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Announcements
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Applications for H-GAC Solid Waste Management Grants Close June 22

H-GAC receives a portion of the money collected as tipping fees at landfills across the state as pass-through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to fund solid waste grant projects throughout the 13-county H-GAC region. 

As part of this program, H-GAC will award $59,865 in solid waste program grant funds to eligible projects through a competitive process. The grant application period will close at noon Wednesday, June 22. H-GAC hosted a workshop on how to complete the grant application in May. The workshop presentation and recording are available online.  

Grants will begin November 1, 2022, and all work must be completed by June 30, 2023. This is the second call for projects planned for this biennium. H-GAC awarded most of the available funds following a call in the fall. This call is for the remaining, unallocated funds. 

For more information about the grant program or to be added to an email list to receive future solid waste grant notifications, contact Erin Livingston
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H-GAC Seeks Information on Conservation Projects in the Region

As part of our Regional Conservation Initiative, H-GAC will actively assist with preparing grant applications, convening stakeholders, and otherwise supporting the implementation of priority conservation projects across the 13-county H-GAC region. To guide our efforts, we are collecting information about planned conservation projects from local governments and non-governmental organizations and categorizing the projects in a priority list.
 
There is no funding associated with this project priority list but selected projects will be eligible to receive H-GAC staff assistance.

See the current priority project list and learn more about our work online. The list will be updated quarterly. 
 
Staff encourages you to submit your conservation projects by Thursday, July 14, or email [email protected] with any questions.
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H-GAC Offers Two Ways to Learn More About Trash Free Texas Adopt-A-Spot

One-on-One Adopt-A-Spot Meeting Appointments - The H-GAC Trash Free Texas project staff is offering one-on-one appointments for cities, counties, and other organizations who want more information about participating with the Trash Free Texas Adopt-A-Spot Map.  

The Adopt-A-Spot Map is a free web-based tool that helps to connect volunteers to places in need of routine litter cleanup while allowing cities, counties, and organizations to maintain control of their own litter cleanup programs. 

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Kendall Guidroz

Trash Free Texas Adopt-A-Spot Webinar Recording - If your city or organization has an Adopt-A-Spot volunteer litter cleanup program, wants to start one, has areas in need of routine litter cleanup, or just wants to learn more about this resource, you can watch a recording of the Trash Free Texas Adopt-A-Spot Map Webinar, recorded live on Thursday, February 24. Participants heard from Trash Free Texas staff and partners and had the opportunity to ask questions about how the tool can help meet their cleanup goals. 
Upcoming Events
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Caney Creek Stakeholder Meeting June 9 (In Person)

H-GAC invites residents, local governments, businesses, and non-profits within the Caney Creek Watershed to attend a stakeholder meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 9.

The meeting is open to the public and will be at Caney Creek MUD, 405 County Road 298, Sargent.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss water quality issues affecting Caney Creek. H-GAC will review a new impaired section of Caney Creek and the status of the Caney Creek Implementation Plan. Additionally, ongoing implementation in the area will be presented.

Registration is requested, but not required, to attend.

For more information about the project, visit H-GAC's web page or contact Steven Johnston.
Clean Waters Initiative Workshop June 16 (Hybrid)

Make plans to attend the next H-GAC Clean Waters Initiative workshop on Thursday, June 16. 

The event is from 2 to 4 p.m. at H-GAC, second floor conference rooms, and on Zoom. 

Registration is requested to attend in person and required to attend online
 
Presenters will highlight education, outreach, and volunteer activities that H-GAC and area partners are coordinating to raise awareness for water resource protection and stimulate community engagement throughout the region. 

For more information, contact Rachel Windham
Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable July 11 (In Person)

Save the date for H-GAC's next Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable on Monday, July 11. The meeting will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at H-GAC, second floor conference rooms.  

The topic will be announced. Participants will also discuss the upcoming Parks and Natural Areas Awards program and the fall field trip. 

Registration is requested, but not required, to attend.

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo.
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Rescheduled: Drones in Environmental Enforcement Workshop July 14 (In Person)

Make plans to attend H-GAC’s Solid Waste Workshop Series: Drones in Environmental Enforcement from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 14.
 
Brandon Karr, Chief Pilot and UAS Program Coordinator, with the Pearland Police Department will discuss the rules surrounding drone use and how they are used in environmental enforcement.
 
The event will be in person at H-GAC, second floor conference rooms. Registration is requested.
 
For more information, contact Erin Livingston.
Disaster Debris Funding Opportunities for Local Jurisdictions July 21 (Online)

Make plans to attend H-GAC's Disaster Debris Funding Opportunities for Local Jurisdictions webinar from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 21, to learn about disaster debris related funding opportunities available to local jurisdictions.

The event will be online, and registration is required.

Topics for this webinar include:

  • Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
  • American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
  • Public Assistance
  • Federal Highway Administration
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Hazard mitigation funding
Participants will have the opportunity to share their best practices and lessons learned.

For more information, contact Erin Livingston.
Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable July 26 (In Person)

Mark your calendars for H-GAC's next Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable on Tuesday, July 26. The exact time and location will be announced soon.

H-GAC hosts quarterly roundtables to help local governments, chambers of commerce, and economic development interests promote the economic revitalization of downtown areas.

For more information, contact Cheryl Mergo.
Partner Announcements
Texas Litter Database
Texas Litter Database Available for Tracking, Analyzing Litter Across the State
Local governments and non-profit organizations involved in litter cleanup activities are invited to use the Texas Litter Database to track and analyze litter collected as part of a statewide effort. The Texas Litter Database organizes all trash and marine debris data including locations, quantities, types, and counts. Data collected by governments and organizations and entered into the searchable Litter Database informs litter research, prevention and removal efforts for government and non-government stakeholders. Keep Texas Beautiful, Black Cat GIS, and HARC launched the Texas Litter Database in 2021, as a project funded by The Garver Black Hilyard Family Foundation. The coalition developed the first-of-its-kind database that can be used to promote efforts to reduce, remove, and research trash and litter on land and in waterways.  

Accessible through any smart device or computer, the online tool available at https://txlitter.org/ enables employees, volunteers, and others to better track and analyze litter collected during cleanups. All users can access the data – either through viewing on the maps and graphs page, or through data downloads. 
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EDA, USDA Launch Resources Guide for Rural Communities
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development released a guide to help rural communities access resources to boost economic development. The resource guide outlines programs and services in four areas: 
  • Planning and technical assistance 
  • Infrastructure and broadband expansion 
  • Entrepreneurship and business assistance 
  • Workforce development and livability 
Texas Water Development Board Releases Flood Resources Guide for Community Officials
The Community Assistance Team at the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) released the Community Official Flood Resource Guide, developed in partnership with the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas – Austin.

This comprehensive guide contains information to aid community officials, such as floodplain managers, city officials, emergency personnel, and others, with flood resources available to Texans including best practices, links to beneficial websites, videos, and toolkits.

The resources are tailored to specific audiences, such as
  • the general public;
  • Texas home and property owners;
  • Texas business owners;
  • emergency preparedness staff;
  • pet owners;
  • children and younger family members; and
  • differently abled residents.

The guide also includes tips on outreach and flood education, survey results on Texans’ understanding of flood risk, and more.

The Community Official Flood Resource Guide Volume 1 is available for download on the TWDB’s Community Assistance Program webpage. For more information, contact [email protected].
More Upcoming Events
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Keep Texas Beautiful Annual Conference – June 27-29
Registration is open for the Keep Texas Beautiful 55th Annual Conference June 27-29 in Austin. 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, field trips, educational sessions, awards presentations, and exhibits.
News and Notes
Rendering of a street
Livable Centers Study Plays Role in City of Houston RAISE Application

A rendering and recommendations from Live/Viva Greater Eastwood, a 2020 H-GAC Livable Centers study are included in the City of Houston’s application for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant to transform Telephone Road. The project, if funded, would include several safety improvements, including adding or enhancing bike lanes; improving sidewalks and crosswalks; converting traffic lanes to more pedestrian-friendly spaces; and connecting similar projects north and south of the project. This planned project fills the gap between The Harrisburg Redevelopment and Gulfgate Redevelopment authorities’ projects to create a 5-mile multimodal thoroughfare between the Hobby Area and Houston’s East End. (Reported by Chron.com)

Among other recommendations, the Livable Centers study highlights increasing sidewalk width, adding protected bike lanes, providing two drive lines and a center turn lane where possible, increasing pedestrian areas (including seating), and adding street trees, shade, and other placemaking elements along Telephone Road. 

H-GAC's Livable Centers Program works with local communities to reimagine auto-focused infrastructure, policies, and programs to be more multi-modal friendly.
Houston Student Earns Honors in Take Care of Texas Annual Art Contest

Yin Hon Jonah Wan, a student at Mandarin Immersion Magnet School was chosen as the fourth-grade winner in the 2022 Take Care of Texas Art Contest

Each year, the Take Care of Texas Kids Art Contest is a fun way for K-5 students to learn about protecting the environment and come up with creative ways to share this knowledge with others! Students submit their artwork of how they, along with their friends and family, help keep the air and water clean, conserve water and energy, and reduce waste. The students that submit the best art can win a tablet or laptop computer. 

Prizes are made possible through a donation from the Texas Chemical Council. 
Houston-Galveston Area Students Earn Top Honors in Treasures of the Texas Coast Art Contest

Celina Gao, a sixth grade student at Freemind Art Studio, Katy, was selected to win the grand prize in the Texas General Land Office 26th Annual Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest and will receive a prize package including round trip airfare and a Caribbean cruise.

As part of the contest, 40 young artists were selected to have their artwork included in a 2023 calendar. The students, with more than half from the Houston-Galveston region, will also receive certificates of recognition, a ticket to the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, a ticket to the Texas State Aquarium, and other prizes. 
Funding Sources
Funding Sources

H-GAC's Community and Environmental Planning Department has compiled a list of local, regional, state, federal, and private funding sources for local governments and other organizations. H-GAC also maintains a list of ongoing funding opportunities for parks improvements, conservation projects, and economic development resources.

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

All content, including links to websites, is for informational purposes only. Users of this content are responsible for checking its accuracy, currency, and suitability.
More Information and Programs
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.

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H-GAC has a Facebook page where information about current and upcoming events is posted. Please visit and like H-GAC's page. While there, visit other H-GAC pages on Facebook, including Recycling, and Trash Bash.
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: Seawolf Park on Galveston's Pelican Island.
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.
Houston-Galveston Area Council
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