Announcements

H-GAC Welcomes New Executive Director  

H-GAC has named Ron Papsdorf as our new Executive Director, effective July 13, 2026. Papsdorf succeeds Chuck Wemple, who retired after serving as H-GAC's executive director since 2018, and at H-GAC for almost 24 years.

Previously H-GAC's Chief Transportation Officer, Papsdorf brings more than 20 years of regional planning and transportation leadership experience to the role.

As Executive Director, Papsdorf will lead H-GAC's work in fostering regional collaboration across our 13-county service area, supporting local governments, advancing transportation planning, strengthening economic development, coordinating workforce initiatives, and improving quality of life throughout the Texas Gulf Coast region.

H-GAC Parks and Natural Areas Awards Application Period Opens in September

H-GAC's annual Parks and Natural Areas Awards program will begin accepting applications on Tuesday, September 1.  

The Parks and Natural Areas Awards recognize projects in five categories:

• Planning and Policy Tools;
• On-the-Ground Small, Up to $250K;
• On-the-Ground Medium, $250K to $1M;
• On-the-Ground Large, Over $1M; and
• Programming. 

Winning entries serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. The application period closes at noon. Wednesday, September 30.  

The application portal is not open yet; however, an online application guide is available to help you prepare your application early. No funding is associated with this awards program.  

We are also seeking volunteers to help score the applications and recommend winners.

Winners will be notified in December and recognized in early 2027.

For more information or to volunteer as a judge, contact Andrea Tantillo. 

H-GAC Offers Customizable Storm Debris Response, Preparation Templates

H-GAC provides a set of customizable debris-related public information messages and templates. These outreach templates and tools are designed for local governments and other partners to customize and use to provide information to communities and residents before, during, and after debris-generating events, such as floods, wildfires, or hurricanes.

The graphics and messages are available in English, Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese and are available for download on H-GAC's Disaster Debris Cleanup and Management Resources web page. 

Additional tools are also available, such as debris separation flyers and videos, public information / news release templates; tips for setting up a call center; and resources from other agencies.

Area Agency on Aging Offers Free Benefits Counseling  

H-GAC's Area Agency on Aging program offers Benefits Counseling Days each month across the region. During these free, in-person events, attendees can meet with a Certified Benefits Counselor to discuss Medicare, Medicaid, and Advance Directives and receive personalized guidance.

Assistance is available to anyone eligible for Medicare, regardless of age, and their caregivers. The H-GAC Area Agency on Aging serves Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties.

Dates and locations are listed online.

Natural Resources Advisory Committee Meeting – August 6 (Hybrid)

H-GAC's next Natural Resources Advisory Committee meeting will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, August 6, in person at H-GAC second floor conference room D and on Zoom.

Registration is requested to attend in person and required to attend online.

The main topic of discussion will be a review of the 2026 Water Quality Management Plan Update.

For more information, contact Rachel Windham. 

Free 8-hour HAZWOPER Refresher Courses – August 20 (In Person)

Complete your required annual training with this 8-hour course, specifically designed for those who work in hazardous waste operations and have already completed a 40-hour or 24-hour HAZWOPER training. See the attached agenda for more information.

This in-person 8-hour HAZWOPER Refresher Course is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, August 20, at the City of Houston Environmental Service Center South, 11500 S Post Oak Road, Houston. 

You must be present for the full 8-hour training to receive credit. 

Registration is required by emailing Erin Livingston. 

Area Agency on Aging Roadshows – August 13, 26 
(In Person)

H-GAC hosts events to share information about aging services available across the region. The Area Agency on Aging Community Roadshows offer community members the opportunity to learn more about services available to older adults and caregivers.

Wharton County - 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, August 13 

Wharton County Junior College  

LaDieu Building, Room 112 

911 E Boling Highway, Wharton

Walker County - 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, August 26

Walker County Storm Shelter

340 SH 75 N, Ste. F, Huntsville 

Additional roadshows are planned for the fall. 

Learn more about the H-GAC Area Agency on Aging programs online.

H-GAC Watershed-based, Total Maximum Daily Load August Stakeholder Meetings  

H-GAC will host stakeholder meetings, annual meetings and/or technical assistance workshops for the following watershed-based, Total Maximum Daily Load plans in August: 



1. Cotton Bayou – August 4 (Hybrid) 
2. Big Creek – August 5- (In Person) 
3. Upper Oyster Creek – August 6 (In Person) 
4. Tarkington and Luce Bayous  – August 20 (In Person) 
5. Chocolate Bay August 26 (In Person) 
6. Bessie’s and Brookshire Creek – August 27 (In Person) 

The associated map is numbered to correspond to each of the watersheds for reference. 

For more detailed information about these upcoming meetings including meeting times and discussion topics, scroll down to see the full article in the Watershed Meetings section at the end of this newsletter.

Annual Debris Management Training – August 19 (Online)

Join H-GAC for a free debris management strategies training in August. 

Successfully Navigating the Public Assistance Program will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 19, on Zoom. 

Topics include: 

• Force account tracking 
• Navigating the public assistance process 
• Acquiring public assistance 
• Procurement compliance 
• Best practices for efficient and compliant cost recovery 

Registration is required. 

For more information, contact Erin Livingston. 

Cotton Bayou Riparian & Stream Restoration Workshop – August 24 (Hybrid)

H-GAC will host the Cotton Bayou Riparian & Stream Restoration Workshop from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday, August 24, at the Sam and Carmena Goss Memorial Branch Library, 1 John Hall Drive, Mont Belvieu.

As part of the watershed implementation efforts this year, H-GAC, in collaboration with the Texas Water Resources Institute (TWRI) and other partners, is hosting the workshop focused on riparian restoration and feral hog management for interested residents, landowners and professionals to show attendees how they can implement these practices within Cotton Bayou and other watersheds. 

Registration is requested to attend in person and required to attend online. For more information, contact Cornell Evans Jr.

Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable – September 8 (In Person)

The next Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 8, at H-GAC second floor conference rooms B and C.  

We will hear an update from the City of Kemah highlighting their parks projects, and attendees will have a chance to share upcoming events, successes, and challenges as part of our regular round robin discussion. Additional topics may be announced.

Registration is requested, but not required, to attend.

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo. 

Livable Centers Roundtable, Workshop Series Concludes – September 17 (In Person)

H-GAC concludes its three-part Livable Centers Roundtable and Workshop Series with the Annual Land Use/Transportation Workshop: Expert Takes on What’s at Stake, from 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, September 17. Hear from a panel of experts about the practices they’ve implemented to support long-term adaptability. This workshop series explores how communities can become more vibrant and flexible through adaptive reuse, regulatory innovation, and human-centered design.

Registration is requested, but not required, to attend.

The workshop will be held at H-GAC second floor conference rooms A, B, and C. Networking and check in will begin at 9 a.m., with the program beginning at 9:30 a.m.

For more information, contact [email protected].

Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable – October 27 (In Person)

The next Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable will be 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, October 27, at the Tomball Community Center, 221 Market Street, Tomball.

Networking and check in will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 10 a.m. Registration will open soon.

Speakers from Tomball will showcase how their downtown has grown and developed in the past 10 years and will highlight the importance of collaboration. The first H-GAC Bringing Back Main Street was hosted in Tomball in October 2015.

The Bringing Back Main Street initiative offers local communities a place to share best practices and engage in a regional dialogue about revitalizing and supporting vibrant downtown spaces. Each quarter, community leaders gather for a roundtable on topics ranging from small business support to sidewalk infrastructure. 

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo. 

Houston Audubon Bird Week – September 19-26

Houston Bird Week 2026 celebrates the important role Houston plays in the journey of billions of migratory birds and the everyday lives of resident birds. Houston Audubon and local conservation partners arrange a week of events centered around the region’s birds and wildlife.

Visit www.houstonaudubon.org/BirdWeek for details. 

Area Projects Chosen for AARP Community Challenge Awards

Five Houston-Galveston area projects have been selected to receive American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Livable Communities Community Challenge Grants. These grants fund quick-action projects across the country to improve public places; transportation; housing; digital connections; diversity, equity and inclusion; and more, with an emphasis on the needs of adults age 50 and older.

Projects include:

• Houston: Hiram Clarke / Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority — Walk audits will evaluate crosswalk safety along the US 90A corridor. Results will inform planning for improved pedestrian connections near transit and cultural destinations.
• Houston: Third Ward Real Estate Council — Two walk audits will examine a short corridor connecting older adults to local community services. Resident input will guide the placement of lighting and rest stops.
• Houston: East Harris County Empowerment Council — Home safety workshops and simple modifications will support aging in place for residents age 50-plus. Participants will gain practical tools that reduce fall risks and improve comfort.
• Kemah: City of Kemah — Walk audits will review pedestrian connections to the waterfront and boardwalk areas. Mapped findings will guide future route improvements and capital planning.
• Kemah: City of Kemah — Three bike audits will review park‑to‑park riding conditions along the SH‑146 corridor. Findings will identify gaps in low-stress routes and safety fixes.

2027 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards Application Closes August 28

Each year, the Governor's Office and commissioners from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality honor the state's most outstanding environmental projects through the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards. Winners from across the state exemplify how Texans set the standard for ensuring clean air, clean water, and the safe management of waste. 

The application period for the 2027 awards is now open. To see all winners from 2013 to 2026, visit the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards webpage. The application deadline is Friday, August 28. 

News and Notes

Texas Wildlife Area Expands by 2.5K Acres

A 2,500-acre ranch in southern Brazoria County has been added to a Texas wildlife management area. The donation protects rare coastal prairie and wetlands as development expands nearby. Officials say the tract strengthens habitat connections along the Texas coast. Read More

Changes Made to Houston's Open Space Ordinance Will Allow Park Funding to be Distributed More Evenly

Houston City Council approved amendments to the city's Open Space ordinance at its regular meeting July 15. The ordinance provides parks, recreational amenities and open space for residential areas. It typically uses fees collected from developers to dedicate and maintain the parks. Read More 

Funding Sources

Funding Sources

H-GAC's Community and Environmental Planning Department maintains a list of ongoing funding opportunities for parks improvements, conservation projects, active transportation projects, and downtown revitalization projects. H-GAC also provides a Funding Resources Hub with the Funding Development Program and a listing of many funding opportunities for individuals, local governments, organizations, and others.

If you know of a funding opportunity, forward it to Andrea Tantillo.

All content, including links to websites on these funding lists, is for informational purposes only. Users of this content are responsible for checking its accuracy, currency, and suitability.

Mapping Applications

Looking for interactive applications or GIS data related to the H-GAC Community and Environmental Planning Department? Visit H-GAC's interactive applications web page.

Houston-Galveston Area Council

713-627-3200

www.h-gac.com

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