Monday Morning Report
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Internal
The Corridor Council Executive Committee met last week (8/19) at the Corridor Council offices in San Marcos for updates and status reports on Council infrastructure projects, a report on a Federal high speed rail funding application, and a progress report on the merger of our Texas Greenbelt Coalition and Digital Convergence initiative. The Committee also authorized a contribution to the Nature Conservancy on behalf of our friend and colleague Lowell Lebermann.
The Corridor Council will co-host the Capital Area Transportation Coalition (CATC) reception honoring Bruce Byron and Loree Elton for their dedication and service as CATC’s staff over the last ten years. The reception is scheduled for August 25, from 5:00-7:00 pm at the Headliners Club, 221 W 6th Street in Austin.
Infrastructure
TxDOT has completed an Outer Loop Study for New Braunfels, Comal and Guadalupe Counties, identifying a corridor for the possible development..A related task force will meet over the next few months to finalize plans and weed out any potential pitfalls to TXDOT applying for Federal funding of the proposed loop. The taskforce anticipates a formal vote on the project in January. Final Report
The AlamoRMA will be host a community open house on the proposed US 281and Loop 1604 interchange from 6:00 – 9:00 pm on Tuesday, August 25 at the Harvest Fellowship Community Church at 1270 NE Loop 1604 East in San Antonio. A formal presentation will discuss improvements proposed for the interchange. Details
Hutto has scheduled a city bond election on Nov. 3 to approve $22.8 million in bonds to pay for improvements to streets and drainage ($8.5 million), parks ($3.3 million), recreation ($11 million).
Capital Area Council of Governments has been awarded $442,852 by the US Commerce Department to help develop the region's first large-scale smart-energy grid, which will make electric power systems more efficient. The project calls for the council to partner with private companies, universities and other stakeholders.
Comal County commissioners have reinstated their Preservation Committee, charged with asking for up to $9 million in state dollars to restore the courthouse to its original 1898 condition. Comal was one of 47 Texas counties to apply for courthouse renovation funding; 14 of those counties were funded, based on a merit-point system.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has received $78.4 million in Federal stimulus funding to speed up construction of the light-rail corridor known as Green Line, extending from Carrollton-Farmer's Branch to Pleasant Grove. The award is as an advance on the Federal grant reimbursements the agency was slated to receive in 2013 as part of a $700 million commitment from the Federal Transit Administration.
Congratulations to Senator Jeff Wentworth (San Antonio), who chaired the 63rd Annual Meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC), earlier this month in Winston-Salem. Senator Wentworth is the first Texas state senator to serve as an SLC officer since 1985.
Economic Development
HEB and Central Market have agreed to carry UT and Texas A&M brands of chips after Zapp’s and the universities came to an agreement. 10% of the wholesale price will go to the schools to support scholarships, athletics, and each school’s general fund.
Williamson County has had the 14th largest job growth of all US counties, according to CNN Money, Details
JetBlue announce that it had sold out of its "All you can fly" tickets two days earlier than planned. The tickets offered unlimited travel for $599 for all seats and times between September 8 and October 8. JetBlue terms the demand for the tickets "overwhelming." JetBlue services Austin.
Elgin has received a $2,204,000 grant from the Texas Neighborhood Stabilization program to acquire foreclosed, abandoned or vacant properties and develop those properties into affordable housing. According to City Manager Jeff Coffee the grant is on a two-year fast track to completion and will require no matching funds from the city.
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) launched a new blog, Texas2Work.com that provides information to companies and job seekers on the status of the state economy, information and policy statements from the TWC and other information.
According to officials of the Texas Workforce Commission, there’s $90 million available in Texas for employers to train workers with new skills. The funds were appropriated by the Texas Legislature for the 2010-2011 biennium, are part of the Skills Development Fund that is used to provide customized training programs by partnering private sector employees with public community and technical colleges. Details.
"I have always thought the actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts.”
~ John Locke (1632-1704)