H-GAC Community and Environmental Planning Department Takes Lead Role in Supporting H-GAC Board Priorities

The H-GAC region is not new to challenges. Our robust growth is mirrored by a struggle to provide housing in our communities, the need for more innovative use and expansion of critical water supplies, and public health and mental health resources that are strained in meeting growing demands.  

Recognizing these challenges, the H-GAC Board of Directors designated these and other issues as priority areas of focus. H-GAC has begun an initiative to coordinate and invest in innovative ways for the agency to grow the region’s capacity to make meaningful progress on solutions. The Community and Environmental Planning Department (C&E) is helping lead the way with a number of new programs and efforts in support of these critical regional discussions.

Current efforts helping to shape regional action include:

• Housing Vision Plans – Staff from the Community Resilience team have developed an adaptable, low-cost model for assisting communities. The Housing Vision Plan project helps local governments initiate housing discussions with their residents with targeted outreach, technical support, and roadmaps to support future decision-making. 
• Funding Development Program – Funding for projects related to these priorities is the most prominent need for our communities. This newly launched effort will provide direct grant writing and funding identification support for local governments, allowing them to find and secure funding needed to implement solutions. 
• Water Resources Committee – This Board Committee serves as a focal point and key source of support for regional discussions and education regarding water supply and flood mitigation. As part of this effort, the Committee has developed lists of regional priority projects to consolidate support and identify potential future funding opportunities for critical needs.
• Juvenile Mental Health Program – In partnership with the Office of the Governor, C&E’s Public Safety team provides funding and technical support to augment our counties’ mental health interventions for youth in the criminal justice system. 

C&E is proud to support these and other initiatives, as we work to expand our growing region’s capacity to deal with some of its more pressing challenges. 

First Housing Vision Plan Added to H-GAC Website

H-GAC has published its first housing vision plan, the City of Clute Housing Vision Plan.

H-GAC’s housing vision plans are designed to help local governments better understand the housing-related needs and priorities of their communities.

Building on the 2023 Clute Livable Centers Study, the City of Clute Housing Vision Plan translates the community’s vision into an implementable path for redeveloping Shanks Lake in the heart of the city.

Parks and Natural Areas Park Tour – December 3 (In Person)  

The date has changed for the next H-GAC Parks and Natural Areas Park Tour. The tour will be Wednesday, December 3, in Kemah from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. 

We will meet at Kemah City Hall for an introduction to Kemah's parks and highlights of the Kemah Beacon Project, then travel to parks around the area.

Carpooling to Kemah is recommended. Onsite transportation will be provided to parks around the area. Lunch discounts may be available for select local restaurants (pending).

Registration is requested to ensure onsite transportation.

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo. 

Clean Rivers Program Regional Monitoring Workgroup Meeting – December 9 (Online)  

H-GAC's Clean Rivers Program Regional Monitoring Workgroup meeting will be 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, December 9, on Microsoft Teams. Anyone interested in attending the meeting can contact Jenny Oakley for information. 

More information about the Clean Rivers Program is available online.

Annual Planning Workshop – December 12 (Online)

Register today for H-GAC's Annual Planning Workshop, DIY Urban Planning - Empowering Public Spaces Through Community-Led Projects, from 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, December 12, on Zoom  

This event will explore how communities can redesign their urban spaces by taking a hands-on approach to planning. Participants will learn how to execute small-scale, DIY (do-it-yourself) urban design projects that address immediate community needs – whether it’s transforming vacant lots, enhancing public parks, creating pedestrian-friendly spaces, or making their neighborhood more inclusive and accessible. The focus will be on simple, actionable steps that spark change and encourage collaboration  

Registration is required to attend. Capacity is limited. A recording of the workshop will be posted online.

For more than 16 years, H-GAC has hosted this free annual workshop to deliver timely, relevant topics that equip attendees with practical, real-world planning ideas, community planning best practices, and solutions. Designed for local governments, community members, neighborhood leaders, planners, city staff, nonprofit partners, and students.  

This event is eligible for 2.5 CM credits from the American Planning Association.

For more information about the workshop, contact Amanda Ashcroft.  

Clean Waters Initiative Workshop – January 26, 2026 (Hybrid)  

Make plans to attend the next Clean Waters initiative workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026, in person at H-GAC second floor conference rooms and on Zoom. Please note, this workshop was originally scheduled on December 1.

Join us for a full-day workshop to discuss current topics in wastewater and on-site sewage facility management including workforce recruitment, funding opportunities, data resources, educational initiatives, and reports on ongoing projects benefiting these fields. Attendees will also be encouraged to participate in guided discussions throughout the workshop. 

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

H-GAC's Clean Waters Initiative workshop series offers education and information to local governments, nonprofit organizations, landowners, and residents to develop effective strategies to reduce pollution in local waterways. 

For more information, contact Rachel Windham. 

Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable – January 28, 2026 (In Person)  

Mark your calendars for the next Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Morton Masonic Lodge Fellowship Hall, 209 Morton Street, Richmond.

Networking and check-in begin at 9:30 a.m. with the program from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program will be followed by a guided walking tour. Light breakfast and box lunches will be provided.

Planned topics include: 

• An update from Historic Downtown Richmond
• Planning, designing, implementing, and maintaining accessible sidewalks
• Funding development, including H-GAC's new Funding Development Program and tips for creating a competitive grant application

Additional topics may be announced.

Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in a roundtable discussion.  

Registration is requested but not required to attend.

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. 

Parks and Natural Areas Awards Celebration – February 6, 2026 (In Person)

Save the Date for the Parks and Natural Areas Awards recognition ceremony from 9:30 a.m. to noon Friday, February 6, 2026, at H-GAC, second floor conference rooms.

Registration will open soon.

Award-winning projects serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. Projects will be honored in four categories: Planning Process, On-the-Ground Projects Over $500,000, On-the-Ground Projects Under $500,000, and Programming.

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo.

Save the Date for Trash Bash – March 28, 2026 (In Person)

Mark your calendar for the next River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash®, Texas’s largest single-day waterway cleanup, on Saturday, March 28, 2026. 

Since its inception, more than 121,000 volunteers have collected over 2,505 tons of trash, 23 tons of recyclable materials, and 12,410 tires. Find out how to volunteer and promote a healthy Galveston Bay watershed at one of the many cleanup locations on March 28, 2026.

Cleanup supplies, event t-shirts, and lunch are provided to all volunteers. Trash Bash hopes you will come out and help “Clean it like you mean it !” ®

American Planning Association Sustainability Award Applications Due January 12, 2026 

The 13th Annual American Planning Association Awards of Excellence in Sustainability are now open for nominations. The awards honor projects, policies, plans, and people who show exemplary leadership and inspiration in sustainability planning and implementation. Categories include state and regional; community; environment, climate, and energy; quality of life; policy, law, and tools; and student awards. Learn more by visiting the award webpage. Awards applications are due Monday, January 12, 2026.

Take Care of Texas Video Contest

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) invites students in 6th through 12th grades to enter the annual Take Care of Texas Video Contest. 

Student videos should be 30 seconds long and portray positive ways Texans can help keep air and water clean, conserve water and energy, or reduce waste. 

The contest deadline is Friday, December 5, and the public will have the opportunity to pick their favorite videos in January 2026. There will be six winners. Waste Management of Texas, Inc. will provide prizes—gift cards and scholarships.

Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community Achievement Awards Open February 2, 2026

For more than 30 years, Keep Texas Beautiful, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation, has awarded the prestigious Governor's Community Achievement Awards to Texas communities for their outstanding overall efforts to keep their communities beautiful. This year, 10 winning communities will share $2 million in landscaping awards from the Texas Department of Transportation, with the amount based on population size. The funds are used for landscaping projects along local rights-of-way. The deadline to apply is Thursday, March 12, 2026.

Green Infrastructure for Texas Offers Free Class

Green Infrastructure for Texas provides a free online course, Introduction to Green Infrastructure, designed for professionals involved in community development, infrastructure planning, and environmental management. This self-paced course is available for users to take a closer look at tools and skills for local communities' green infrastructure needs.

Funding Landscaping Innovation: The Governor's Community Achievement Awards Webinar – December 10

Keep Texas Beautiful will host a webinar from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 10, to discuss insights and frequently asked questions for the Governor’s Community Achievement Awards application. During this webinar participants will learn about the application process, hear updates to the application, and hear directly from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) about landscaping projects. 

Registration is required.

Audubon Christmas Bird Count – December 14, 2025 – January 5. 2026

The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is December 14 through January 5 each year.

Organized by the National Audubon Society, this global, all-volunteer effort collects data on local bird populations. Individual counts are open to birders of all levels, and there is no fee to participate. Several events are scheduled across the region.

Grants for Alternative Fueling Facilities in Texas

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is accepting applications under the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan’s (TERP) Alternative Fueling Facilities Program (AFFP) with $12 million in funding available to encourage the construction and reconstruction of alternative fueling facilities within the 88 counties making up the Clean Transportation Zone. All 13 counties in the H-GAC region are eligible.

Detailed eligibility requirements, application forms, and instructions are available on the AFFP webpage. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

For more information, contact the TERP team at 800-919-TERP (8377) or email [email protected].

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 new 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.