram.com/brag_human_services
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bear-river-association-of-government

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bear River Association of Governments