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This year, H-GAC has brought together planners, designers, and public health professionals to explore how we can create healthier, more resilient communities. From connecting transportation and public health to reimagining urban, suburban, and rural spaces, each session has built momentum toward practical strategies for change.
Now, we’re gearing up for the final event in our 2025 Livable Centers Series — the Land Use and Transportation Workshop in September. Watch below to see what we’ve accomplished so far and how you can be part of shaping a healthier future for our region.
Catch up on regional H-GAC events and explore ways you can get involved!
👉 h-gac.com/calendar
Don’t forget to subscribe to our videos, follow us on social media,
and stay connected for more regional updates!
| | Have Your Say on Our Region's Clean Air Future | | |
H-GAC invites everyone across the 13-county region to share their input on the Regional Clean Air Action Plan, a long-term roadmap to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote healthier communities.
Two upcoming region-wide meetings will give you an opportunity to join the conversation:
- 1 – 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 16 – Hybrid Meeting at H-GAC (3555 Timmons Lane, 2nd Floor, Houston) with a Zoom option
- 6 – 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18 – Virtual Zoom Meeting
Participants can register at h-gac.com/CPRG to receive meeting links.
“Clean air is essential for healthy families and thriving communities,” said Jamila Owens, assistant director of Transportation at H-GAC. “These public meetings give residents a chance to share their perspectives and help prioritize strategies for improving air quality in their communities.”
If you can’t attend a meeting, you can still make your voice heard by taking the regional Clean Air, Healthy Communities survey at h-gac.com/CPRG through October 31, 2025.
The survey asks for feedback on strategies related to buildings and energy, transportation, industry, waste, agriculture, and land use.
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The Regional Clean Air Action Plan is being developed in partnership with Harris County, the city of Houston, Fort Bend County, and the Houston Advanced Research Center. Supported by a $1 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the plan will guide clean air and climate action strategies through 2050.
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H-GAC Parks & Natural Areas Awards:
Apply through September 30
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H-GAC's annual Parks and Natural Areas Awards program continues to accept applications through 3 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.
The Parks and Natural Areas Awards recognize projects in four categories:
- Projects Over $500,000
- Projects Under $500,000
- Planning Process and Policy
Winning entries serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. Please note that no funding is associated with this awards program.
Click below to access the online application guide and portal:
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We are also seeking volunteers to help score the applications and select the winners.
Award winners will be notified in December and recognized in 2026. For more information or to volunteer as a judge, contact Andrea Tantillo.
| | Renewable Energy & Local Governments:
Opportunities and challenges | | |
Across the Houston-Galveston region, local governments are exploring renewable energy as a way to manage costs and strengthen resilience. Solar and wind power are becoming more affordable, with the cost of solar panels dropping more than 40 percent in the past decade.
Cities and counties can take advantage of incentives to install systems on public buildings, schools, and community centers through programs such as:
Navigating these opportunities can be complex, as local governments must balance upfront investments with the need for reliable and consistent energy service. The good news is that practical solutions are emerging. Partnerships with utilities and regional organizations, technical assistance programs, and community-based initiatives are helping streamline projects and expand local energy options.
By working together, communities can access renewable energy’s economic advantages while supporting Clean Air, Healthy Communities and building a more affordable, reliable future for our region.
Click here to learn about H-GAC's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program.
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Help Improve Campus Travel —
Take the University Travel Survey Today!
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Every campus morning looks different — rushing to catch the bus, weaving through bike lanes, circling for a parking spot, or walking across campus. That’s why the Houston-Galveston Area Council, your campus, and the ETC Institute want to hear from YOU.
👉 Look for surveyors in blue vests on campus this fall and share your story.
📅 The Major Universities Travel Survey runs September through the end of October
2025.
💡 Your feedback will help improve transit, parking, bike access, and campus travel—
making it safer and smoother for everyone.
Be part of the change. Take the survey today: www.h-gac.com/surveys.
| | Apply Now: Solid Waste grant funding available | | |
H-GAC is accepting applications for approximately $950,000 in solid waste grant funding for eligible projects across the 13-county region. These funds, provided through our partnership with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, come from tipping fees collected at landfills statewide and are awarded through a competitive grant process.
This is the only call for projects planned for the current two-year cycle. Grants will begin in either March or September 2026, and all work must be completed by May 2027.
The application period is now open and will close at 12 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14.
To support applicants, H-GAC is hosting a free webinar with step-by-step guidance on completing the application.
Solid Waste Grant Application Webinar
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025
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For more information or to be added to the solid waste grant email list, contact Erin Livingston.
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Additional Funding Available:
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Public Safety
Economic Development Administration – Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental
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Total Funding: $1.447 billion
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Awards Up To: $50 million
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Deadline: Ongoing
Apply at: grants.gov/search-results-detail/359225
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Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation – Innovative Finance & Asset Concession
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Total Funding: $45.98 million
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Awards Up To: $2 million
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Deadline: October 1
Apply at: grants.gov/search-results-detail/360279
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H-GAC concludes its three-part 2025 Livable Centers Roundtable and Workshop Series—exploring the critical connections between transportation planning, design, and public health with the annual Land Use and Transportation workshop from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday, September 18, second floor conference rooms.
Participant networking begins at 9 a.m. The program begins at 9:30 a.m.
Registration is requested, but not required, to attend.
This workshop will bring together leading experts, policymakers, and practitioners from urban design, transportation planning, and public health to discuss integrated solutions for reducing health disparities and improving community well-being.
This workshop is a must-attend for anyone committed to designing cities and communities that prioritize well-being, mobility, and long-term resilience.
For more information, contact: Sarai Osorio at livablecenters@h-gac.com
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