Application Period Extended for Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence Awards

Due to the Easter holiday, the application period for the 2024 Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards is extended to noon, Friday, April 5.

This program is overseen by the Natural Resources Advisory Committee, an advisory committee to the H-GAC Board of Directors, and recognizes innovative projects, programs, or individuals in the 13-county region that serve as models for improving and protecting water quality.

For more information, including an application guide, visit www.h-gac.com/wise-awards or email Rachel Windham. 

April is Fair Housing Awareness Month

April is Fair Housing Awareness Month, and H-GAC reminds everyone that when it comes to housing, the Federal Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) and the Texas Fair Housing Act make it against the law to discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or family status. This applies to both selling or renting housing. The H-GAC Board of Directors recognizes April as Fair Housing Awareness Month for the Gulf Coast State Planning Region.

The Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division offers interactive presentations and trainings and a self-help library of trainings and resources to provide housing providers with a practical understanding of the federal and Texas Fair Housing acts and rules and how to comply.

To learn more about the Federal Fair Housing Act visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website. Information on the Texas Fair Housing Act, including how to file a complaint, is available from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 

H-GAC makes several housing tools available on our website. You can find fair housing reources, a regional housing plan, answers to common housing questions, materials from past housing workshops and events, and our facilitating housing toolbox.

H-GAC Launches New Land Use and Land Cover Data Web Application

H-GAC has launched a new Geographic information Systems (GIS) web application on Land Use and Land Cover data including historical and current land cover and change detection analysis.  

Leveraging advanced satellite imagery processing and data analysis techniques, this new application delivers detailed analysis, including change detection. The application's use of cutting-edge methods ensures accurate interpretation, providing profound insights into the region's diverse land cover through interactive maps and charts. This tool is ideal for urban planners, environmentalists, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of the area's land cover. 

H-GAC Livable Centers Call for Study Sponsors Continues

H-GAC's call for study sponsors for the Livable Centers Program continues. 

H-GAC seeks to identify and fund Livable Centers studies and Focused Livable Centers studies. Livable Centers studies will be scaled at a community level, and Focused Livable Centers studies will focus on a smaller geographic area and/or specific issue (e.g., transit-oriented development, first/last mile connections). 

Sponsors are limited to local governments or other eligible entities in Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, or Waller counties. This is not a request for proposals from consulting firms. 

H-GAC hosted an Application Assistance - Pre-Submittal Q&A Meeting in March. Presentation slides and a recording of the event are available online. Information about deadlines, specific application content, and important dates is also available online. 

All eligible sponsors must complete a Notice of Intent to Apply by Thursday, May 9. Final applications are due Monday, July 8. 

For more information or questions about upcoming deadlines, email [email protected] or contact Sarai Osorio. 

H-GAC Bringing Back Main Street Program Earns Recognition

H-GAC's Bringing Back Main Street initiative has been selected to receive a 2024 American Planning Association Small Town and Rural Division John Keller Award for Planning Initiative Merit recognition. 

With a focus on rural and small town downtowns in the Houston-Galveston region, the Bringing Back Main Street initiative serves as a forum for community leaders, economic development professionals, and downtown planners to share ideas and best practices for downtown innovation and revitalization. 

H-GAC works with different rural and small towns in the 13-county Houston-Galveston region to host quarterly roundtables to share best practices and engage in a regional dialogue about revitalizing and supporting vibrant downtown spaces. The next roundtable will be April 23 in Columbus.

The John Keller Award for Planning Initiative is given to an outstanding initiative or program in public education, workshops, ordinances, or enforcement that promotes planning in small towns and rural areas. 

Livable Centers Roundtable and Workshop Series – April 18, June 20, September 19 (In-Person)

H-GAC is hosting a three-part 2024 Livable Centers Roundtable and Workshop Series—Exploring Community Conscious Planning Practices. The series will include two in-person roundtables on April 18 and June 20 and will culminate in H-GAC’s Annual Livable Centers Workshop on September 19.

• Roundtable 1 – Discussing the Power of Dynamic Engagement – 1 p.m. Thursday, April 18. Space is limited. Registration is requested.
• Roundtable 2 – Exploring Human-Centered Metrics for Success and Community Satisfaction within Transportation Projects, 1 p.m. Thursday, June 20. Space is limited. Registration is requested.
• Annual Workshop – Incremental Steps Toward Transportation, Environmental, and Social Equity, 8 a.m., Thursday, September 19. Registration is requested.

All events will be held at H-GAC, second floor conference rooms.

Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable – April 23 (In Person) 

Make plans to participate in the next Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable from 9:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, April 23, at the Hound Song Brewing Company, 535 Walnut Street, Columbus. Networking and check in begin at 9:30 a.m. The program begins at 10 a.m.

Topics and speakers include:

• Overview from Columbus - Hon. Lori An Gobert, Columbus Mayor
• Funding Downtown Revitalization - Shalor Townzen, Columbus Community Industrial Development Corporation Board Member
• More Funding Mechanisms for Cities and Counties - Mindi Snyder, Ardurra Client Services
• Removing Barriers to Business - Donald Warschak, Columbus City Manager
• Business Owners' Perspectives - Raven and Travis Kocurek, Hound and Song Brewing Company Owners
• Working with Community Partners and Business Owners - Becky Nutt, Columbus Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

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. 

Oyster Creek Stakeholder Meeting – April 24 (In Person) 

H-GAC invites residents, local governments, businesses, and non-profits within the Oyster Creek Watershed in Brazoria and Fort Bend counties to attend a stakeholder meeting from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. 

The meeting will be at the Lake Jackson Public Library, 250 Circle Way, Lake Jackson. 

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss water quality issues affecting communities in the Oyster Creek watershed south of Sugar Land, including Angleton, Arcola, Bailey’s Prairie, Bonney, Clute, Holiday Lakes, Iowa Colony, Juliff, Lake Jackson, Missouri City (Sienna Plantation), Richwood, Rosharon, and Sandy Point. Pollutants, specifically fecal bacteria, in this waterway may impact public health, local economies, and the natural environment. Residents and organizations are invited to participate in this and future meetings to provide input that will be used to review the draft bacteria reduction plan and to consider the next steps needed to put the plan into action.  

For more information about the project, visit https://www.h-gac.com/watershed-based-plans/san-jacinto-brazos-coastal-basin-tmdl-and-implementation-plan or contact Steven Johnston.

Regional Conservation Initiative Workshop – April 25 (In Person) 

Make plans to join H-GAC and trails experts for a discussion on trails planning, connectivity, and more.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, April 25, at H-GAC, second floor conference rooms.

Experts will share insights on trails planning and available resources, and representatives from local projects will share their experiences with planning and building trails in the region. Presenters include representatives from National Parks Service, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Harris County Precinct 3, and the FM 1093 Rails to Trails Local Government Corporation.

Participants will also use H-GAC's new Take A Hike initiative online tool to identify gaps in existing trail networks and opportunities for connectivity. The tool displays data on existing trails, walking paths, and cycleways. Several data layers are also available for reference.

Registration is requested, but not required, to attend.

For more information, contact Cheryl Mergo.

Elder Abuse Training Events – April 17-19 (In Person) 

In observance of Crime Victim Awareness Month, H-GAC is launching a series of training events on elder abuse, the nation’s fastest-growing crime. 

H-GAC’s Elder Justice Program is bringing national experts in identifying, treating, and prosecuting elder abuse to train professionals who have regular contact with seniors. All sessions are free, but capacity is limited, and advance registration is required. Sessions are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. unless otherwise indicated on the registration page. Continuing education credits are available in multiple disciplines. For more details and to register, visit H-GAC's Elder Justice webpage . 

For All Professionals 

April 17 and 19: Candace Heisler on “Elder Abuse 101: Building A Coordinated Community Response to the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Crime” on April 17 at The Woodlands Emergency Training Center, Conroe, and on April 19, at H-GAC, second floor conference rooms.

For Adult Protective Services Staff and Agency Investigators 

April 18: Candace Heisler on “Partnering to Protect: A Criminal Justice Primer for APS Caseworkers and Investigators” at APS Region 6 Headquarters, Houston. 

Additional training events will be offered in May.

Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable Park Tour – May 15 (In Person)  

Join us for the Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable park tour on Wednesday, May 15, for a tour of Chrysalis Lake and Longwing Landing. We will learn more about the award-winning projects in Bridgeland.

We will meet at 10 a.m. at Chrysalis Lake, off Peek Road near Bridgeland Creek Parkway in Cypress for a tour, then drive to Longwing Landing at 21206 Flower Nectar Court, 2 miles away. The event will conclude at 11:30 a.m.

Transportation will NOT be provided to Chrysalis Lake or to Longwing Landing. Carpooling is encouraged.

Registration is requested, but not required to attend.

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo. 

Texas Department of Agriculture Downtown Revitalization, Main Street Programs Grants Due April 3

The Texas Department of Agriculture Downtown Revitalization and Main Street programs aim to provide infrastructure improvements to address the conditions that contribute to the deterioration in an area designated as slum or blighted in the applicant community's downtown or main street area. All proposed infrastructure improvements to be funded by the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) Program must be located on public property within the designated downtown district. Typically, a downtown district will meet two or more of the following: 

• The city’s historic area of commerce; 
• May be the area around the courthouse or city square; 
• Commercial area for the community; 
• Buildings of historical significance, but not primarily residential; 
• Must be areas included in or contiguous to the economic center of the community; or 
• The retail area for the community that does not include single-family dwellings. 

Cities and counties must meet certain eligibility requirements to apply. 

EPA Accepting Applications for Safer Choice Partner of the Year

As part of US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) mission to protect health and the environment, the Safer Choice program partners with businesses to help consumers and commercial buyers identify products with safer chemical ingredients, without sacrificing quality or performance. The EPA is now accepting applications for the 2024 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Awards. The awards will recognize the leadership contributions of Safer Choice partners and stakeholders who, over the past year, have shown achievement in the design, manufacture, selection, promotion, sale, and use of products that further outstanding or innovative source reduction. Submissions are due by Thursday, April 25. Award winners will be recognized at a ceremony later in 2024. Learn more about the awards, including the application form, submission process, and past winners. 

Great Texas Birding Classic Habitat Conservation Grants Deadline is May 1 

The mission of the annual Great Texas Birding Classic is to increase appreciation, understanding, and conservation of birds through education, recreation, nature tourism, and conservation fundraising. The Birding Classic is a cost-recovery event, so once minimal event costs are covered by sponsorships and registration fees all remaining funds go to conservation grants in Texas. Conservation grants in the amounts of $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000 can be used to fund nature tourism and avian habitat restoration, enhancement, and acquisition projects anywhere in the state. Proposed activities may include projects on public or private lands, but all projects must provide some level of public access. The deadline for proposals is Wednesday, May 1. 

STAR 2024 Scholarships for Sustainability Applications Open Soon

The State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) 2024 Scholarships for Sustainability applications will open soon. As a part of STAR’s commitment to the growth of the environmental and recycling business community in Texas, STAR offers annual environmental sustainability scholarships for students, teachers, and student groups. The Student Scholarship aids up to two high school seniors or college students planning to study or working toward a degree in Environmental Sustainability or other related field. The Student Group and Teacher Scholarship supports up to two educators at any level of public education in Texas and one officially recognized student group at any Texas university, college, or community college. More details, including deadlines to apply, will be available online. 

Friends of Keegans Birds, Blooms, and Bikes Event – April 13

Friends of Keegans Bayou, in partnership with Memorial Hermann Southwest and Exercise is Medicine, is hosting Birds, Blooms, and Bikes Trail events beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 13. Events will be along Brays Oaks Trail to Keegans Bayou Wildlife Observation Bridge. Participants can stroll with Mary Ann Beauchemin, bird guide, followed by Joe Liggio, botanist. Then pick up the pace with a bike ride with Neighborhoods to Trails. This trail has become a cyclist destination for the 2.2 miles without street intersections from the Wildlife Bridge to US 59 and a means of crossing 59 and Beltway 8. Registration is requested.

Celebrate Earth Day – April 2024

For more than 50 years, Americans have celebrated Earth Day on April 22 to recognize the importance of the environment and protecting it for future generations. It has grown to a global movement. This year's theme is "Planet vs. Plastic," and focuses on engaging governments, institutions, businesses, and residents. More information about Earth Day is available online. Anyone interested in planning or attending an event can register the event or search for an event on the Earth Day Events map. There are several events planned across the region, including the annual Green Mountain Energy Earth Day at Discovery Green event in partnership with the Citizens Environmental Coalition, featuring the Houston Public Works Water Works Festival, from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Discovery Green. The City of Houston is hosting a tree planting celebration as part of Earth Day HTX at 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 22, at Watonga Parkway Park, 4480 Watonga Blvd., Houston. 

Adopt-A-Beach Coastwide Cleanup – April 20

Save the date for the Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 20, 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 529,000 volunteers have removed 9,600 tons of trash from Texas beaches. Registration and a list of cleanup locations are available online. 

DEA Prescription Drug Take Back – April 27

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host its National Prescription Drug Take Back event in communities across the country from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27. The national event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the medications and the potential for abuse. Law enforcement resources and a list of year-round collection sites is available on the DEA website.

Sustainability in Food, Beverage Processing Webinars – April 25, May 23

The Energy Transition Institute and Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, with support from US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pollution Prevention Grant, continue a free webinar series to provide information about how businesses can improve profitability and reduce their operating costs. Topics include using energy and water more efficiently; using renewable energy; reducing waste; and using safer cleaning and sanitizing products. Webinars on April 25 and May 23 will focus on Energy Efficiency, Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy, and Water Efficiency. More information, including registration, is available online.

Keep Texas Beautiful Conference – June 24-27

The 2024 Keep Texas Beautiful Annual Conference will be held online June 24-27. Keep Texas Beautiful is a network of Texans working together to make the state the best place to live, work, and play. Local partners and affiliates are equipped with tools they need to help clean up and prevent litter across the state. The annual conference is an opportunity for participants to share, learn, and celebrate local, regional, and state accomplishments and programs and includes networking, educational sessions, and awards presentations. 

Funding Sources

H-GAC's Community and Environmental Planning Department maintains a list of ongoing funding opportunities for parks improvements, conservation projects and downtown revitalization projects.

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

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