Houston-Galveston Area Council Newsletter September 2022 | |
August Board of Directors Meeting | |
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At its meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 16, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Board of Directors approved a Method of Distribution for nearly half a billion dollars in federal investment to make the region more economically and structurally resilient.
The allocation of $488,762,000 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Mitigation funds will help support much-needed resiliency improvement projects across the 13-county region to help protect communities from future floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. Read our online statement to learn more.
Additionally, the board approved the reallocation of solid waste funding across seven projects that will aid a variety of recycling programs, equipment, and neighborhood cleanup events in Harris, Matagorda, Walker, and Wharton counties, and it approved the latest version of the Regional Conservation priority list of projects.
In transportation, the board approved the replacement of five diesel-burning Pasadena Independent School District buses with cleaner, lower emissions energy vehicles under H-GAC’s Clean Vehicles Program. It also authorized agreements to initiate 14 new subregional planning studies in targeted sections of Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, and Liberty counties, and it approved the continuation of the Teens in the Driver’s Seat safety program done in partnership with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, with some additional funding directed towards the program.
Towards the end of the meeting, the board approved one new appointment to the Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Council.
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Next Board Meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 20
The next board meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20. 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: Workforce Solutions Outreach Activities | |
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At its August meeting, the Board of Directors listened to a spotlight presentation about impactful outreach activities by Workforce Solutions.
Workforce Solutions is committed to strengthening the vibrancy of our region so that the Houston-Galveston area can attract and retain the best employers, afford everyone the dignity of a job, and remain indispensable to the global economy - today and tomorrow.
The pandemic offered a unique opportunity for Workforce Solutions to build awareness of and demonstrate its service to businesses and residents. As a result, Workforce Solutions formed several editorial partnerships with major, local TV media – including ABC 13, Fox 26, Univision 45, and KHOU 11. Through these free partnerships, Workforce Solutions reaches more than 280,000 individuals each week to showcase area employers and help residents find quality jobs and develop good careers.
The most recent result is a weekly, 30-minute show, titled, “Your Career, Your Choice – powered by Workforce Solutions,” which airs each Saturday at 3 p.m. on KHOU’s sister station Quest Texas 55.
These partnerships have helped thousands of residents find jobs with area employers, including Rolando Cardona, a high school dropout who, after attending an ABC 13 virtual job fair, secured an apprenticeship with Apache, obtained his GED, and is buying his first home at the age of 21.
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If your organization is interested in learning more about Workforce Solutions’ media partnerships and other outreach efforts, contact Michelle Castrow.
To learn more about Workforce Solutions, visit www.wrksolutions.com.
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H-GAC Board and Advisory Committee Members Invited to Orientation Event on Friday, Sept. 30 | |
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If you are a member of an H-GAC board or advisory committee, plan to join us as our guest at the H-GAC Boards & Committees Orientation to be held in person only on Friday, Sept. 30 from 8 a.m. to noon in our second-floor conference rooms.
During the first session of the orientation, you will have the opportunity to receive training and Texas Open Meetings Act certification by our leading legal expert, attorney Chris Nichols.
Should you already hold a Texas Open Meetings Act certification, please join us for the second session of our orientation, where professional parliamentarian Kay Allison Crews will provide instruction on the basic parliamentary procedures for presiding over meetings. Breakfast and snacks will be provided.
Registration instructions and the session schedule to follow in the coming days. Should you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Jones.
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Justin Bower, Principal Planner, Discusses Post-Hurricane Harvey Impacts and Flood Mitigation on Houston Matters Panel | |
Alex Rischan Talks Medicare Enrollment, What Seniors Need to Know, with KPRC Consumer Reporter Amy Davis | |
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Alex Rischan, lead benefits counselor at H-GAC, recently appeared on KPRC consumer reporter Amy Davis’ “Ask Amy” podcast, where she discussed the basics of Medicare benefits enrollment. Rischan answered common questions about the enrollment process and provided important tips for seniors and caregivers to keep in mind as they decide on their benefits plans. Listen to the entire podcast interview here.
The Houston-Galveston Area Agency on Aging provides free, unbiased help with Medicare benefits and enrollment. Assistance is available to anyone eligible for Medicare, regardless of age, and their caregivers who live in the 12 counties surrounding Harris County. Harris County residents may contact the Harris County Area Agency on Aging.
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Commute Solutions Month Is Here! Find an Event Near You! | |
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Commute Solutions Month is here! This year’s region-wide celebration will highlight companies, agencies, universities, and others in the eight-county transportation management area who are doing great work to improve travel for their commuters as well as decrease congestion and improve air quality in the region. Visit our Commute Solutions Month page to find an event near you.
We will also celebrate the launch of ConnectSmart, a partnership project of the Texas Department of Transportation, H-GAC's Commute Solutions program, Tow and Go, TranStar, and many others. ConnectSmart is the region’s first mobility tool that integrates trip planning and navigation amongst a variety of commuting options. Download it now in the Apple and Google Play stores.
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Allie Isbell Discusses 2045 Regional Transportation Plan Update at APA-Houston/WTS International – Houston Joint Event | |
Livable Centers Hybrid Workshop This Friday Will Discuss Innovative Strategies to Expand Active Transportation Project Funding Potential | |
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There is still time to register for the Livable Centers workshop, Finding the Money: Get Projects Prepped for Funding, happening from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., this Friday, Sept. 16.
The event will be in the H-GAC second-floor conference rooms and on Zoom. Registration is required to attend online and requested to attend in person.
At this workshop you will:
- Learn innovative strategies that leverage existing resources and expand your active transportation projects' funding potential.
- Hear from local area experts on how to evaluate your project using performance-based criteria for project planning, as well as real-life pilot projects and programs being implemented in the Houston-Galveston region today.
- Expand your understanding of H-GAC resources including future grant opportunities the agency is actively tracking.
For more information, contact Anita Hollmann Matijcio.
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H-GAC Announces Call for Parks and Natural Areas Awards Submissions | |
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H-GAC's 17th annual Parks and Natural Areas Awards program is now accepting applications.
The Parks and Natural Areas Awards honor projects in four categories: Projects Over $500,000; Projects Under $500,000; Planning Process and Policy Tools; and Programming. Winning entries serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. The application period will be open until 3 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 29.
An online application guide is available. No funding is associated with this awards program.
Winners will be notified in December and recognized in 2023. For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo.
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H-GAC Seeking Information on Regional Conservation Projects | |
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As part of H-GAC’s Regional Conservation Initiative, we will actively assist with preparing grant applications, convening stakeholders, and otherwise supporting the implementation of priority conservation projects across the 13-county H-GAC region.
To guide our efforts, we are collecting information about planned conservation projects from local governments and non-governmental organizations and categorizing the projects in a priority list.
There is no funding associated with this project priority list, but selected projects will be eligible to receive H-GAC staff assistance.
See the current priority project list and learn more about our work online. The list will be updated quarterly.
Staff encourages you to submit your conservation projects by Friday, Oct. 14, or email [email protected] with any questions.
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Save the Date for Houston Area GIS Day on Wednesday, Nov. 16 | |
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Save the date for the 2022 Houston Area GIS Day on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the University of Houston – Clear Lake campus, 2700 Bay Area Blvd, Bayou Building, Houston, TX. The Houston Area GIS Day is a free one-day celebration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for local GIS professionals, universities, high school students, and teachers.
This year’s activities include:
- Live educational presentations for students
- Live geospatial presentations for professionals
- College and university GIS program exhibitors
- Geospatial exhibitors and vendors
- Student GIS activities and games
- Professional map contests and more!
For more event information including sponsor, exhibitor, speaker, and volunteer opportunities, please visit the 2022 Houston Area GIS Day web page.
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We're at the Peak of Hurricane Season. Are You Prepared? | |
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September marks the peak of hurricane season, and activity is picking up. Named storms have already formed in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. If you have not already, now is the time to prepare.
Residents who live in an evacuation zone are encouraged to visit our hurricane evacuation planning page for this year's zip zone maps and important tips to help develop their evacuation plan.
Visit TogetherAgainstTheWeather.com for tool kits and strategies on preparing your home and family for a hurricane or severe storm. The page also contains helpful materials for those caring for small children, individuals with disabilities or special needs, and those with health conditions.
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HGAGBuy Has Equipment to Bolster Your Utility Agency’s Emergency Preparedness Plan | |
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Due to Winter Storm Uri in 2021, Texas Senate Bill 3 (SB3) was passed. SB3 requires public water, wastewater, and all other affected utilities in Texas to develop an Emergency Preparedness Plan. This plan must detail how power will be maintained during an emergency.
Click on the graphic above for more information, and visit the HGACBuy page to learn what products and resources we can help your agency procure to bolster your Emergency Preparedness Plan.
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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, H-GAC 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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