May 16, 2022
In Brief
In this edition of the Monday Morning Messenger, the Texas Propane Gas Association would like to ask for your help in supporting Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian in his quest for re-election in this Texas Primary Runoff election.
Speaking of government, the TCEQ has opened its Alternative Fueling Facilities Program (AFFP), which provides competitive grants for propane autogas and other alternative fueling infrastructure. Read more about this grant opportunity in our second story of the morning.

In our third story of the morning, TPGA highlights a learning opportunity coming up this week. In this upcoming webinar funded by the CARES Act, employers can learn more about placing job ads, including on social media and interviewing and screening tips. Learn more about how you can tune into this FREE online session.

In our last story of the morning, TPGA gives members a way to support our scholarship efforts in a fun way. Please help make our biggest fundraiser of the year a huge success by donating an item or items to our silent
auction.

Don't forget to check out our Quick Links section for reminders and access to resources, including a reminder on the increased roadside enforcement event this week, a link to our TPGA compliance store, propane sales report, and the 2022 Crossroads Propane Expo & Conference website.
In this issue

  • In Brief
  • Primary Runoff
  • Autogas Station Grants
  • Hiring Tools
  • Silent Auction Donations
  • Quick Links
Calendar
Support Needed Christian in
RRC Primary Runoff
Today marks the first day of early voting in the Primary Runoff Election.

TPGA is calling on our members to support incumbent Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian in his runoff against oil and gas attorney Sarah Stogner this May.

First elected in November 2016 to the Commission, Wayne Christian became the 50th RRC Commissioner to serve. Before serving as Commissioner at the Railroad Commission, he served as a legislator in the Texas House of Representatives. During his time in the Texas House, Christian served as a multi-term member of the House Energy Resource Committee, where he helped the propane industry with several issues.

Commissioner Christian has been a longtime friend of the association while serving in the Texas Legislature and at the Commission.

Christian understands that big government increases costs for consumers and kills jobs while harming our economy and national security. He believes all regulations should be consistent, predictable, and based on sound science.

Christian will be a critical ally as the propane industry works on upcoming rule changes with the Commission.

Learn more about Commissioner Christian at https://www.christianfortexas.com/.
Propane Autogas Station
Grants Available in Texas
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is currently accepting applications for the Alternative Fueling Facilities Program (AFFP). $12 million in grants are available to construct or reconstruct fueling facilities that provide propane autogas and other alternative fuels, including electric charging infrastructure, within the Clean Transportation Zone (an 83 county area of Texas). At least $4 million of the available grant funding is reserved for small businesses.

Refueling infrastructure grants are available to award up to 50% of the total eligible project cost (with a maximum of $600,000) for fuels like propane autogas.

AFFP grant funding is awarded on a competitive basis with the proposed facility location among the items considered.

Applications will be accepted through July 12, 2022.

You can learn more about the AFFP requirements and apply for a grant at https://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/terp/ctt.html.

Need help? The Propane Council of Texas (ProCOT) can be your go-to for all local, regional, state, and federal grants for propane autogas infrastructure and vehicles. Contact ProCOT at (800)325-7427 or at info@propanecounciloftexas.org, and ProCOT will put you in touch with their grant expert and complimentary grant writer to help you or any of your propane fleet clients to apply for this and other grants.

Also, the TCEQ grants staff will be at the 2022 Crossroads Propane Expo on June 21-22, 2022, in our Regulatory Pavilion to answer all your grant questions.
Hiring and Retention: 2022 Strategies for Small Business
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) represents employers of 500 or fewer employees. SBA works with a number of organizations to provide businesses with resources and tools to help their business.

SBA has partnered with one Texas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to hold a webinar for employers on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 1:30 PM. In this session, participants will learn how to use new hiring tools and strategies to find the right candidates for your business and keep them motivated and engaged.
· Learn how to build effective job ads
· Learn how to use social media to promote your ads
· Learn how to find the right candidates for your business
· Learn strategies for interviewing and screening

The online session is FREE and funded through the CARES Act.
Learn more about resources and tools you can access from the U.S. Small Business Administration by visiting their table in the Regulatory Pavilion at the 2022 Crossroads Expo hosted by TPGA this June.
Support A Good Cause
Donate to Our Auction
One of the association's primary fundraisers for our TPGA Scholarship Program is our annual charity silent auction on the Crossroads Expo floor.

The auction is made possible by several outside corporate supporters like Margaritaville Resort & Spa, Kendra Scott, and others; however, we also get a number of items donated by the propane industry for the auction.

Help this year's auction be a tremendous success to continue to fuel our efforts to give college scholarships to our propane industry children and grandchildren by donating an item, gift card, or bidding at the auction.
or you can buy straight off our Amazon wish list where we have identified several items that we think would do well in the auction and you can have shipped straight from Amazon to TPGA's door.
The shipping address is: TPGA, 8408 N IH 35, Austin, TX 78753
Quick Links
INCREASED ROADSIDE ENFORCEMENT IS PLANNED FOR MAY 17-19, 2022
NATIONWIDE
PROPANE SERVICE CORP
IS YOUR ONE STOP SHOP
TPGA MEMBERS
LOGIN FIRST FOR SAVINGS
HELP TEXAS PERC DOLLARS
STAY IN TEXAS
COMPLETE YOUR PROPANE SALES REPORTS TODAY
DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR THE TEXAS PROPANE EVENT OF THE YEAR
JOIN US IN SAN ANTONIO