May 12, 2009
APPLY NOW FOR THE 2009 SUMMER JOBS FOR YOUTH PROGRAM! Earn $9.50 an hour and get job experience, resume help, and learn valuable work skills! Find out if you're eligible to work at a City of Houston worksite for the 2009 Summer Jobs for Youth Program! More than 600 summer positions for youth (16 - 24) are available! Go to any Workforce Solutions Career Offices to find out if you're eligible. If you're not, Workforce Solutions will still help your job search! Call 1-888-469-5627 or go to www.wrksolutions.com/summerjobs to find your local Career Office. Apply today! MUNICIPAL COURTS OFFERS AMNESTY PROGRAM
The pilot program includes a subset of permits issued by the Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department (ARA), specifically noise permits and renewals of City certifications for alcohol vendors. The goal over the next three months is to increase the types of ARA-issued permits available online to include all other types of commercial permits, such as registration for coin operated machines, permits for resellers of used items, and new location check requests for businesses that sell or serve alcohol. Permits & Licenses that can be Applied for and Purchased Online today:
Permits & Licenses that will be Available for Online Purchase Over the Next 90 Days
As the pilot program matures, we hope to include permits issued by other departments, such as dog licenses, dumpster permits, park pavilion reservations, etc. Be sure to visit www.houstonpermits.com for more information and a complete listing of permits and the anticipated availability schedule! CALLING FOR 2009 MAYOR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE AWARDS NOMINATIONS Mayor Bill White and the Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Board will kick-off Hispanic Heritage Month in September by hosting the 2009 Mayor's Hispanic Heritage Awards. Nominations are now being accepted for this year's awards and the applications are available online at http://www.houstontx.gov/specialevents/hispanicheritage.html; click on 2009 Hispanic Heritage Awards Nominations. The deadline is June 19, 2009. Public Works & Engineering Code Enforcement GREEN BUILDING RESOURCE CENTER Opens
Location: Code Enforcement Building, 3300 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77002
For more information please visit http://www.houstontx.gov/citizensnet/greenbuilding.pdf. CITY'S REUSE RECYCLING WAREHOUSE NOW OPEN
To make a donation of materials call Project Manager Jonathan Lohn at 281-814-3324 or jonathan.lohn@cityofhouston.net. Items accepted include cabinets, fans, sinks, showers, windows, concrete blocks, pavers, copper, doors, windows, flooring material, glass and gutters. For a complete list and additional information, visit www.houstonreuse.org. STARTING A BUSINESS IN HOUSTON? - VISIT THE ONE STOP BUSINESS CENTER Thinking about starting your own business? Are you already a small business owner? The City of Houston's One Stop Business Center, in partnership with SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and Houston Public Library's C.O.R.E. (Careers, Opportunities, Resources, and Education) Center, will present a 90 minute workshop on the rules and regulations which govern the operation of small businesses in Houston. These classes are free and open to the public. Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 10 a.m.
Thursday, May 28th at 6 p.m.
Monday, June 16th at 6 p.m.
Additional topics and classes are listed at http://www.houstonlibrary.org/adults/index.html. For more information on the One Stop Business Center and the classes offered, call 832.393.0954 or visit http://www.houstontx.gov/onestop. For more information about the Houston Public Library and its resources, call 832.393.1313 or visit http://www.houstonlibrary.org. SOLAR PANELS TO GO ATOP GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) will look to the sun for part of its energy source when installation of solar panels begins as a pilot project on the building's 16-acre roof in June. The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) will look to the sun for part of its energy source when installation of solar panels begins as a pilot project on the building's 16-acre roof in June. The Houston Advanced Research Center is partnering with the Houston Architecture Foundation and the City of Houston Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department (which manages the GRB) to install and test two 50-kw solar energy systems. This pilot program may lead to the design of a solar energy system that eventually covers the building's roof. Houston Endowment, Inc. has approved an $850,000 grant to help start the pilot program, and BP also has contributed funding to the project. Other sponsors are CenterPoint Energy, the Houston Architecture Foundation and the Houston chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The system will be one of the largest installations in the region and is the start of a green roof vision and master plan for the convention center. For more information about the GRB solar project, visit http://www.houstonconventionctr.com/press_room/102008.pdf. For a fact sheet summarizing green initiatives at GRB, visit http://www.houstonconventionctr.com/GreenBrownFactSheet.pdf. For more information about Houston's green initiatives and sustainability efforts, visit www.greenhoustontx.gov.
|
The Houston Municipal Courts Amnesty program is currently under way to provide defendants an opportunity to clear up delinquent cases and save money! The program, which kicked off Friday, May 1, 2009 will run through Saturday, May 16, 2009. Those who owe fines can save 50% or more on delinquent fees, depending on the total amount due. In order for a case to be resolved under Amnesty Program Guidelines, it had to be delinquent on or before February 28, 2009. Delinquent parking citations also are eligible for discounts if paid now. For more information on eligible cases, visit 
The City of Houston has launched a pilot online permitting site, 
Houstonians can have their plans reviewed for opportunities to add Green strategies to save energy, save water and make their buildings healthier. In addition, citizens can peruse the shelves and displays, touch and feel samples, and learn about Green building options in a relaxed setting where they can browse on their own, use an interactive kiosk, or ask questions of the staff Program Director.
The City of Houston's newest recycling opportunity, The Building Materials Reuse Warehouse, opened on April 29, 2009. Contractors can drop off excess materials at the Reuse Warehouse which benefits them in three ways: 1) eliminates landfill fees, 2) donations are tax deductible, and 3) provides LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification points. Citizens can also make donations. Donated materials are available for reuse by any non-profit organization. The formal grand opening is scheduled for June 2009.