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Economic Development News
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GCEDD Meeting | April 5 at 10 a.m. | Innovation and Incubation
You are invited to the next Gulf Coast Economic Development District's (GCEDD) meeting to hear from Gabby Rowe, the CEO of Station Houston, an organization working to grow start ups, corporate innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The GCEDD's next meeting is from 10 am to 12 pm April 5 2019
at Houston-Galveston Area Council, 3335 Timmons Lane, Houston, Texas, 77027.
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Apply for Regional Innovation Strategies Program | April 4 | EDA
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is
accepting applications for this year's Regional Innovation Strategies
(RIS) Program. Cities, counties, and non-profit organizations can apply. The program includes two separate challenges:
- FY19 i6 Challenge - catalyzing high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the
 country, the i6 Challenge awards up to $750,000 for projects that increase regional capacity to accelerate the translation of innovations, ideas, intellectual property, and research into products, services, companies, and jobs.
- FY19 Seed Fund Support (SFS) Grant Competition - unlocking risk capital for entrepreneurs and startups to grow, SFS grants provide up to $300,000 for projects that create, launch, or expand equity-based seed funds or that create networks and tools that enable capital to flow into high-growth startups in all parts of the United States.
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Disaster Recovery Program | IEDC
The International Economic Development Council is placing experienced economic development professionals as volunteers in economic development organizations throughout the region that can use expert input doing various tasks such as: attracting inward investment, branding and marketing, business outreach, retention and recovery, community outreach, finance, flood control and mitigation, grant writing, strategic planning, and training/education.
Thanks to U.S. Economic Development Administration funding, the volunteers - who typically come for five days and then do supplementary work remotely - are
completely free of charge to communities in the region.
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Attend the Next Bringing Back Main Street | April 23rd | H-GAC
Save the date for H-GAC's next Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, April 23 at the Tomball Community Center, 221 Market Street Tomball, TX 77375.
During this workshop, the Texas Masonry Council will share information and resources, and you will hear from a speaker on placemaking strategies. H-GAC hosts these 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 713-993-4547.
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Take the Texas Transportation Plan 2050 Survey | TxDOT
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is working on the Texas Transportation Plan 2050, their long-range, multimodal, statewide transportation plan. TxDOT is asking for your feedback on the plan's draft goals and objectives and
Your input will help shape the plan and ultimately the framework to better manage transportation
infrastructure
throughout the state.
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January Gulf Coast Labor Market Analysis | Workforce Solutions
Workforce Solutions provides a monthly analysis of the Gulf Coast region's labor market. Some highlights from
the January 2019 report
are:
- Trade, Transportation, and Utilities was the largest declining sector over the month by 14,400 jobs
- Financial activities was the largest gaining sector over the month by 300 jobs
- 4.1% regional unemployment rate compared to a 3.7% state and 3.9 % national unemployment rate
The report highlights data from the Texas Workforce Commission and the Bureau of Labor Statistics focusing on the region's 13 counties. Reports are available on Workforce Solutions' webpage.
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Smart Mobility Technology | City of Frisco
The City of Frisco is working to build a resilient city through infrastructure. Frisco is building the initial infrastructure needed for automated transportation, allowing automobiles and a network of active sensors embedded in the transportation infrastructure to communicate.
For instance, the City has received TxDOT funding for an adaptive signal control pilot program that allows traffic signals to adapt to the local traffic conditions. While the future of automated technology is uncertain, Frisco is working to ensure that the City will be competitive in the future. For more information explore
H-GAC's Resiliency Plan.
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Funding Opportunities
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AARP Community Challenge Grant | Deadline April 17
Local governments and non-profits can now apply for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP's) Community Challenge Grants. Grants fund "quick action projects" related to public spaces, housing, and smart cities that can be completed within a few months.
Past projects include playgrounds, plazas, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant bus stops, and public art projects. All projects receiving funding in 2019 need to be complete by November, 4, 2019. Grant amount varies from project to project.
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USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants | Deadline 15 May
Rural communities can now apply for funding for broadband infrastructure and technical assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants.The program aims to connect rural communities to healthcare and educational resources. Grant amounts vary from $50,000 to $500,000, depending on the project with a 15% match required.
Local government or non-profit organizations providing education or healthcare are eligible to apply.
Loan amount and
terms vary by project and location.
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USDA Rural Broadband Access Loan Program | Continuous Through 2019
Applicants including local governments, non-profit organizations, and for-profit companies can apply for the US Department of Agriculture's Rural Broadband Access Loan program.
Program funds pay for the construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities required to provide service at the broadband lending speed throughout eligible rural areas including facilities required for providing other services through the same facilities.
Loan amount and
terms vary by project and location. For more information, visit the
USDA's website
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Hurricane Harvey Funding Available | EDA | Continuous
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 region recover from Hurricane Harvey. The released
Notice of Funding Opportunity
outlines the requirements, which include the following:
- Projects require a 20% match, which can include in-kind
- Typical projects will range from $1 million - $2.5 million
- Projects must demonstrate a nexus to Harvey in terms of economic recovery or resilience
- Eligible applicants include governments, non-profits, and universities
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Funding for Clean Vehicle Programs | H-GAC | Continuous
H-GAC's Clean Vehicles program has grant funding available for local governments, school districts, and businesses to accelerate the replacement of high-emitting and heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses with new, lower emission vehicles. The program funds projects in the
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria non-attainment area
. Previously funded projects include clean diesel and alternative fuel bus and truck replacements, natural gas refueling systems, hybrid electric transit buses, and marine vessel engine replacements. More information is available online.
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Funding for Commuter and Transit Programs | H-GAC | August 2022
H-GAC is requesting applications from local communities in the
Metropolitan Planning Area
for pilot programs that assist in the development of alternative travel modes that will help improve air quality throughout the region. Projects may include, but are not limited to, new commuter bus services, suburban to suburban employment commuter services, and first to last mile services. Funding is available from $150,000 to $1.6 million. More information about
H-GAC's Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Commuter and Transit Pilot Program
, including how to apply, is available online.
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Dollar Tree plans to build a $130 million distribution center in Rosenberg. The 1.2 million square-foot facility would create more than 300 jobs. Construction is expected to start in May and be completed by 2020.
H-E-B broke ground on a 90,000 square-foot store at the northeast corner of Stare Highway 288 and N. Macgregor Way. The grocery store is expected to open in later this year.
The Preston,
a residential project
, will begin construction soon at the corner of Preston and Milam in downtown Houston.The 46-story apartment tower will consist of 373 units and include 6,800 square feet of retail on the first floor. It is expected to open in 2022.
Grand National Business Park will be located at the southeast corner of Beltway 8 and Gessner Road. It will include 1.5 million square feet of industrial space as well as a hotel. Home Depot will develop a 770,640 square foot warehouse in the Park.
The Sam Houston Distribution Center is a planned 833,720 square-foot industrial project south of the Sam Houston race Park, off Fairbanks North Houston between Fallbrook Drive and Taub Road. The project is expected to be completed by 2020.
Compiled from reports in Community Impact Newspapers, Houston Business Journal, Houston Chronicle, and Rebusiness Online
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