SUGAR LAND DRAWS NATIONAL ATTENTION
2012
Sugar Land Receives H-GAC’s Top Clean Air Award
Sugar Land, TX – The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) recognized the city of Sugar Land with its “Best All-Around Clean Air Leadership” award for the City’s positive impact on air quality within the Houston region.
“This year, The Houston-Galveston Area Council has given the City of Sugar Land our 2012 Best All-Around Clean Air Leadership Award,” said H-GAC Director of Transportation Planning Alan Clark. “We are excited to recognize the City of Sugar Land’s continued efforts in supporting and promoting alternative commuting options which improve air quality and mobility in the region.”
The award is an acknowledgement of Sugar Land’s extensive efforts to improve air quality, primarily by promoting alternative ways of commuting. Examples of these efforts include:
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hosting Sugar Land’s first-ever Bike to Work Day on May 18;
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promoting Commute Solutions to Sugar Land’s businesses, including proclaiming August as “Commute Solutions Month” in Sugar Land and using a number of tools to inform the community;
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promoting Fort Bend County’s commuter transit services with a “Ride Free Month” offer;
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promoting commuting alternatives at quarterly homeowners’ association meetings;
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funding $70,000 annually to support Fort Bend County transit services;
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initiating an update to the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan; and
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conducting a holiday transit circulator pilot program during the 2011 holiday season.
Sugar Land continues to encourage residents and businesses to take advantage of local commuting alternatives. Some of these alternatives follow:
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Residents may ride Fort Bend County’s transit services to Greenway Plaza, the Galleria and the Texas Medical Center from Sugar Land’s two park and ride locations.
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Sugar Land destinations are accessible from Houston via Fort Bend County’s “reverse commute” service out of the Texas Medical Center.
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Residents may shape the City’s future pedestrian and bicycle system by participating in an ongoing update to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan.
For more information on Fort Bend County transit services or to participate in Sugar Land’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan update, visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/tlrp/. From the www.sugarlandtx.gov website.
Sugar Land Economic Development Recognized For Excellence
Sugar Land, TX – For the fourth year in a row, the Sugar Land Development Corporation (SLDC) and the Sugar Land 4B Corporation (SL4B) were awarded a “Certificate for Achievement of Economic Excellence” from the Texas Economic Development Council. The corporations were honored at TEDC’s spring 2012 conference in Rockwall, Texas.
The SLDC and SL4B were two of 23 economic development organizations in Texas that received this recognition out of 680 such organizations in the state.
The Economic Excellence Program was created by TEDC to highlight economic development organizations that meet a desired threshold of professionalism and to encourage continued professional development. Qualification for the recognition was based on the following achievements:
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Strong involvement with economic, real estate and industry professional organizations
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Economic development staff certification, continued training and recognition by relevant organizations
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Qualified training completed by Board members
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Well-organized and coordinated economic development strategies and plans
The Sugar Land 4B Corporation is a nonprofit corporation with the purpose of promoting, assisting and enhancing economic development activities and quality-of-life opportunities within the City.
Projects are funded with a quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1995 to provide a more effective environment for economic activity. Since 1996, SL4B has participated in more than 60 projects, including park development, right-of-way beautification, University of Houston Sugar Land Campus, infrastructure in Sugar Land Town Square, the Houston Museum of Natural Science-Sugar Land and the minor league ballpark, Constellation Field.
The Sugar Land Development Corporation was approved by Sugar Land voters in 1993 for the purpose of promoting, assisting and enhancing economic and development activities. The SLDC accomplishes these goals by funding infrastructure and incentive projects with a quarter-cent sales tax. SLDC has participated in over 45 projects spanning all areas of City government, including utilities, streets, aviation and drainage.
From the www.sugarlandtx.gov website.
Sugar Land Named Tree City USA
Sugar Land, TX - The Arbor Day Foundation recognized Sugar Land as a Tree City USA community
Texas Forest Service Regional Forester Mickey Merritt presented the award to Mayor James Thompson during a City Council meeting on April 17.
“Sugar Land is one of only 73 communities in Texas to receive this recognition and the first in Fort Bend County,” said Merritt.
Four standards are considered for Tree City USA recognition, including:
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an established tree board or department;
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a tree-care ordinance;
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a community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita; and
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an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
“TreeCity USA designation tells residents and visitors alike that here is a community that cares about its environment and values the quality of life of its residents,” said Merritt. “It creates community pride and presents the kind of image that most people want for their community.”
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, trees provide many environmental, economic and social benefits. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the U.S. Forest Service.
Sugar Land held this year’s Arbor Day celebration during the Concert in the Park Earth Day event on April 22 at Oyster Creek Park.
The event was intended to celebrate Earth Day as well as Sugar Land’s Tree City USA designation and provided tree and environmental education to the public.
From the www.sugarlandtx.gov website.
Sugar Land Airport Amoung Top 10 Best
Sugar Land, TX - Leading corporate aviation experts again recognized Sugar Land Regional Airport’s GlobalSelect among the top 10 Fixed-Based Operator’s in the western hemisphere.
In the aviation industry, the FBO is a service center at an airport providing various aviation-related services, included aircraft fuel, crew facilities, parking, catering and more. GlobalSelect, owned by the City of Sugar Land, was renamed in 2010 to describe the experience customers receive while visiting SLRA and to better reflect its customer base, which includes corporations throughout the world.
Professional Pilot’s 39th annual Preferences Regarding Aviation Services and Equipment (PRASE) survey ranked GlobalSelect second on their “Best FBO in the United States” list. GlobalSelect also received recognition as the “Most Improved FBO,” an award recognizing the largest increase in ranking position compared with the previous year.
GlobalSelect also remained in the top 10 of Aviation International News “Best FBOs in the Americas.” The publication’s FBO survey compares fixed-based operators in the western hemisphere. The survey is completed by pilots and other corporate aviation experts who rate facilities in categories such as pilot amenities and services, line service, passenger amenities and facilities. GlobalSelect has been among the top 10 since 2007, with two first place selections during that time period.
Director of Aviation Phillip Savko attributes these honors to its first-class amenities, a staff that consistently provides excellent customer service and support from the City of Sugar Land.
SLRA’s focus on corporate aviation – while still providing for the needs of general aviation – has established the airport as an important part of the regional economy, providing jobs, corporate access to local markets, access to air transportation services and facilities to house corporate aviation departments. More than 100 Fortune 500 companies utilized the airport annually.
The airport is a self-sustaining operation; its contribution to a strong economy is made without taxpayer dollars. Amenities at the airport include a Texas-style 20,000-square-foot corporate aviation terminal; a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower and radar system; a reinforced, concrete runway measuring 100 feet wide by 8,000 feet in length, accommodating the largest of the corporate-type business jets; an instrument landing system and high-intensity lighting; U.S. Customs; and more.
From the www.sugarlandtx.gov website.