| Meetings and Events | |
Unless otherwise noted, all meetings listed are held on the second floor at H-GAC's office, 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, 77027
1/25 - Solid Waste Management Committee, Room A, 10:00 a.m. 1/26 - Regional Air Quality Planning Committee, Room A, 2:00 p.m. 1/27 - Transportation Policy Council, Room A, 9:30 a.m. 1/27 - 2012 General Assembly Annual Meeting, Founders Ballroom, Intercontinental Houston Hotel, 2222 West Loop South, Houston, Reception at 6:00 p.m., Dinner at 7:00 p.m. 2/1 - Geographic Data Committee, Room A, 9:30 a.m. 2/2 - Natural Resources Advisory Committee, Room A, 1:30 p.m. 2/7 - Gulf Coast Workforce Board, Room A, 10:00 a.m. 2/8 - Air Emission Reduction Credit Organization, Room C, 2:00 p.m. 2/15 - Technical Advisory Committee, Room A, 9:30 a.m. 2/16 - Aging Programs Advisory Committee, Room A, 10:00 a.m. 2/21 - H-GAC Board of Directors, Room A, 10:00 a.m. 2/23 - Regional Air Quality Planning Committee, Room A, 2:00 p.m. 2/24 - Transportation Policy Council, Room A, 9:30 a.m. 2/24 - Regional Health Services Policy Council, Room A, 1:00 p.m.
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Plans, Progress and Opportunity
Our region is working together at the threshhold of a year filled with plans, progress and opportunity.
While the last few years have been challenging for our area, there are hopeful signs on the horizon. In fact, many believe that our region will lead the nation's economic recovery. Last year's job creation gives good early evidence of that trend. In addition, local governments are noting strong increases in sales tax receipts, an indicator of economic recovery. Regional unemployment is also improving noticeably.
H-GAC is supporting our region's progress with a full menu of planning and services. We are focusing on our ongoing need for transportation improvements, working with employers and educators to build a more competitive and productive workforce, and continuing our region's hurricane recovery activities.
This is your invitation to become involved--or more involved--with H-GAC. We are dedicated to helping our region in its plans, progress and opportunity. Your involvement will help improve our region, its local governments and its communities.
Jack Steele
Executive Director |
| 2012 General Assembly Annual Meeting | |
 H-GAC's 2012 General Assembly Annual Meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 27, 2012, at the Intercontinental Houston Hotel, located at 2222 West Loop South, Houston, Texas, 77027.
The Speaker at the 2012 Annual Meeting will be State Representative Larry Taylor.
Please plan to attend the 2012 Annual Meeting when the Board's new officers will be installed.
Nominated for 2012 officers are:
- Chair -- City of Manvel Mayor Delores Martin
- Chair Elect -- Harris County Judge Ed Emmett
- Vice Chair -- City of Pasadena Councilman Darrell Morrison.
Ballots were mailed to 2012 General Assembly delegates. They are being returned by mail and will be opened, counted, and results announced at the Annual Meeting on January 27.
Online registration with payment by credit card is available now by clicking here. The cost is $60 per person. Payment in advance is requested. There will be no refunds for cancellations after Monday, January 23, 2012. |
| H-GAC's Clean Vehicles Program Seeks Applicants | |
Has your public, private, or non-profit organization made a New Year's resolution to reduce costs? Is your fleet looking for a way to become less dependent on foreign oil while benefiting public health? If so, H-GAC's Clean Vehicles program invites you to apply for funds to help upgrade your fleet to cleaner technologies!
Our program is soliciting applications for engine replacements, retrofits, conversions, and idle-reduction projects from all types of entities that primarily operate in the greater Houston region.
 | New Clear Creek ISD CNG-powered school bus purchased with grant funds awarded through
H-GAC's Clean Vehicles program. |
Applicants may receive funding up to 1/3 the cost of each new vehicle and up to 75% the cost of each retrofit or conversion, depending on the air quality benefits of the project. As a fuel/technology-neutral grant program, we are happy to assist you with any type of pollution-reducing effort whether it be switching to an alternative fuel, displacing fuel consumption using hybrid technologies, or cleaning up older diesel/gasoline-powered vehicles. Past grant recipients have included City of Houston, Fort Bend County, Clear Creek ISD, and Silver Eagle Distributors. For more information, please visit our program website or contact program staff at cleanvehicles@h-gac.com. We look forward to working with you!
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| Acquiring Digital Aerial Imagery in 2012 |
 | | Sample of 2010 aerial imagery |
Data Services, for the first time in H-GAC history, is planning to acquire 1-foot pixel digital aerial imagery of the entire H-GAC region that includes all 13 counties (13,000 square miles) in early 2012. Along with the 1-foot product, over 700 square miles of 6-inch resolution imagery will also be flown. All of the data is scheduled to be delivered by late July 2012. We are still accepting cost-share participants; if you are interested, please contact Robert LaBarbera directly at 713-993-4519 or Robert.LaBarbera@h-gac.com.
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| Annual Trash Bash set for March 31 | |
The 19th Annual River, Lakes, Bays and Bayous Trash Bash is set for Saturday, March 31 at locations across the region. This half-day, shoreline clean up event hosted 6,708 volunteers who were responsible for cleaning up 66 tons of trash in 2011.
More information is available at www.trashbash.org.
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| Work continues on Hurricane Ike Recovery Projects | |
 In partnership with the Texas General Land Office (GLO), nine housing recovery programs are providing repairs and reconstruction services to citizens within the H-GAC region impacted by Hurricane Ike. H-GAC is managing the program that covers Austin, Brazoria, Matagorda, Walker, and Waller counties. Over 100 households will receive assistance through the H-GAC housing recovery program. Sixty-seven homes are now complete, and 16 more are under construction. H-GAC anticipates having the remaining homes under construction during the summer. For more information, please contact Miles Arena at 832-681-2586.
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Vision for Tomorrow Offers Outlook for Region's Future | |
 H-GAC recently published Vision for Tomorrow, a regional comprehensive plan based on emerging issues, opportunities, trends and local values for the H-GAC region. The vision represents a shared ideal for the region in 2035, moving beyond jurisdictional boundaries and encompassing the needs of rural, suburban and urban areas alike. The document is also intended to provide a guiding framework by identifying specific priorities, actions and available tools that can move the region toward its desired goals. It is organized into four categories that stem from the general themes of the vision: Built Environment, Natural Environment, Quality of Life and Economy. Vision for Tomorrow was prepared by the H-GAC Board of Directors Planning Committee, in coordination with H-GAC staff.
The publication is available online. For print copies, contact Sandra McKnight at 713-993-2461.
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| Enrollment Freeze for Certain Title XX Programs |  Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) Access and Intake Section has notified the Area Agencies on Aging of an enrollment freeze for certain Title XX programs. Enrollment freezes may have an effect on the number of requests for assistance our AAA receives in the next couple of months.
Due to budgetary constraints, DADS has imposed an enrollment freeze for the following Title XX programs:
- Family Care (personal attendant services)
- Emergency Response Services
- Adult Foster Care
- Day Activity and Health Services
- Residential Care
Referrals and enrollment will continue in the Special Services to Persons with Disabilities, Home Delivered Meals, and Client Managed Personal Attendant Services programs to meet the funding level as specified in provider contracts; however, no additional funds are available to increase the allocations for these services. |
| Elevate America Veterans |  In cooperation with Microsoft� and the U.S. Department of Labor, Workforce Solutions is proud to offer U.S. military veterans and their eligible spouses access to no-cost IT skills training and certification designed to help build the skills employers want. For details, click here. |
| Loan Programs Available through H-GAC | |
H-GAC currently manages a suite of business loan programs including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Small Business Administration 504, and the Economic Development Administration Revolving Loan Fund.
 The Drayage Loan Program helps short haul trucking companies/owner-operators purchase fuel-efficient and cleaner running trucks. For more information, please visit www.hgacdrayageloan.com.  The SBA 504 Loan Program provides long-term business expansion financing for real estate, construction, and equipment purchases. Additional information is available online.  The EDA Revolving Loan Fund assists businesses impacted by Hurricane Ike. Visit www.gcedd.org for more information. Anyone interested in applying for a loan or getting more information should contact Paula Bowden at 832-681-2512 for the Drayage Loan Program, Devin Holum for the SBA 504 Loan Program at 832-681-2592, or contact Stephanie Ellis at 877-354-4264 for the EDA Revolving Loan Fund. |
| About H-GAC | |
H-GAC Board of Directors Meetings The agenda and attachments for the Board of Directors meetings are posted on our website the week before each meeting. Board meetings are held at 10:00 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month on the second floor at 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, Texas 77027.
H-GAC Newsletters H-GAC now publishes four electronic newsletters. In addition to this Regional Focus, we offer Community and Environmental Update, The Vision (transportation news), and Procurement Made Simple (HGACBuy). You can subscribe to any of them by clicking on the link at the bottom of this email to update your profile.
H-GAC on Facebook
H-GAC Blogs
Houston Community Newspapers Online is hosting H-GAC's blog, H-GAC Regional View, a blog highlighting different program areas. You can find it here. Workforce Solutions BlogBlogForce is the Workforce Solutions blog. Each Monday, a new posting is added on employment tips and news for both job seekers and employers. Bookmark it! http://blogforce.wrksolutions.com/ |
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