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H-GAC Parks and Natural Areas Awards Application Period Open
H-GAC's annual Parks and Natural Areas Awards program is now accepting applications 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.
Applications will only be accepted online through an application portal. An online application guide is available to help you prepare your application before accessing the portal. An FAQ page is also available to answer a few questions we receive each year.
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.
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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 can be downloaded from H-GAC's Disaster Debris Cleanup and Management Resources web page.
Additional tools are 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.
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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.
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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.
Presenters include representatives from
- the City of Kemah, sharing information about their award-winning projects, and
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Texas Children in Nature, a grassroots organization of more than 900 partners and individuals working together to connect children and families with nature in Texas.
Attendees will hear an update on the H-GAC Parks and Natural Areas Awards and have a chance to share upcoming events, successes, and challenges as part of our regular round robin discussion.
Registration is requested, but not required, to attend.
For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo.
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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, 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.
Hear from a panel of experts about the practices they’ve implemented to support long-term adaptability.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Natalye Appel, Principal, Natalye Appel + Associates Architects
- Ruben Garza, Local Conversation Leader, Strong Towns Houston
- Andrew Kaldis, President, Kaldis Development Interests
- Edward Pettitt II, President, Friends of Columbia Tap
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.
For more information, contact [email protected].
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Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence Awards Ceremony – September 29 (In Person)
H-GAC will recognize outstanding projects and programs during the Water Innovations Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards ceremony from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 29, at H-GAC second floor conference rooms B and C.
Registration is requested, but not required, to attend.
The WISE Awards program is overseen by H-GAC's Natural Resource Advisory Committee. This program recognizes and celebrates projects, programs, and individuals using innovative strategies to protect and improve water resources in the Houston-Galveston region. Join us as we recognize the 2026 WISE Award winners and learn more about their projects and programs.
For more information, contact Rachel Windham.
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2026 Houston Regional Air Quality Summit – October 8 (In Person)
The Houston Regional Air Quality Summit will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, October 8, at the University of Houston Alumni Center, 3204 Cullen Blvd., Houston.
The 2026 summit will bring together community members, policymakers, industry leaders, and youth advocates to explore solutions for cleaner air across the Houston-Galveston region.
The cost to attend is $25, and registration is required.
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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.
The first H-GAC Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable was hosted in Tomball in October 2015. 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 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.
Registration is requested, but not required, to attend. For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo.
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Bacteria Implementation Group Fall Meeting – October 27 (Hybrid)
Make plans to attend the Bacteria Implementation Group Fall Meeting from 1 to 3 p.m., Tuesday, October 27, at H-GAC second floor conference rooms B and C, and on Zoom.
Light refreshments will be served.
Registration is requested to attend in person and required to attend online.
For more information, contact Steven Johnston.
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Neighborhood Economics Conference – September 15-16
The Neighborhood Economics Conference will be held in Galveston September 15-16. According to their website, Neighborhood Economics "brings together diverse, energetic teams focused on creating breakthroughs in communities ready for change."
The conference in Galveston will include national thought leaders discussing new ways to invest in local businesses, build climate resilience, support new entrepreneurs, and nurture the creative economy.
Tickets are $345, and some scholarships are available.
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Adopt-a-Beach Coastwide Fall Cleanup – September 19
Save the date for the Adopt-A-Beach Coastwide Cleanup on Saturday, September 19, at various Texas beaches. This annual event by the Texas General Land Office encourages volunteers to help keep beaches clean.
Since the program began in 1986, more than 567,000 volunteers have removed 9,8000 tons of trash from Texas beaches.
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National Prescription Drug Take Back – October 24
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 24. Check the DEA website in early October for area drop-off locations and year-round pharmaceutical disposal locations. The collection event provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications and environmental contamination. Law enforcement agencies interested in hosting a collection site should call the point of contact for this area.
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Texas Downtown Conference – November 1-4
Save the date for the 2026 Texas Downtown Conference November 1-4 in Amarillo. The annual conference includes networking, field sessions, and educational workshops highlighting new ideas, inspiration, and innovation for municipal and county staff working to shape the future of downtowns across Texas.
Early bird registration is $535 for members and $685 for non-members through September 4.
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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.
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Unless otherwise noted, all meetings scheduled at H-GAC are at 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, Texas.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, H-GAC will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities attending H-GAC functions. Requests should be received 72 business hours prior to the function. Contact the meeting organizer to make arrangements.
Banner Photo: Alligator at Brazos Bend State Park. Photo by Justin Bower.
Would you like us to consider featuring your municipality, program, or regional photo on the C&E Planning Update banner? Just forward your picture to Andrea Tantillo, along with some information about the subject and the photographer, and you might see it in a future month's newsletter.
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