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Your Monthly News & Updates
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Parks and Natural Area Roundtable - September 10
Representatives from Asakura Robinson and League City will present their award-winning parks projects, H-GAC staff will provide a program update, and participants will share information about upcoming parks and natural areas-related projects and events.
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U.S. Census PSAP Workshops - September 12, October 15
H-GAC is the official liaison for the United States Census Bureau's Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) for the 13-county H-GAC planning region.
As part of the PSAP, the U.S. Census Bureau requires
re-establishing boundaries based on population growth or loss at the Census Tract and Census Block Group levels with every decennial census count.
H-GAC staff will host a series of workshops to engage stakeholders in open dialogue about the process for reestablishing boundaries.
The workshops are designed for individuals at the county and local levels who use cCensus data for planning purposes and demographic data users who base research and policy decisions on Census Tracts, Block Groups, or Census Designated Places. They are free and open to the public, but you must register to attend either.
For more information on the workshops, contact Brooks Andrews at 713-993-4519.
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Broadband Listening Tour - September 13
H-GAC and the Gulf Coast Economic Development District will host a
Broadband Listening Tour workshop from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Thursday, September 13, at H-GAC Conference Room A, Second Floor.
Attendees will learn more about broadband opportunities in the region. Through collaboration with the Still Water Foundation, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, Texas Education Agency, and other foundations and stakeholders, Connected Nation is hosting listening tours and resource information sessions across the state.
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Future of Retail: Your Community Destination Workshop - September 21
At this half-day workshop, participants will gain insights from experts on retail trends and future opportunities and learn how small communities are attracting and retaining retail tenants while rebranding their retail destinations through practical policies, programs, and projects.
Presenters include Austin Farmer, Regional Project Director, The Retail Coach; Steve Spillette, President, Community Development Strategies; Aron Kulhavy, City Manager, City of Huntsville; Bret Gardella, Director, Rosenberg Economic Development Corporation; and Brad Stafford, City Manager, City of Navasota.
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Texas Energy Summit - September 24-26
The
2018 Texas Energy Summit, formerly the Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency/CATEE Conference, will be
September 24-26 at Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria, 2626 Sage Road, Houston.
The annual summit provides a forum to
- Share information on state and local energy efficiency, renewable energy, and air quality policies;
- Raise awareness of the importance of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability measures for the state's economic well-being;
- Highlight and celebrate successful policies and programs being implemented to achieve emissions reductions and related environmental and economic benefits;
- Explore the growing importance of the Energy/Water Nexus; and
- Consider advances in intelligent building design, Smart Cities and energy efficiency Internet of Things (IOT), including manufacturing/industrial IOT.
Registration is required. H-GAC partners can receive a 10% discount using PARTNER10 at checkout.
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Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable - October 23
H-GAC hosts quarterly roundtables to help local governments, chambers of commerce, and economic development interests promote the economic revitalization of downtown areas.
For more information, contact
Joey Kaspar at 713-993-4547.
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Fall Planning Workshop - November 9
Mark your calendars for the annual Fall Planning Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Friday, November 9, at H-GAC Conference Room B, Second Floor.
This annual half-day workshop series for local governments features presentations on best planning practices for communities.
This year's workshop, Planning at the Edge, invites participants to join in discussion with local cities and counties,especially unincorporated areas, experiencing growth and development, . This workshop will focus on common issues, challenges, and potential management solutions.
For more information, e-mail [email protected]
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Trash Bash - March 30, 2019
Every year, thousands of volunteers gather to clean up trash and debris along area waterways by participating in the largest, single-day waterway cleanup in Texas, the
River, Lakes, Bays 'N Bayous Trash Bash®
. Join them on Saturday, March 30, 2019, for the 26th annual cleanup.
With locations across the Galveston Bay watershed, there's a cleanup location near home, work, or school. An educational area offers opportunities to learn more about protecting water quality. Participating in Trash Bash® is free, with supplies, t-shirts, lunch, and door prizes provided. Scouts and students are encouraged to participate.
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H-GAC Seeks Public Input on Use of Harvey Infrastructure, Buyout Funds
The H-GAC Board-approved a Method of Distribution (MOD) detailing the allocation of approximately $241 million in Harvey recovery funds to support infrastructure projects and home buyouts/acquisitions outside the City of Houston and Harris County in July 2018.
H-GAC is continuing our Citizen Participation process and seeking input
to help inform guidance we will make available to local governments as they plan and prioritize use of their allocated CDBG Disaster Recovery infrastructure and home buyout/ acquisition funds. W
e are especially seeking input to the elements found on pages 5-8 of the Summary Form. We are not seeking comments on the H-GAC Board-approved allocation formula.
The public comment period regarding the Summary Form opened at noon Thursday, August 30, 2018, and will close at noon, Friday, September 14, 2018. We will take comments online, by e-mail, by mail, hand-delivered, and at a public meeting from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, September 10, at H-GAC Conference Room A, Second Floor. More information about the means for submitting input are available on the project website.
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Parks and Natural Areas Awards Application Open Until September 28
PNA awards
honor projects in four categories: Projects Over $500,000; Projects Under $500,000; Planning Process; and Policy Tools. Winning entries serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region.
Winners will be notified in December. The awards ceremony and half-day parks event will be in February 2019. For more information, contact
Andrea Tantillo at 832-681-2507.
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H-GAC Launches Current County Data Viewer
H-GAC recently released the
Current County Data Viewer.
This interactive application displays the most recent county-level data of the 13-county H-GAC region. The tool offers demographic, economic and housing data. Most of the data used in this application is only available at the county level.
H-GAC's
interactive web applications provide information in a convenient, easy-to-use format. The applications are accessible on any browsers and are mobile-friendly.
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2019 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards
Each year, the Governor's Office and commissioners from the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality honor the state's most outstanding environmental projects through the
Texas Environmental Excellence Awards. Winners from across the state exemplify how Texans set the standard for ensuring clean air, clean water, and the safe management of waste.
The application period for the 2019 awards is now open. Winners will be honored at an awards banquet
May 15, 2019, where videos of the winning projects will be featured. Applications will be accepted through
Friday, September 28.
Federal Highway Administration Environmental Excellence Awards
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is accepting nominations for the
2019 Environmental Excellence Awards through
Friday, September 14. This biennial awards program recognizes partners, projects, and processes that use FHWA funding sources to go beyond environmental compliance and achieve environmental excellence.
Recycle Bowl Registration
Keep America Beautiful presents
Recycle Bowl
, a national K-12 competition between schools to invigorate student participation in recycling efforts. The competition runs from
October 15 to November 15,
but
registration
is open now. There are both competitive and non-competitive divisions for this program.
America Recycles Day Event Registration
For almost two decades, communities have come together on November 15 to celebrate
America Recycles Day
. Do you have plans for hosting a special event on that day? Register your event
here
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Take Care of Texas Video Contest
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) invites students in 6th through 12th grades to enter the annual
Take Care of Texas Video Contest. Student videos should be 30 seconds long and portray positive ways Texans can help keep air and water clean, conserve water and energy, or reduce waste. The contest deadline is
Friday, December 14, and the public will have the opportunity to pick their favorite videos
January 10 through 24, 2019.
The middle and high school students who win first place will be invited to travel to Austin, along with their teacher, parent, or guardian, to be recognized by the TCEQ and Waste Management of Texas, Inc., at the 2019 Environmental Trade Fair and Conference.
Texas Rural Leadership Program
The Texas Rural Leadership Program (TRLP) offers leadership development training in communities through its TRLP Leaders-In-Action Workshop Series. TRLP partners with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas A&M University Public Partnership & Outreach. For more information about what TRLP offers, visit
https://trlp.tamu.edu/
or contact Craig Rotter at 979-587-1992.
Community Resilience Collaborative
The Community Resilience Collaborative (CRC) provides technical assistance for planning, outreach, and education aimed at coastal communities, particularly resource managers, land use planners, and emergency managers who deal with hazard mitigation. Planning is emphasized to address critical land use, environmental, hazard mitigation, and disaster recovery issues through coastal planning. Priority is placed on providing planning assistance to low-capacity, low-resource, and/or underrepresented communities. For more information regarding the CRC, contact Heather Wade at 979-845-3855.
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Center for Houston's Future Summer Salons
The Center for Houston's Future is hosting the third of
three monthly summer salons at 7:30 a.m.
Wednesday, September 13, at the Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston. This casual breakfast conversation brings
big-picture thinkers and regional experts together with broader audiences for an extended discussion on regional issues, with a focus on the next steps for creating a sustainable and competitive Houston region. Registration is $30 per person and includes a seated breakfast.
Greater Houston Partnership Economy Series
The Greater Houston Partnership and Visit Houston will host
Placemaking - The Role of Tourism on Houston's Perception from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Friday, September 21, at Marriott Marquis, 1777 Walker Street, Houston. The two-part luncheon includes the State of Tourism address from Mike Waterman, Executive Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Houston First Corp. and President of Visit Houston. Aaron Price, Chief Marketing Officer for Brand Expedia Group, will then describe what it takes for cities to transform their communities into great places. Registration begins at $90 for members. For more information, contact
Ryan Albright at 713-844-3632.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Recreation Grants Criteria Discussion
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Recreation Grants program is hosting a series of public input meetings to discuss and assess evaluation criteria for awarding funds through the Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) Grant and for Local Park Grants. A meeting in the H-GAC region will be Thursday, September 13, at TPWD State Parks Region 4 HQ, 14200 Garrett Road, Houston. Local Park Grant evaluation criteria discussion will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m., and Co-Op Grant evaluation criteria discussion will be from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Webinars are available for anyone who cannot attend in person. Existing evaluation criteria for each of these grant programs is available online. For more information, e-mail Recreation Grants or call 512-389-8224.
Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup
The 2018 Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Fall Cleanup will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, September 15, at 30 sites along the Texas coast. There are 10 sites in the Houston-Galveston area: four in Galveston County, one in LaPorte, two in the Freeport area, and three in the Bay City area. Registration is requested.
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Wednesday Webinars
The
Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA) is hosting a
Wednesday Webinar series at 2 p.m. the last Wednesday of every other month.
Join to learn about resources and projects from around the Gulf. Preregistration is not required. Upcoming webinars include
Tool Highlights (Dave Reed), September 26; and Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) Detection (Kate Hubbard), November 28.
National Association of Development Organizations Conference
Drug Enforcement Agency National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA)
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 27. Check the
DEA website
in early October for area drop-off locations. The collection event provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications and environmental contamination. Law enforcement agencies interested in hosting a collection site should
call the
point of contact
for this area.
STAR Texas Recycling Summit
Registration
is now open for the
State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) Texas Recycling Summit 2018
October 28-31 at Moody Gardens, 7 Hope Boulevard, Galveston.
This is the only state conference dedicated entirely to recycling and waste diversion activities in Texas. It's also an opportunity to network with professionals from the recycling industry to learn, collaborate, share successes, and support recycling efforts.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Master Gardeners Composter Training
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Fort Bend County Master Gardeners Association are hosting a
three-day composter specialist event from 10 a.m. to noon
December 5-7 at the AgriLife Extension Office, 1402 Band Road, Suite 100, Rosenberg. This training is sanctioned by the Texas Master Gardener program, and the 24 attendees will receive the title of "Composter Specialist." More information, including an
agenda and registration, is available online.
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USDA Rural Water Infrastructure Projects
The deadline to apply is Thursday, September 30.
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Texas Coastal and Waterway Community Recycling Grant
The Recycling Partnership and The Coca-Cola Foundation have opened the new coastal and waterways community grant program to help address the challenge of waste in waterways and help improve the collection of recyclables for reuse. The program will provide new carts with lids for curbside recycling programs located on the coastal shorelines.
The deadline to apply for the first round of funding is
Friday, September 21. Anyone interested in this program should contact
Rob Taylor before applying.
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H-GAC Septic System or Aerobic System Repair/ Replacement
H-GAC has funding available for the repair or replacement of failing conventional septic systems or aerobic on-site sewage facilities in the H-GAC service region.
Funds are available to homeowners who meet certain income restrictions. No cost sharing is required. For more information, contact
Brian Sims at 713-993-2438.
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EDA Harvey
Recovery Grants
The U.S. Economic Development Administration's (EDA) Austin regional office received $129,119,000 in supplemental funding for disaster relief and is actively seeking projects to help communities in the Houston-Galveston region recover from Hurricane Harvey.
- Projects require a 20 percent match, which can include in-kind contributions
- Typical projects will range from $1-$2.5 million
- First round of 14-15 applications anticipated to be funded by September 2018, with 1 or 2 subsequent rounds of funding
- Must demonstrate a nexus to Harvey in terms of economic recovery or resilience
- Eligible applicants include governments, nonprofits, and universities
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All content, including links to websites, is for informational purposes only. Users of this content are responsible for checking its accuracy, currency, and suitability.
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Community and Environmental Planning Programs
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Mapping Applications
Looking for interactive applications or GIS data related to the H-GAC Community and Environmental Planning Department? Visit H-GAC's interactive applications web page to see the latest information, including Census, Regional Forecast, and more.
Facebook
Find the latest information about activities around the region at H-GAC's Twitter feed
@hgaccog. H-GAC's water resources program also offers Twitter updates on water quality issues in the region
@HGACwater.
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Banner Photo by Justin Bower.
Would you like us to consider featuring your municipality, program, or regional photo on the C&E Planning Update banner? Just forward
Andrea Tantillo
your picture, along with some information about the subject and the photographer, and you might see it in a future month's newsletter.
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