Announcements

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. 

To further promote Fair Housing Awareness Month, H-GAC will host a free Fair Housing Webinar for Local Governments from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 13.  

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

The Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division offers interactive presentations and trainings to provide housing providers with a practical understanding of the federal and Texas fair housing acts and rules and how to comply. 

Information on the Texas Fair Housing Act, including how to file a complaint, is available from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 

Application Period Closes Soon for Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards   

The 2026 Water Innovation Strategies of Excellence (WISE) Awards application portal closes at noon Friday, April 3.

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

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

H-GAC Clute Housing Vision Plan Earns Recognition

H-GAC's Clute Housing Vision Plan has been selected to receive a 2026 American Planning Association Small Town and Rural Division John Keller Planning Initiative Merit Award. 

Building on the 2023 Clute Livable Centers Study, the Clute Housing Vision Plan translates the community’s vision into an implementable path for redeveloping Shanks Lake. H-GAC’s Housing Vision Plans are designed to help local governments better understand the housing-related needs and priorities of their communities.

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

Regional World Cup Emergency Management Workshop Kicks Off

H-GAC held a kickoff Emergency Management Workshop in late February. The workshop brought together emergency management officials from around the region to discuss planning and preparedness for, and operations during, the upcoming World Cup in Houston. The goal of the workshop was to provide a forum for emergency management officials, particularly among the jurisdictions in which there are no scheduled sanctioned events, and to begin a process that would lead to enhanced collaboration and coordination of efforts.

H-GAC’s Community and Environmental Planning Department continues to work with partners across our 13-county region to help bridge gaps and lead conversations. The World Cup will bring thousands of international travelers to the region from many different cultures and climates and speaking many different languages. The benefits to the Houston area are hard to overestimate but there are also risks (including potential inclement weather) that need to be understood and for which there needs to appropriate preparedness. H-GAC is playing a role in helping make the 2026 World Cup in Houston a resounding success.

World Cup planning activities aimed at Houston and Harris County (where almost all sanctioned activities will take place) have been ongoing for approaching two years and are well developed. Additional regional workshops are also being planned.

Regional Resilience Roundtable – April 2 (Hybrid)

If you are involved in hazard mitigation or resilience planning, you can attend H-GAC's first Regional Resilience Roundtable on Thursday, April 2. The morning session will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in person at H-GAC's second floor conference rooms and online on Zoom. The afternoon session will be from noon to 2 p.m. in person only at H-GAC.

Register for the in-person portion, including choosing your sessions, or the online portion of the event.

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

 For more information, contact Amanda Ashcroft or Bryant Clark.

Basin Steering Committee Meeting – April 7 (Hybrid)  

The H-GAC Clean Rivers Program Basin Steering Committee will meet from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, April 7, in H-GAC's Bumblebee conference room, second floor and on Microsoft Teams. 

To receive a link to join the meeting on Teams, contact Jenny Oakley.

Fair Housing for Local Governments Webinar – April 13 (Online)

H-GAC will host a Fair Housing for Local Governments webinar from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 13.

Join us as Jeffrey Riddle, Training and Outreach Coordinator with the Civil Rights Division of the Texas Workforce Commission, shares an overview and training information that government employees, landlords, and developers need to know to be in compliance with federal and state Fair Housing laws.

Mr. Riddle will also invite questions from government staff who are not directly involved in Fair Housing work but may get questions from residents.

Registration is required to attend.

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo. 

Brays and Sims Bayous Watershed Partnership Meeting – April 15 (Hybrid)  

H-GAC, in partnership with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), will host the second meeting of the Brays and Sims Bayou Watershed Partnership from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15. The meeting will be in person at Johnson Neighborhood Library, 3517 Reed Road, Houston, and online on Zoom.

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

Participation will allow stakeholders to be directly involved in the development of a Watershed Protection Plan. This plan will outline locally supported, voluntary strategies to improve water quality by reducing sources of pollution in Brays and Sims bayous and their tributaries.

For more information, contact Cornell Evans, Jr or Rachel Windham.

Livable Centers Roundtable, Workshop Series – April 23, July 23, September 17 (In Person)

H-GAC is hosting a three-part Livable Centers Roundtable and Workshop Series exploring how communities can become more vibrant and flexible through adaptive reuse, regulatory innovation, and human-centered design. Attendees will examine strategies for transforming underutilized spaces into active community assets. We will work together to find ways to move beyond traditional single-use zoning and create frameworks that support mixed-use vitality and long-term adaptability. 

This series will equip planners, civic leaders, developers, designers, and community advocates with practical tools and forward-thinking approaches to shape places that grow organically. Participants can attend one, two, or all three events.  

Events in the series include:

• Roundtable 1: Share to Prepare, 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 23. Come prepared to discuss the challenges, opportunities, successes, and theories that you have seen or used in your community or a community you are working in. Registration is requested.
• Roundtable 2: Collaborate to Innovate, 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, July 23. Working in groups, participants will think through challenges and discuss ways to capitalize on opportunities identified during Roundtable 1, practicing collaborative problem-solving grounded in real-world examples. Registration is requested.
• Annual Land Use/Transportation Workshop: Expert Takes on What’s at Stake, 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, September 17. Hear from a panel of experts about the practices they’ve implemented to support long-term adaptability. Registration is requested.

All events will be held at H-GAC second floor conference rooms. Participant networking is from 9 to 9:30 a.m. for each event. Program activities will begin at 9:30 a.m. each day.

For more information, contact [email protected].

Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable – April 29 (In Person)  

The next Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable will be Wednesday, April 29, at the Friendswood City Council Chambers, 910 South Friendswood Drive, Friendswood. Networking and check-in begin at 9:30 a.m., and the program begins at 10 a.m. 

Registration is requested.

Join us for an overview of Friendswood’s Downtown Revitalization journey. We’ll begin with a brief history of the city, followed by a look at the past, present, and future of Friendswood’s Downtown Revitalization. We’ll learn how dedicated sales tax revenues support downtown projects and improvements and explore strategies for attracting and retaining downtown businesses. We’ll wrap up with highlights of the downtown map, upcoming events, and a business owner perspective. 

Planned speakers include: 

• Hon. Mike Foreman, Friendswood Mayor 
• Hon. Sally Branson, Friendswood City Councilmember, Position 2 
• Brett Banfield, Friends of Downtown Friendswood Association President 
• Dr. Rebecca Hillenburg, Friendswood Downtown Economic Development Corporation Chair 
• Aubrey Harbin, Director of Community Development/Friendswood City Planner 
• Susan Asimakis, Friendswood Community & Economic Development Committee Chair 
• Steven Rhea, Friendswood Deputy City Manager 
• Luis Briones, Downtown Business Owner 

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 Visit in Brazoria County – May 27 (In Person)  

The next H-GAC Parks and Natural Areas Roundtable event will be a visit to the new headquarters for the Brazoria County Parks Department, featuring the Dude Payne Event Center and the J.R. Norris Maintenance Center on Wednesday, May 27.

We will meet at the headquarters at 10 a.m. to hear about the multi-year journey of building the complex.

The complex is located at 41871 SH 288, Angleton.

Transportation will NOT be provided to Brazoria County, and carpooling is encouraged.

Registration is requested. 

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo. 

Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG) Annual Meeting – June 2 (Hybrid)    

Make plans to attend the Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG) Spring meeting on Tuesday, June 2. 

Topics will include the 2025 annual report, Onsite Sewage Facility Repair and Replacement, and Partner Implementation. 

More information, including times and registration, will be available soon.

For more information, to be added to the contact list, or to submit public comment, contact Steven Johnston.

H-GAC Film Conference in Galveston – July 22-24 (In Person)    

Save the date for H-GAC's first film conference, in partnership with the Office of the Texas Governor, on July 22-24 in Galveston. Whether your community is interested in attracting film productions or becoming Film Friendly Texas (FFTX) certified, this conference will give you the tools, insights, and connections to get started.

Highlights include sessions on permitting protocols, discovering your community's unique qualities, hosting film crews, creative local initiatives, content creation, and budgeting. Attendees can also learn how to become FFTX certified and other Texas Film Commission programs.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. More details about the conference, including full agenda topics and registration costs, will be available soon.

For more information, contact Anna Shadle or Cynthia Jones.

Deadline Expended to April 7 for 2026 Downtown Revitalization Program 

The Texas Department of Agriculture has extended the deadline to Tuesday, April 7, for the 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: Tuesday, April 7

The application process for Program Year 2026 includes two distinct phases. The Community Application, due Tuesday, April 7, will collect information needed to assess community eligibility and scoring. Applicants that score within the funding range will be invited to submit a Project Application that identifies a project and details the specific work to be performed.

For more information, contact [email protected].

Texas Environmental Excellence Awards Honor Individuals, Communities, Businesses, and Organizations in H-GAC Region

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced the winners of the 2026 Governor’s Texas Environmental Excellence Awards, which included one winner and four finalists from the 13-county H-GAC region. These annual awards celebrate the people and programs working to help preserve and protect the Texas environment, while inspiring others to take steps to become better environmental stewards in their communities.

The Environmental Educator of the Year winner is Erica Jazmin Villarreal, Science Teacher, Channelview – Channelview High School.

Finalists from the H-GAC region are:

• Environmental Educator of the Year Category: Dustin Perez, Science Teacher, Porter – Robert Crippen Elementary School and Wendy Reistle, Environmental Education Coordinator, Houston – Environmental Institute of Houston at the University of Houston Clear Lake
• Education Category: Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, Friendswood – H2O Lab! Water Conservation School Program
• Pollution Prevention Category: Vallourec, Houston – Vallourec South Waste Reduction and Recycling Initiative

TCEQ will recognize this year’s winners and finalists during an event in June. The Texas Environmental Excellence Awards is an annual awards program that recognizes environmental preservation and protection achievements. Since 1993, the TEEA has honored more than 300 successful environmental projects and activities. The full list of this year's honorees can be found online.  

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, $10,000, or $20,000 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 Friday, May 1.

H-E-B Trees for Texans Grants Deadline is May 1

H-E-B Trees for Texas is a $5,000 grant for projects that increase tree canopy, reduce heat island effect, increase available greenspace, and beautify public spaces. The application period is open until Friday, May 1. Notification of Awards will be in July.

Projects must be publicly accessible and include a care and maintenance plan for post-project longevity. While project types are not strictly prescribed, projects must generate verifiable impact.

Thriving Communities Technical Assistance (TCTA) Program

The US Housing and Urban Development Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Program supports local governments receiving federal transportation grant funding to maximize community benefits – particularly improved access to housing and housing development – associated with the funded projects. Through this program, local governments receive support from private-sector experts to:  

• Identify and position properties for redevelopment into housing, including sites in Opportunity Zones. 
• Stabilize communities, create and preserve family-friendly housing, and support revenue growth for local businesses. 
• Cut red tape to expand housing production and supply. 
• Build partnerships with stakeholders, including public-private partnerships with developers. 

Requests are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis and are subject to program capacity. Priority is given to local governments serving populations under 250,000. 

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.

Living Roots Walk – April 12

Bayou Preservation will host “Living Roots: A Guided Walk Through Bayou Natives” on Sunday April 12, at Mason Park, 541 S. 75th Street, Houston.  The event is free. 

More information, including registration details, is available online.

Adopt-A-Beach Coastwide Cleanup – April 18

Save the date for the Adopt-A-Beach Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 18, 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.

Earth Day Houston at Discovery Green – April 25

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 "Our Power, Our Planet," and focuses on engaging governments, institutions, businesses, and residents to use renewable energy. More information about Earth Day is available online. Community members are invited to attend the annual Green Mountain Energy Earth Day at Discovery Green event in partnership with the Citizens Environmental Coalition and Magpies and Peacocks from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney Street, Houston.

Annual Prescription Drug Takeback Day – April 25

The U.S. 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 25. 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 are available on the DEA website.

Keep Texas Beautiful Conference – May 12-14

The 2026 Keep Texas Beautiful Conference will be online May 12–14.

Topics include:

• Strengthening local capacity
• Turning stewardship into measurable action
• Building partnerships that scale impact
• Creating lasting community value

Registration through May 5 is $175.

State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) Recycling Summit – May 14-15

The State of Texas Alliance for Recycling 27th Annual Texas Recycling Summit will be May 14–15 in Denton, Texas. This summit brings together recycling professionals, municipal leaders, environmental innovators, and private-sector partners from across the state for two days of strategy, education, and collaboration.

Hosted in Denton at the UNT Gateway Center, 802 N. Texas Blvd., Denton, the Summit continues its long-standing tradition as Texas’ premier forum for advancing sustainable materials management and circular economy initiatives.

Registration is $475.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week – April 12-18

During the second week of April each year, public safety telecommunications personnel are recognized for the dedication and hard work. Learn more.

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.