Houston-Galveston Area Council Newsletter January 2022 |
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December Board of Directors Meeting |
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At its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 21, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Board of Directors approved partnerships that would allow Workforce Solutions to acquire virtual reality headsets for students to explore different career occupations in a classroom setting; extend a commuter and transit services pilot project in Conroe, Texas, for a fourth year; and acquire 10 new clean engine buses for Cy-Fair ISD.
Additionally, the board endorsed recommendations by the Solid Waste Management Committee to award grant funds to 18 local projects for building and enhancing solid waste management facilities and for recycling and hazardous waste collection activities. A full list of the projects recommended for funding is available here. The board also added a wastewater treatment facility relocation project in Seabrook, Texas, to the H-GAC Priority Flood Mitigation Projects List under the urgent need category at the request of the Water Resources Committee.
Towards the end of the meeting, the board authorized the distribution of ballots to the general assembly so they can vote on the new board officers for 2022. The elected officers will be announced at the annual meeting on Feb. 4. It also approved new appointments to the Regional Air Quality Planning Advisory Committee and the Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Council.
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Next Board Meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 18
The next board meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 18. If there are any scheduling or location updates to this meeting, we will notify the public immediately. For more information on H-GAC's Board of Directors, past meeting agendas or minutes, or to find dates for future meetings, visit the Board of Directors website.
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H-GAC Program Spotlight: H-GAC Ombudsmen's Annual Silver Santa Holiday Gift Drive |
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At its December meeting, the H-GAC Board of Directors listened to a presentation by Lisa Hayes, managing local ombudsman with the Houston-Galveston Area Agency on Aging, about the 11th annual Silver Santa holiday gift drive. Led by the ombudsman group, the Silver Santa gift drive aims to bring joy and cheer to area nursing home residents during the winter holiday.
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Participants in the 2021 drive purchased blankets, socks, snacks, activity books, and gift items through online gift registries or donated them at collection boxes at the H-GAC office. The ombudsman team, with the help of staff volunteers and The Events Company, wrapped and delivered gifts to residents living at Huntsville Healthcare Center, The Rio at Mainland Center in Texas City, and the Parkview Manor nursing and rehabilitation home in Weimar, Texas, in time for Christmas. |
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About the H-GAC Ombudsman Group:
The H-GAC ombudsmen advocate for residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities; provide information and education to residents and families about resident rights, nursing home compliance, how to select a nursing home, and eligibility criteria; investigate and work to resolve complaints by or on behalf of long-term care facility residents; and conduct regular site visits to ensure facilities are providing adequate care and complying with rules and regulations.
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Lisa Hayes
Title: Managing Local Ombudsman, Houston-Galveston Area Agency on Aging
Contact Phone: 713-993-4562
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H-GAC Annual Meeting Set for Friday, Feb. 4 |
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The H-GAC 2022 Annual Meeting will take place from 8:30 to 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 4 at The Briar Club. Click the above image to view the event page and to register. Or visit www.h-gac.com/events/annual-meeting. We look forward to sharing all we accomplished in 2021 and to an informative discussion on our plans for 2022.
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January Virtual Open House Series Will Showcase H-GAC's Newly Updated Plan to Improve Public Transportation in the Region |
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We read your survey responses. We listened to your feedback. Now, let us share with you how we're putting your ideas of improving our region's public transportation system into action.
Residents and stakeholders are invited to attend a series of virtual open houses where H-GAC will discuss the latest update to the Regionally Coordinated Transportation Plan (RCTP). Updated every five years, the RCTP aims to guide local governments, agencies, and partners on creating more effective, efficient public transportation services across the 13-county region, especially for seniors, people with disabilities, low-income residents, veterans, and youth.
The virtual open houses are free and open to the public. They will take place on the following dates and times:
- Thursday, Jan. 20 | 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 25 | 2:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Jan. 26 | 2:30 p.m.
To register for one of these events and to learn more about the RCTP, click on the above image or visit engage.h-gac.com/RCTP.
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Workforce Solutions Principal Economist Parker Harvey Discusses Region's Economic Outlook for 2022 in the Houston Chronicle |
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Parker Harvey, principal economist at Workforce Solutions, was one of three local economists featured in a Houston Chronicle article published on Jan. 3. Harvey shared insight into what the region can expect in 2022 regarding job growth. He discussed which job sectors may experience the most growth and the possibility of a return to pre-pandemic levels of growth. Click here to view the article.
To gain more insight into the regional job economy, visit Workforce Solutions' Local Employment Statistics page. Reports on the latest job trends are posted every month.
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Gulf Coast Economic Development District First Quarterly Board Meeting of 2022 Scheduled for Friday, Jan. 14 |
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Join the Gulf Coast Economic Development District at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 14 for its first quarterly board meeting of the new year. The meeting will include presentations from many partners, such as the University of Houston C. T. Bauer College of Business, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, Small Business Development Center, and others.
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Upcoming Bringing Back Main Street Online Roundtable Will Explore Building Downtown Gathering Spaces |
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At this workshop, we will explore building downtowns from scratch and discuss how to strategically plan for and implement downtown gathering spaces. Jeff Taebel, FAICP, director of community and environmental planning at H-GAC, and Rick Leisner, AICP, principal at Norris Design, will share information about the benefits of building a downtown and strategies for getting started. Both presenters will take questions from the audience during an "ask the expert" roundtable, so bring your questions, challenges, and success stories to share.
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Mark Your Calendars for the Parks and Natural Areas Summit and Awards Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 11 |
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Award-winning projects serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. Projects will be honored in four categories: Planning Process, On-the-Ground Projects Over $500,000, On-the-Ground Projects Under $500,000, and, new this year, Programming.
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Learn How You Can Help Keep Our Region Beautiful at Trash Free Texas Adopt-a-Spot Webinar in February |
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Learn how you can make a difference in keeping our region beautiful by attending a Trash Free Texas Adopt-A-Spot webinar from 9 to 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 24.
At this webinar, participants will learn how to use the Adopt-A-Spot website as part of new or ongoing litter cleanup efforts and engage with Adopt-A-Spot partners, who will share success stories and answer questions. The event will be online, and registration is required.
This webinar is part of the Trash Free Texas project. H-GAC has partnered with the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment to establish a coordinated community approach to litter abatement of the six river basins in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston-Galveston regions.
For more information about the webinar or about Trash Free Texas, contact Kendall Guidroz. Also, stay up to date on Trash Free Texas news and events by subscribing to the quarterly newsletter.
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IRS Increases Commuter Benefits Limit for 2022 |
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The benefit is one of the most effective strategies for influencing commuters to take public transit and vanpools. Both employers and commuters can receive their tax benefits through pre-tax purchasing. Employers may opt to directly subsidize payments up to the newly increased monthly limit. The benefit will provide affordable commuting options as offices begin to reopen.
H-GAC's Commute Solutions program provides guidance and information for employers to help them align their commuter benefits program with organizational goals. If you or your employer would like assistance with updating or establishing a commuter benefits program, please contact us, at commutesolutions@h-gac.com.
Visit the IRS website for more information about the adjustments for 2022.
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Home to more than 7 million people, the Houston-Galveston region is one of the fastest-growing and most diverse regions in the country. Making sure the region remains one of the nation’s leading places to live, work, and prosper doesn’t just happen - it takes planning and partnerships.
If you are looking for a career where you can help make a difference in urban, suburban, and rural communities, the Houston-Galveston Area Council has exciting opportunities for you. For more information or to apply for a job, visit the careers page on H-GAC's website.
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