This Week: 2017 Flood Mitigation Home Elevation Grant Opportunity; Planning Commission to Vote on MTFP; Tax Free Weekend.

2017 Flood Mitigation Home Elevation Grant Opportunity

The City of Houston, in partnership with the Texas Water Development Board, would like to submit a grant application on behalf of interested homeowners to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA). This grant will request funds to elevate flood-prone homes. On Tuesday, August 15th, the Public Works and Engineering Department will host a public meeting for homeowners to learn more about the 2017 FMA Home Elevation Grant and what information the City of Houston needs from homeowners to apply. The meeting will begin at 6:30PM at District C’s Metropolitan Multi-Service Center (1475 W. Gray St, 77019) and the deadline for interested residents to submit their information is Friday, August 25th at 5PM.

Planning Commission to Vote on MTFP

On Thursday, August 17th, the Houston Planning Commission will review and vote on proposed amendments to the 2017 Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan. This annually-reviewed document identifies the widths, speed limits, and building setbacks of Houston’s streets. The meeting will begin at 2:30PM in the City Hall Annex Chambers (901 Bagby St, Public Level, 77002). All Planning Commission meetings are open to the public, include the opportunity for public comment, and are streamed and archived online via HTV.

Tax Free Weekend

To assist Texas parents with back-to-school shopping, August 11-13, 2017 has been declared a Sales Tax Holiday, during which certain school supplies, backpacks, clothing, and other items are exempt from sales tax collection. Shoppers will save $8.25 on every $100 they spend, including on items sold online. Since its implementation in 1999, the August Sales Tax Holiday is estimated to have saved Texans over $1 billion in total.