Announcements

Disaster Debris Management Tools Available

H-GAC worked with TetraTech to develop a Disaster Debris Management Best Practices Manual and checklists. 

This manual introduces practical best practices from proven approaches to help communities prepare for and respond more effectively to debris-generating incidents. The information draws on state and federal guidance and lessons learned from disaster debris management operations nationwide. 

Topics include:  

• Preparation of a Disaster Debris Management Plan 
• Prepositioned contracts  
• Identifying debris management sites  
• Estimating debris for disaster declaration purposes  
• Strategic planning with elected officials 
• Public information strategies  
• Recycling and disposal  

Download the document. 

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

The 20th annual Parks and Natural Areas Awards recognition ceremony will be from 9:30 a.m. to noon Friday, February 6, at H-GAC, second floor conference rooms.

Registration is requested to attend.

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.

Food and decorations for the event are generously sponsored by H-E-B.

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo.

Meetings Set for Watershed-based Plans – Multiple Dates (In Person)

Mark your calendars for two watershed-based plans meetings across the region this month.

Tarkington and Luce Bayous Watershed public meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, at the City of Cleveland Civic Center, 210 Peach Street, Cleveland. This will be the first Tarkington and Luce Bayou Watershed stakeholder/public meeting. We will discuss water quality within the watershed, including concerns, impairments, and opportunities to improve. Light refreshments will be served. 

Bessie’s Creek public meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 19, at the Simonton Community Church, 9703 FM 1489, Simonton.

For more information, contact Steven Johnston.

Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable – March 9 (Online)  

H-GAC's next Parks and Natural Areas roundtable will be from 2 to 4 p.m., Monday, March 9, on Zoom.

Registration is required to attend. 

The topic of the roundtable will be trails. Seneca McAdams, Executive Director of the Texas Historical Commission Texas Independence Trail region, will present information about the trail region. Other speakers will be announced.

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo. 

Save the Date for Trash Bash – March 28 (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. 

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.

Cleanup supplies, event t-shirts, and lunch are provided to all volunteers.

Regional Resilience Roundtable – April 2 (Hybrid)

If you are involved in hazard mitigation or resilience planning, save the date for H-GAC's first Regional Resilience Roundtable on Thursday, April 2. The morning session will be from 9 to 11 a.m. in person at H-GAC second floor conference rooms and online on Zoom. Lunch and the afternoon session will be from noon to 2 p.m. at H-GAC.

This event will convene regional, local, and state partners involved in hazard mitigation and resilience planning.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Strengthen collaboration across agencies and disciplines
• Explore innovative approaches to community engagement, green infrastructure, and flood mitigation funding
• Learn from current projects and successful mitigation investments
• Share tools, data, and best practices to enhance regional preparedness and implementation
• Identify opportunities for cross-sector funding and partnership development

Additional information, including registration details, will be available soon. For more information, contact Amanda Ashcroft or Bryant Clark.

Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community Achievement Awards Open Today

For more than 30 years, Keep Texas Beautiful, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation, has awarded the

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 to used for landscaping projects along local rights-of-way. The deadline to apply is Thursday, March 12, 2026.

Take Care of Texas Kids Art Contest Now Open

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is hosting the Take Care of Texas Kids Art Contest for kindergarten-fifth grade students to depict positive ways to help keep the air and water clean, conserve water and energy, and reduce waste. The theme for 2026 is Water Quality or Water Conservation, and the contest sponsor is Texas Chemical Council. The deadline to enter is Thursday, March 5.

Application Available for 2026 Downtown Revitalization Program 

The Texas Department of Agriculture announces the release of a new grant opportunity for the upcoming Program Year 2026: 2026 Downtown Revitalization Program, including Main Street Set-Aside (CDM).

The Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) Downtown Revitalization Program provides funding for infrastructure improvements to promote pedestrian-centered economic activity. Eligible municipalities may apply to address slum and blighted conditions in the downtown district – these projects most commonly include sidewalk and lighting improvements. Applicant communities that qualify as predominantly low- to moderate-income may apply for other downtown improvements to support pedestrian-based economic activity.

Maximum Grant Amount: $1,000,000

Community Application Deadline: Friday. April 3

Application Webinars and Technical Assistance

The application process for Program Year 2026 includes two distinct phases. The Community Application, due Friday, April, will collect information needed to assess community eligibility and scoring. Applicants that score within funding range will be invited to submit a Project Application that identifies a project and details the specific work to be performed.

A webinar has been planned for 2 p.m. February 5 to assist applicants with this new process – no registration is required, and the link to join the session is available on the TxCDBG Training webpage.

For more information, contact [email protected].

AARP Community Challenge Grants Applications Due March 4 

The AARP Livable Communities Community Challenge grants program is now open for applications. Funding is available for local governments and nonprofits to work on community improvement projects that can be started and finished by year end. AARP is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities: Flagship Grants ranging from $500 to $25,000, Capacity-Building Microgrants up to $2,50,; and Demonstration Grants from $10,000 to $25,000.

H-GAC staff is available for technical assistance or letters of support. Contact Ellary Makuch to learn more.

The application deadline is Wednesday, March 4.

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.

Galveston Bay Estuary Program State of the Bay Symposium – February 24-25, 2026

The 12th Galveston Bay Estuary Program State of the Bay Symposium will be February 24 and 25 at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center in Galveston.

The Galveston Bay Estuary Program coordinates the State of the Bay Symposium to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to interact and share environmental policy and management successes, report the latest monitoring and research findings, and illuminate the challenges facing Galveston Bay.

Information about registration and hotel reservations is available online. Several members of the H-GAC Water Resources staff are scheduled to provide presentations. A draft agenda is available to download.

8th Annual Texas Plastic Pollution Symposium – March 25

Mark your calendars for the 8th Annual Texas Plastic Pollution Symposium, Wednesday, March 25, at the Aggie Special Event Center, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston. This day-long event brings together scientists, researchers, and advocates to explore Texas’s latest studies on plastic pollution. Beyond sharing the latest research, the symposium aims to inspire action and raise awareness about the impacts of plastics on the environment. 

Registration is free, but space is limited.

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.