A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY

A stronger, more resilient community……that retains its rural roots…

ChaRT Vision…

• Coastal environment• Natural wildlife resources• Abundant fishery• Ranching• Agriculture• Marine trades

Re-sil-ient: /ri’zilyent/

1. Able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.

2. Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.

“Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit.” - Bern William

…a More Resilient Community

…and builds stronger infrastructure.

ChaRT Vision…

• Stronger health and medical service delivery

• Updated emergency services

• Increased recreational opportunities

• Expanded public facilities• Improved ground and

marine transportation

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

ChaRT Mission

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

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.

ChaRT

community developmen

t

infrastructure

economics and

industry

healthcare and

emergency services

trinity bay restoration

ChaRTLong-Term Community Recovery Plan

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

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.

Housing & Community

Development

Community Facilities &

Infrastructure

Economics & Industry

Education, Health & Human Services

Environment and Coastal

Areas Protection

Long-Term Community Recovery Plan

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

ChaRTOrganization

•Essential Documentation• Bylaws• IRS 501(c)(3)•Board Development• Expansion• Representation•Annual Meetings• Community

Involvement

ChaRT Formation

Guy Robert Jackson, Chair, AnahuacGuido Persiani, Vice-Chair, BaytownScott Neal, Secretary-Treasurer,

Mont Belvieu/Old River-WinfreeLarry Barron, Member, WinnieJames Gibson, Member, WinnieArtie Presley, Member, Bay TownAlton Sanders, Member, Mont BelvieuMary Beth Stengler, Member, At LargeJacque White, Member, High IslandLee Wiley, Member, Cove

Current Board Members

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

C.E.O and President

•Solicit Local Support• Local Governments• Special Districts• Chambers of Commerce•Provide Financial Accountability•Develop a Funding Plan for the

Future

ChaRT Sustainability

• Review the Long-Term Community Recovery Plan and project status.

• Prioritize projects.• Identify partnerships

and form committees to accomplish the projects.

ChaRT Initiatives

These initiatives were distilled from the LTCR list of projects and represent the core of ChaRT’s work through at least 2014:1. Nature Tourism Initiative2. Resource Clearinghouse Initiative3. County-Wide Planning Initiative4. Environment/Natural Resources

Initiative5. Channel Maintenance/Dredge Material

Management Initiative

Five Initiatives

• 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

Resource Clearinghouse Initiative

ChaRT RoleChaRT’s Role Would Include:• Securing Funding• Enlisting Key

Resource Personnel

• Developing Data and Information to Support and Guide the Initiative

• Producing Resource Material

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.

LTCR Plan Implementation

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.

County-Wide Planning

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.

ChaRT’s Role

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.

Environment/Natural Resources

Catherine Williams

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.

LTCR Plan Implementation

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.

ChaRT Role

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.

Channel Maintenance/Dredge Material Management

• 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

LTCR Plan Implementation

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.

ChaRT Role

• 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.

Nature Tourism

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

Partnership with AgriLife

Catherine Williams

• 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.

First Year Successes

Continue Website Updating, Maintenance and Social Media Efforts

Update Site Assessments

Publish Tourism Map Purchase Advertising

Provide 30-Chambers 45 Rack Card Holders for Sites in County

Research Nature Photography Event

Develop Plan for Way-Finding Signage

Employ Nature Tourism Marketing Director

Host Channel Maintenance and Dredging Material Management Workshop

Second Year Goals

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.

Nature Tourism Marketing Director

Amy Turner

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.

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.

Chambers County Map

ChambersWild.com intends to become the best source of information for the following tourist information in Chambers County:• Birding• Hunting• Fishing• Paddle Sports• Agritourism

ChambersWild.com

Paul Nelson

Amy Turner

Tom Douglas

ChambersWild.com also maintains a Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/chamberswild

Like us Now!

ChambersWild.com on Facebook

Continue Website Updating, Maintenance and Social Media Efforts

Update Site Assessments

Publish Tourism Map Purchase Advertising

Provide 30-Chambers 45 Rack Card Holders for Sites in County

Research Nature Photography Event

Develop Plan for Way-Finding Signage

Employ Nature Tourism Marketing Director

Host Channel Maintenance and Dredging Material Management Workshop

Second Year Goals

Complete!Complete!

Complete!

Complete!

Complete!

How You Can Help ChaRT Succeed:

Contribute!Participate!

Spread the Word!Find ChaRT on:ChambersRecoveryTeam.orgFacebookTwitterPinterestYouTube

On behalf of the Chambers Recovery Team

THANK YOU!