Join H-GAC for the next Clean Waters Initiative workshop, "Landscaping to Prevent Nonpoint Source Pollution," Wednesday, March 23, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at H-GAC Conference Room A, second floor. This workshop will discuss topics such as rain gardens, WaterSmart, best practices for large scale landscaping, green roofs, composting and landscaping for water quality.

Workshops are free. Please RSVP by Monday, March 21. For more information, please contact Aubin Phillips.

Updated information about the workshop series and presentations from previous workshops are available online.

A regional Sustainability Peer Information Exchange is scheduled for Monday, March 28, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at H-GAC Conference Room A, second floor.

The Regional Plan for Sustainable Development, a three-year, federally funded grant program, is an ideal starting point for creating a permanent structure to bridge sustainability projects throughout the 13-county Gulf Coast Planning Region.

Join others from the region who will share and exchange information about ongoing and future sustainability projects.

Please register online. For more information, e-mail sustainability@h-gac.com.
 

H-GAC will host a Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Workshop on Tuesday, March 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at H-GAC Conference Room A, Second Floor. The workshop will provide public and private stakeholders with an understanding of the changing risks within the region, opportunities for risk reduction and strategies to guide programs in the future.

Workshop participants will hear from experts from around the region specializing in economic development, disaster housing, emergency management, disaster debris and the environment who will discuss the risks associated with weather events, vulnerabilities of geographic areas and infrastructure within the region, and the impacts of risk and mitigation.

The event is free, but online registration is required. For more information, please contact Amy Boyers at 713-993-2441.
 

Incentive Funds for School Districts and Local Governments Workshop Set for April 7

The Incentive Funds for School Districts and Local Governments Workshop and the Roush Propane Try-A-Truck event, scheduled for Thursday, April 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at H-GAC Conference Room B, second floor, feature speakers covering fueling, fuel station locators, and related grants from the Railroad Commission and H-GAC Clean Cities/Clean Vehicles. 

Roush Propane is giving Houston area local governments the chance to try a light-duty truck for one week. If you'd like to be one of the fortunate few that test it out, please contact Kelli Angelone at 713-993-2444.

We'll hand over the keys to our first test-driver at the meeting.

Register for this Free Event now.
 

H-GAC's Clean Air Action announces the annual 2011 Fresh Air Friday: A Picnic in the Park, with fun, food, and great speakers. 

The event will be held on Friday, April 8, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in Jones Plaza in Downtown Houston.

Guest speakers include:
City of Houston Mayor Annise Parker
METRO President George Greanias
H-GAC Executive Director Jack Steele

For sponsorship opportunities please contact Ch'rese Jackson at 713-993-2487. 

How can we pave the way for electric vehicles (EVs) and charging stations right here in our home towns? Attend the Electric Vehicles and Recharge Stations Workshop for Local Governments to hear from experts all around the state on permitting, infrastructure, safety and regulation, and funding.

This meeting is aimed at local government planners, city managers, fleet managers, school districts, and anyone else interested in what we're doing as a region for EV readiness.

The workshop is scheduled for Wednesday April 13, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at H-GAC Conference Room C, second floor.

For more information contact Allison Carr at cleancities@h-gac.com or 832-681-2583 

Register for this Free Event Now!
 

H-GAC's Drayage Loan Program is hosting a Drayage Truck Fair on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at the Port of Houston Executive Bldg. Parking Lot, 111 East Loop North from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Owner operators can learn about funding opportunities and meet with area truck dealers to help replace their older drayage trucks with cleaner, safer and more fuel efficient models.

The Drayage Loan Program provides low-interest loans and grants to independent owner operators and trucking companies servicing the Ports in the H-GAC region.

For information on qualifications and loan application, please visit the Drayage Loan Program website. 

Public Meetings Scheduled for Regional Goods Movement Study

H-GAC has undertaken the Regional Goods Movement Study which will be used to develop a Plan for a safe and efficient goods movement system that will enhance freight mobility and economic competitiveness while mitigating the community impacts of goods movement.

Four public meetings will be conducted and we need your participation! These meetings will include a panel of private sector freight stakeholders and community leaders addressing community concerns and providing insight into the local freight operations, as well as an appearance by America's Road Team and the "Share the Road" Program, sponsored by the American Trucking Association.
 

Please plan to attend one of these important meetings to provide your input and voice your concerns on our regional freight network. Can't find a babysitter? No problem; H-GAC will be providing a kid's coloring station, with a prize given to the participants that color our Freight Commodity Color Sheet. To learn more, please visit our website. 

There will be two identical sessions for this seminar and attendance is limited. Online registration is required; the profile created will only be used to communicate regarding this meeting.

Monday, May 2, 2011

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
     or
5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
 

Each session will be held at H-GAC Conference Room A, second floor.

Workforce Solutions - Aerospace Transition Center coordinated a successful job fair at Space Center Houston for aerospace customers on February 22. Attendees included about 900 jobseekers and 50 employers. About 200 persons received immediate interviews following the event.

The H-GAC 2010 Aerial Imagery is now available to the general public online. If you are interested in acquiring the entire data set or individual Lambert imagery tiles in 1-foot pixel resolution, please click here.

H-GAC's Geographic Data Committee (GDC) is gearing up for the next round of digital aerial imagery acquisition in 2012. In 2011 H-GAC will be going out for bid, selecting vendors and garnering financial support from agencies who desire to take part in the update.

Please consider attending our GDC meetings held the first Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at H-GAC Conference Room A, second floor. Many of the upcoming meetings will include discussions on the imagery topic. This will also provide a forum for your agency to express its desire to cost-share on your portion of the H-GAC coverage area. The more cost-share participation we receive, the lower the cost for each participant.

For more information contact Robert LaBarbera. 

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 at www.h-gac.com/go/sba.

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.