A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY

1. A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY

2. ChaRT Vision… • A stronger, more resilient community… • …that retains its rural roots… • Coastal environment • Natural wildlife resources • Abundant fishery • Ranching • Agriculture • Marine trades

3. …a More Resilient Community • Re-sil-ient: /ri’zilyent/ • Able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed. • Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. • “Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit.” - Bern William

4. ChaRT Vision… • …and builds stronger infrastructure. • Stronger health and medical service delivery • Updated emergency services • Increased recreational opportunities • Expanded public facilities • Improved ground and marine transportation

5. ChaRT Mission • To promote, assist, and conduct implementation of the community-driven Long-Term Community Recovery Plan for Chambers County.

7. ChaRT Values and Principles • Grounded in reality • Strong and sustainable structure • Committed to the community-driven process • Looks to a future of economic development and environmental protection

8. ChaRT Goals • Retain the small town identity of communities like Smith Point, Oak Island, Double Bayou and Anahuac. • Protect ranching and agriculture lands. • Serve as a gateway to coastal areas and beaches. • Create tourism opportunities to become a travel destination. • Develop interconnectivity and a county-wide greenways trail system. • Partner to support and encourage business expansion. • Build community facilities and programs that support quality of life and livability. • Implement projects of mutual interest with the Chambers County Greenprint.

9. ChaRT Long-Term Community Recovery Plan

10. Widespread support for FEMA process • Chambers County Commissioners Court and Commissioners • Anahuac, Beach City, Cove, Double Bayou, Hankamer, Mont Belvieu, Oak Island, Old River-Winfree, Smith Point, Wallisville, Winnie-Stowell • Two rounds of public meetings in 5 communities, 3 planning workshops, with more than 500 attendees

11. Identification of Recovery Projects More than 130 projects were identified through the public process and committees. These were combined and refined to a final list of 92 projects into five key sectors.

12. Long-Term Community Recovery Plan Full length version of the Long-Term Community Recovery Plan (LTCRP) can be found on www.ChambersRecoveryTeam.org

13. ChaRT Organization

14. ChaRT Formation • Essential Documentation • Bylaws • IRS 501(c)(3) • Board Development • Expansion • Representation • Annual Meetings • Community Involvement

15. Current Board Members • Guy Robert Jackson, Chair, Anahuac • Guido Persiani, Vice-Chair, Baytown • Scott Neal, Secretary-Treasurer, • Mont Belvieu/Old River-Winfree • Larry Barron, Member, Winnie • James Gibson, Member, Winnie • Artie Presley, Member, Bay Town • Alton Sanders, Member, Mont Belvieu • Mary Beth Stengler, Member, At Large • Jacque White, Member, High Island • Lee Wiley, Member, Cove

16. C.E.O and President • Catherine L Williams, J.D. • Originally from Georgetown, Alabama, a farming community northwest of Mobile. • Graduated from Auburn University • Received J.D. from • South Texas College of Law

17. ChaRT Sustainability • Solicit Local Support • Local Governments • Special Districts • Chambers of Commerce • Provide Financial Accountability • Develop a Funding Plan for the • Future

18. ChaRT Initiatives • Review the Long-Term Community Recovery Plan and project status. • Prioritize projects. • Identify partnerships and form committees to accomplish the projects.

19. Five Initiatives • These initiatives were distilled from the LTCR list of projects and represent the core of ChaRT’s work through at least 2014: • Nature Tourism Initiative • Resource Clearinghouse Initiative • County-Wide Planning Initiative • Environment/Natural Resources Initiative • Channel Maintenance/Dredge Material Management Initiative

20. Resource Clearinghouse Initiative • Establishment of a “one-stop” location for individuals in the county needing assistance covering topics such as: • Mitigation • Coastal and Environmental Protection Measures • Community Design and Building Standards • Efficient Sustainable Development Practices

21. ChaRT Role • ChaRT’s Role Would Include: • Securing Funding • Enlisting Key Resource Personnel • Developing Data and Information to Support and Guide the Initiative • Producing Resource Material

22. LTCR Plan Implementation • In the LTCR plan, this initiative specifically addresses: • The ChaRT Community Recovery Center, in the Housing and Community Development section of the plan. • It will also provide a link to programs that may address other projects, especially those involved with housing needs and coordination of codes and enforcement.

23. County-Wide Planning • This initiative could address the following projects in the LTCR plan: • County-Wide Vision Planning; • County-Wide Parks and Recreation Master Plan; • Building Code and Land Use Regulations; • Walk and Bikeways/Signage and Streetlights Improvement; • Bayside Community Hospital Initiatives; • Creation of a drainage district for the west county and planning for other infrastructure improvements.

24. ChaRT’s Role • ChaRT role: • Be a vocal advocate to build support, • Foster communication, • Find linkages, • Remove roadblocks, and • Facilitate other local entities in their implementation of the Initiative.

25. Environment/Natural Resources • As noted in the LTCR Plan, “The life and economy of the citizens of Chambers County are intertwined with the bays, estuaries, marshlands, wildlife refuges and beaches…” of the area. Catherine Williams

26. LTCR Plan Implementation • This initiative will address LTCR plan projects across several sectors, including: • Community Facilities and Infrastructure • Environment and Coastal Areas Protection • Economics and Industry • Other specific projects that could be part of this initiative include • Robbins Park Restoration • McCollum Park Restoration • Smith Point Wildlife Habitat Restoration.

27. ChaRT Role • ChaRT role: • Be a vocal advocate to build support, • Foster communication, • Find linkages, • Remove roadblocks, • Facilitate other local entities in their implementation of the Initiative.

28. Channel Maintenance/Dredge Material Management • The development of a county-wide channel maintenance program that will incorporate beneficial use of dredge material will be an integral part of the Channel Maintenance and Dredge Material Management Initiative.

29. LTCR Plan Implementation • This initiative will address the Restoration of Navigation Channels project of the Environment and Coastal Areas Protection sector of the LTCR plan. • Could include original LTCR projects associated with the following channels: • Cedar Bayou Navigation Channel • Smith Point/Pix Bayou Channel • Anahuac Navigation Chanel • Old Channel to Liberty • Oak Island-Double Bayou Navigation Channel

30. ChaRT Role • ChaRT role: • Be a vocal advocate to build support, • Foster communication, • Find linkages, • Remove roadblocks, • Facilitate other local entities in their implementation of the Initiative.

31. Nature Tourism • ChaRT role: Be the lead entity to implement the first phases of the Initiative, including: • Securing funding, • Enlisting key resource personnel • Developing data and information to support and guide the Initiative • Producing marketing materials. • With that County funding, ChaRT contracted with Texas AgriLife Extension to help begin implementation of the Nature Tourism Initiative.

32. Partnership with AgriLife • With initial County funding, ChaRT contracted with Texas AgriLife Extension to help begin implementation of the Nature Tourism Initiative. Catherine Williams

33. First Year Successes • Design and publish an initial website for the nature tourism market. • Complete/review an inventory of nature tourism sites and attractions. • Design, print, and distribute an initial rack card. • Develop an initial map concept. • Produce a one-day tour/workshop on nature tourism marketing. • Develop and distribute a visitor poll.

34. Second Year Goals

35. Nature Tourism Marketing Director • In August 2012, ChaRT hired Tamie Bulow as the Nature Tourism Marketing Director. • Tamie joins ChaRT from such prior experience as South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center, the American Birding Association, and Denver Field Omithologists. • Tamie holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Denver. Amy Turner

36. Rack Card 2.0 Currently, ChaRT is in the process of distributing this rack card to over 75 different businesses and attractions across Chambers County.

37. Chambers County Map • Currently, ChaRT is working to create a map for the entire county which would include: • Nature tourism sites • Nature tourism resources • Detailed street/road description to provide “off the beaten path” locations • Smaller, more activity focused maps will also be developed and placed on ChambersWild.com • There is the possibility that advertising will be sold to sponsor the map’s printing cost.

38. ChambersWild.com • ChambersWild.com intends to become the best source of information for the following tourist information in Chambers County: • Birding • Hunting • Fishing • Paddle Sports • Agritourism Tom Douglas Paul Nelson Amy Turner

39. ChambersWild.com on Facebook • ChambersWild.com also maintains a Facebook page: • https://www.facebook.com/chamberswild • Like us Now!

40. Second Year Goals Complete! Complete! Complete! Complete! Complete!

41. How You Can Help ChaRT Succeed: Contribute! Participate! Spread the Word! Find ChaRT on: ChambersRecoveryTeam.org Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube

42. On behalf of the Chambers Recovery Team THANK YOU!