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 H-GAC, GCEDD Launch Economic Recovery Resources Tools
H-GAC and the Gulf Coast Economic Development District have launched an
economic recovery resources webpage with listings of economic recovery updates, available funding opportunities, upcoming webinars, and partner resources. We will update this website as new opportunities become available and will issue the Economic Recovery Resources - Weekly Update to help our local partners stay on top of new funding opportunities.
H-GAC has combined
our agency recovery resources in a single webpage, including information about economic recovery,
teleworking and meeting resources, Workforce Solutions, small business assistance and cooperative purchasing, research and data, H-GAC Board of Directors meetings, and more.
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 Webinar Training to Review Available Resources - May 6
Join H-GAC from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, May 6, for a free webinar training to review the resources available through the
Coastal Communities project toolbox. The webinar will review available resources, discuss possible frameworks in which to use them, and identify ways users can help add to the toolbox moving forward. Attendees will also learn how to use the toolbox to build on existing outreach or plan new outreach to reduce pollution concerns in area waterways.
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 Natural Resources Advisory Committee Meeting - May 7
The Natural Resources Advisory Committee serves as a forum to advise the H-GAC Board and local decision-makers on policy issues affecting natural resources in the 13-county Houston-Galveston region. Its membership includes diverse representatives from local governments, natural resource management agencies, environmental organizations, and the private sector.
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 Solid Waste Workshop: Recycling -
May 21
H-GAC's next solid waste workshop will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, May 21. The workshop will focus on recycling and will be presented as a webinar. Confirmed presenters include representatives from Keep Pearland Beautiful, Keep Texas Recycling, the State of Texas Recycling Alliance, and the Recycling Partnership.
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 Annual Basin Steering Committee Meeting -
May 27
Presentations include the 2020 Basin Highlights Report, a monitoring efficiency special study, the FY 2021 coordinated monitoring schedule, and an update on the Bacteria Implementation Group, Basin 11, and Basin 13 I-Plan revisions.
For more information, to submit public comment, or to receive a link and call in information, contact Jean Wright.
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 BIG Spring Meeting - June 2
Topics will include the BIG Implementation Plan (I-Plan) revisions and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) updates.
Registration is required. For more information or to submit public comment, contact
Steven Johnston
at 832-681-2579.
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 Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable - July 28
H-GAC hosts quarterly roundtables to help local governments, chambers of commerce, and economic development interests promote the economic revitalization of downtown areas.
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Broadband Surveys Underway in Liberty, Walker and Wharton Counties
Connected Nation, through a grant provided by the
Texas Rural Funders Collaborative, is conducting rural broadband studies in Liberty, Walker, and Wharton counties in the region. Connected Nation is conducting surveys of residents, businesses, and organizations to gather data on their internet access and needs. If you live in
Liberty,
Walker, or
Wharton county, please take the survey and share the link with your friends and neighbors. Understanding internet use and needs is crucial to making the business case for expansion in rural areas. Your participation is appreciated.
 Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health COVID-19 Registry
The Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health (GC-CPEH) has released an opportunity to participate in the
COVID-19 registry. The GC-CPEH is a partnership between UTMB, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health and is supporting Rice University in a critical research study to provide information, data, and answers on the spread of COVID-19, who is being affected, and how. Data from the registry will be stored in a highly secure system build by Rice University. Information learned from the registry will be published, but will not include details that would identify any participants.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Resilient Texas Website
Texas communities working on long-term recovery from Hurricane Harvey can find Infoshare resources at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service's new
Resilient Texas website. Visit the site for both new and previous information shared in weekly emails. FEMA's Texas Recovery Office partnered with AgriLife on the site and will continue to provide resources both in email and for the website.
 Free Technical Assistance Available for Brownfields Re-use for EPA Region 6
Kansas State University Technical Assistance to Brownfields program provides free site re-use planning and visioning services, and site inventory and prioritization assistance to local governments that don't have the resources to get this done on their own. This assistance is usually enough to "start the ball rolling," for developing strategies and to attract funds to do more extensive planning work and to redevelop brownfields. For more information, contact
Blase Leven, the Program Coordinator at Kansas State University, at 785-532-0780.
 American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) 2020 Community Challenge - Deadline Extended
The application period for the
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) 2020 Community Challenge
is now open. The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund "quick-action" projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Applications are being accepted for projects to improve housing, transportation, public space, technology ("smart cities"), civic engagement and more. The deadline to apply is
Friday, May 15,
and all projects must be complete by
Friday, December 18.
 Get Involved With Trash Free Texas
Trash Free Texas strives to keep trash out of area waterways by working with communities and organizations across the state to connect people to places that need routine litter cleanup activities. Local governments and organizations can get involved by using the
Adopt-a-Spot online interactive mapping application.
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National Regional Transportation Conference Presentation Ideas
 The
National Regional Transportation Conference
, July 28-30, in Kansas City, Missouri, welcomes regional transportation planners, mobility professionals, state DOT representatives, and local and private sector partners. The conference will be held in conjunction with the National Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) Forum, July 29 - 31.
EPA Region 6 Stormwater Conference
 The EPA Region 6, in partnership with the City of New Orleans, the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), and States in Region 6, is hosting the
22nd Annual EPA Region 6 Stormwater Conference
August 9-13 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference provides participants national, regional and state updates on water regulations and policy, as well as information and education on stormwater controls, water conservation management practices, and new technologies that can address stormwater pollution discharges to surface waters. This event provides valuable networking opportunities to exchange thoughts, concepts, experiences, and knowledge about water quality, water resources, and sustainable practices.
Early registration is $300 through
Monday, June 1.
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 Houston-Galveston Region Individuals, Communities Receive Keep Texas Beautiful Honors
Congratulations to the City of Alvin for winning first place in Category 6 of the
2020 Governor's Community Achievement Awards
by Keep Texas Beautiful, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This year, the City of Alvin and nine other winning communities across the state will share $2 million in landscaping awards from TxDOT, with the amount based on population size. The funds are used for landscaping projects along local rights-of-way. Other communities in the region were also recognized, including Bolivar, Friendswood, La Marque, Missouri City, Santa Fe, Sugar Land, and Surfside Beach.
Congratulations to Sandy Schmidt of Katy for winning the O.P. Schnabel Volunteer of the Year Award from Keep Texas Beautiful's
2020 Keep Texas Beautiful Awards - Individuals and Organizations. This award recognizes individuals who, in 2019, supported the mission of Keep Texas Beautiful through extraordinary efforts and contributed to the betterment of their community.
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 Harvey Households Covered by FEMA Group Flood Insurance Need to Buy Standard Insurance by October 24
These three-year policies end
Saturday, October 24, so policyholders must plan now to switch to a standard flood insurance policy to ensure continuous coverage. Those who received a GFIP policy as part of their FEMA disaster assistance after Harvey but don't buy a standard flood insurance policy won't receive federal disaster assistance for home repairs if they experience another flood event.
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 Funding Opportunities
If you know of a funding opportunity, forward it to
Andrea Tantillo.
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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| More Information and Programs
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 Mapping Applications
Find the latest information about activities around the region at H-GAC's Twitter feed @HouGalvAreaCog. H-GAC's water resources program also offers Twitter updates on water quality issues in the region @HGACwater.
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