Center of Development Excellence April 2025 Newsletter

Applications for the 2025 Celebrating Leadership in Development Excellence (CLIDE) Awards closed on March 14, with NCTCOG receiving 17 total applications from across the region. The 2025 award categories included:

New Development
Redevelopment
Special Development
Raising Public Awareness
Public Policy and Planning

A distinguished panel of jurors composed of nationally respected professionals in the fields of architecture, planning, public policy, and development will select the CLIDE Award recipients from the eligible applications submitted. 2025 CLIDE winners will be notified in mid-May 2025 and invited to the North Central Texas Council of Governments' General Assembly on June 13, 2025 to accept their awards.

Water is a critical resource, and with the anticipated population growth in the state, it is critical that the water infrastructure is able to handle the increasing demand. However, with infrastructure aging, funds drying up, and population growth projected to outpace the water supply, utilities are struggling to keep up with water demand.

The need to maintain and update the infrastructure is more apparent than ever, with both the state and utilities investing in these improvements. Recent efforts include the 2023 Texas Water Fund allocating $1 billion in funding towards infrastructure projects and improvements, and North Texas Municipal Water District adjusting their 2025 budget to invest $1.1 billion in infrastructure.

Increasing extreme weather events are also expected to put additional stress on water infrastructure, leading the state to look for other ways to ensure future water sources for Texans, such as redrawing the Texas-Oklahoma boundary to bring a pump station fully back into Texas.

While these are all steps in the right direction, ongoing investment in both news projects and infrastructure maintenance are going to be vital if Texas wants to keep up with increasing populations. Read the full article here.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a new collaboration with Google that will recognize technicians who are Energy Skilled certified. Energy Skilled is a DOE designation that workers can earn by completing training programs and certifications that align with clean energy transition goals.

HVAC, plumbing, and home energy audit contractors are all examples of employees that may be recognized as Energy Skilled. Google Business Profiles with one or more employees with an Energy Skilled credential will have a new badge recognizing this credential, making it easier for customers to make more energy efficient decisions.

The collaboration builds on other resources recently announced by DOE that aim to help home energy contractors and their customers in selecting and installing energy-saving equipment and qualifying for home upgrade tax credits. To learn more about the DOE-Google collaboration, visit the DOE's website.

San Antonio is working hard to tackle the challenge of homelessness and is doing so by tapping into the co-benefits of housing and transportation work. In response to the housing crisis, San Antonio is participating in the Urban Land Institute’s Homeless to Housed (H2H) Initiative with the intention of diversifying housing typologies to create more cost-effective options.

At the same time, the city also received funding through the US Department of Transportation’s Thriving Communities Program to ensure underserved communities are included in conversations about future transit. By working in conjunction, these two programs have been able to amplify the benefits of co-locating affordable housing and public transit.

The two projects developed a housing typology survey together with a focus on communities impacted by San Antonio’s growing transit initiatives, the results of which are being used to guide housing expansion and support systemic change in transit services. Further information about the collaborative work can be found on the Urban Land Institutes webpage.

There is no denying that biking can significantly benefit your physical health, but research is showing that improvements in bikeability can have further reaching public health impacts as well. Bikeability refers to how suitable a place is for biking, whether that be a neighborhood, school zone, or other community location.

Beyond the physical benefits, bikeability can help reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and benefit businesses located in areas more accessible by bike. Areas can improve bikeability by adding bike lanes, demonstrating an investment in public health and improving the safety of streets. Bike lanes not only improve safety for cyclists, but also make it safer for pedestrians and automobile drivers.

One final benefit of bikeability is a reduction in disparities. Bikes are a more affordable option compared to cars, so infrastructure that supports biking can help increase access for people in communities to necessities like food, healthcare, and work opportunities. Overall, there are a multitude of benefits to improving the bikeability of places, making investing in bike infrastructure a great decision for public health. To read more about bikeability and its benefits, visit the Blue Zones website.

Following the directive from the 88th Texas Legislature to create a statewide water campaign, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has selected the Texas Water Foundation (TWF) to support the development and implementation of a new water public awareness program funded through the Texas Water Fund.

Together, the TWDB and TWF will build on the success of the Texas Runs on Water Campaign and its network of water partners to develop a new complementary campaign. The new campaign will educate the public about water and account for the differing needs for the geographic regions of the state, and tailor education and awareness to align with pre-existing local and regional campaigns.

By supporting communities in solving water challenges, a program of this scale has the potential to make a positive impact for generations of Texas to come. Visit TWF's website to read more about the partnership.

Billions of birds will be migrating at night during the spring migration season, which runs from March1st to June 15th. Unshielded lights coming from our cities can disorient birds, leaving them confused and vulnerable to threats that pull them off course and put them in danger.

Lights Out, Texas! is a statewide campaign that brings education, awareness, and action focused on the protection of these migratory birds. Simple changes such as turning off unnecessary lights after 11 PM, using motion sensors for outdoor lighting, and swapping bright white bulbs for warm bird-friendly lighting can all help reduce light pollution and keep birds safe.

With one in three birds in the U.S. passing through Texas during spring migration, it is especially important for Texans to follow dark skies friendly lighting practices, especially during the peak migration period of April 22nd to May 12th. Learn more about what you can do by visiting the Lights Out, Texas! website.

The fifth annual North Texas Community Cleanup Challenge is now open and running from March 1 to May 31, 2025. The regionwide litter cleanup challenge is a competition amongst North Texas communities to see who can pick up the most litter per resident.

Communities, churches, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, companies, activists, or just ordinary citizens can organize litter clean up events or log existing events and efforts as they occur. The community that cleans up the most litter per resident by the end of the contest will receive the North Texas Community Cleanup award.

If you are interested in participating in this year’s Community Cleanup Challenge, please email stormwater@nctcog.org confirming your community’s interest by April 15, 2025. More information about the Community Clean Up Challenge can be found on NCTCOG's website.

Back by popular demand, USGBC has started their USGBC First Friday series again! This year, live education sessions will alternate with highly rated, previously recorded sessions from past USGBC programming. Upcoming sessions include Accelerating Action, Performance, and Verification on May 2, Green Finance Tools and Resources on June 6, and Implementing LEED v5 Operations + Maintenance Worldwide on July 11. The First Friday series is free for USGBC members and USGBC Texas members, and $10 per session for nonmembers. Registration to attend any of the upcoming sessions in the series is open here.

The City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability’s 8th Annual North Texas Climate Symposium is being held on April 23, 2025, at Hilton Anatole Dallas. Regional stakeholders from government, academia, and industry are brought together at this symposium to collaborate and discuss progress towards sustainability goals.

Topics highlighted in this year’s panels include public health impacts from air quality and heat, urban agriculture, climate mitigation, and more. Those interested in attending can now register here.

The symposium is being offered as a free portion of the 2025 EarthX Congress of Conferences, running April 21-25, 2025. For those interested in learning more about the Congress of Conferences and it's corresponding events, please visit the EarthX website.

The North Texas Regional Integration of Sustainability Efforts (RISE) Coalition works to engage interested local governments in peer-exchange opportunities to support sustainability and environmental initiatives. Coalition meetings are open to the public; local government staff working on sustainability, environmental, and climate initiatives are encouraged to attend.

The next RISE Coalition meeting is scheduled for May 14, 2025, at 9:30 AM. The meeting will be held in-person at the NCTCOG Offices. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here.

For more information about the RISE Coalition, visit the RISE Coalition website. The RISE Coalition website provides information about past and upcoming meetings.

TCEQ’s Annual Environmental Trade Fair and Conference is scheduled for June 3-4, 2025, and will be held in San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The Trade Fair provides the opportunity for those in the environmental sector to connect with others from across the state and tap into both learning and development opportunities.

Participants can attend over 100 different courses led by staff on topics such as air and water permitting, solid waste management, and more. Additionally, attendees can explore the exhibit hall and meet with the hundreds of exhibiting companies. Registration is open on the TCEQ website, with early registration pricing being offered through May 2, 2025.

The Water Research Foundation has released Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for seven projects. Various topics covered by the RFPs include system development fees, energy management, distribution system monitoring, and more. Funding ranges from $100K to $420K depending on the project. A full list of the RFPs can be found below:

Balancing Human and Natural Assets into a Holistic Water Resource Management Framework (5295)
Smart and Connected Energy Management (5296)
Integrating Requirements, Drivers, and Technologies for Enhanced Distribution System Water Quality Monitoring (5301)
Understanding the Practices, Policies, and Impacts of System Development Fees and Upgrade Requirements (5302)
Balancing Human and Natural Assets into a Holistic Water Resource Management Framework (5295)
Smart and Connected Energy Management (5296)
Integrating Requirements, Drivers, and Technologies for Enhanced Distribution System Water Quality Monitoring (5301)
Understanding the Practices, Policies, and Impacts of System Development Fees and Upgrade Requirements (5302)
Integrating Equitable Outcomes into Water Reuse Projects (5303)
Per Capita Water Use Calculation (5335)
Reducing Nitrification Risks Through Collaboration Between Drinking Water Wholesalers and Consecutive Systems (5348)

Proposals will be accepted from both U.S.-based and non-U.S.-based entities, including educational institutions, research organizations, governmental agencies, and consultants or other for-profit entities. Those interested in applying can visit the Water Research Foundation’s Open RFPs webpage to learn more about the different opportunities. Proposals must be submitted by 4:00PM CT on May 7, 2025 to be considered.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched the second round of the Community Energy Innovation Prize. A new cohort of communities will have the opportunity to compete for a part of the $8.42 million prize to accelerate local solutions addressing clean energy, energy efficiency, manufacturing, materials, and transportation. Applicants can apply under one of the following tracks:

Clean Energy Ecosystem Track, which may focus on any range of clean energy technologies or initiatives
Manufacturing Ecosystem Track, which must have an explicit connection to sustainable manufacturing
Vehicles Ecosystem Track, which must focus efforts on sustainable transportation technologies or initiatives

Private entities (for-profits and nonprofits); non-federal government agencies such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities; academic institutions; and individuals are eligible to participate. Additional information about the competition, including official project guidelines and the submission link, are available on the competition website. Applications must be submitted by 4:00 PM CT on June 20, 2025.

The Center of Development Excellence (Center) is a regional program in North Central Texas that is built on collaborative partnerships with a variety of stakeholders including local governments, businesses, private sector professionals and organizations, non-profits, and the public. The Center works to leverage opportunities and funding to create a North Central Texas region that is resilient, sustainable, and provides a high quality of life for residents. To learn more, visit the Center of Development Excellent website.