Tag Archives: Economic Development Department
Thursday, September 16, 2021 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Music Commission’s oversight could further delay emergency funds for musicians
The Music Commission has asked city staff for more input and involvement in how a pair of financial assistance programs for Austin musicians will be carried out, with an emergency aid fund tied to Covid-19 possibly delayed three weeks as…
Tuesday, September 14, 2021 by Kali Bramble
Development
Shoal Creek/Third Street redesign aims to create greener, safer spaces downtown
The Urban Transportation Commission’s hefty meeting agenda on Sept. 7 included a proposal to significantly redesign the heavily trafficked area of downtown surrounding the intersection of Third Street and Shoal Creek Trail. The Cypress and Shoal Creek Public Space Strategy,…
Thursday, August 19, 2021 by Elizabeth Pagano
Transportation
Bowie underpass project derailed
After two decades of planning, negotiations to construct the Bowie underpass have come to a halt. The project at Third and Bowie streets is part of the 2001 Seaholm District Master Plan. It would have provided a link between the…
Friday, August 13, 2021 by Amy Smith
Austin
EDD provides a breakdown of federal funds under its purview
While the Covid-19 pandemic has posed a host of unprecedented challenges for the city, it’s also led to an influx of federal funds under the American Rescue Plan Act. A recent breakdown of these dollars shows how the portion of…
Thursday, July 22, 2021 by Chad Swiatecki
Development
Greystar/HACA proposal recommended for redevelopment of Home Depot site
City staffers have recommended moving forward with a proposal from Greystar Development and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin for the redevelopment of the 19-acre East Austin site best known as the home of a long-closed and decaying…
Thursday, July 15, 2021 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
City opens $2M grant program to assist creative sector nonprofits
The city has spun up another emergency relief program for arts organizations, with $2 million in federal aid available for nonprofit groups connected to local arts and cultural communities. The Arts & Culture Non-Profit Relief Grant will provide 100 grants…
Friday, June 11, 2021 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Local leaders see pandemic, winter storm as openings for economic opportunities
Local leaders say the past 15 months of Austin’s history have been a test for how the city can best serve the people and businesses that are most at risk as growth changes the economics and character of Central Texas.…
Thursday, April 8, 2021 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
City seeks input on post-Covid economic recovery plan
The city is taking feedback from residents on a wide-reaching plan to restructure how many departments operate, and how economic development is handled in the post-pandemic world. The Economic Recovery and Resiliency Framework is a list of 45 ways the…
Friday, February 12, 2021 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
City opens up grants to help legacy businesses hit hard by Covid-19
A new city program set to go live next week will give long-running hospitality businesses throughout the city another possible source of Covid-19 relief. The first round of the Legacy Business Relief Grant, which was designed to help restaurants, bars,…
Friday, December 18, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
City lays out diversity goals in next round of arts, tourism funding
Groups that have been historically overlooked and underrepresented in the city’s cultural community will have priority in the Economic Development Department’s spending for cultural and tourism programs in the next budget year. During an online meeting held last Saturday, the…
Monday, December 14, 2020 by Seth Smalley
City Hall
City moves on plan to create AEDC, commissions consider board appointments
The city continues to move forward with plans to create the Austin Economic Development Corporation and expects its 21-member governing board will be decided by late January. At their Dec. 7 meeting, members of the Music Commission discussed a Nov.…
Friday, December 11, 2020 by Andrew Weber, KUT
Austin
Austin opening up relief program for live music venues affected by Covid-19
Austin’s ailing live music venues have been thrown a lifeline ahead of the year’s end. The city will begin accepting applications Friday for short- and long-term grants through the Live Music Preservation Fund. The money, which the city says it…
Wednesday, December 2, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Austin
New SAVES programs face uncertain funding
The city has started nine programs in nine months to help local Austin businesses survive the pandemic. On Thursday, City Council will consider final program guidelines for three more programs providing relief for child care providers, local music venues and…
Monday, November 23, 2020 by Andrew Weber, KUT
Austin
Austin music venues won’t get Covid relief money until next year. They say they’re running out of time.
Jeannette Gregor was shaking, her voice quivering. “I am not a public speaker. This is actually kind of a nightmare for me – especially after about five months of isolation and no social contact,” she said back in September. “So…
Monday, October 5, 2020 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Staffers explain how Covid relief funds were disbursed
This summer, City Council rushed to provide economic relief to small businesses and nonprofits shouldering the burden of closures during the first few months of the Covid-19 pandemic. On Thursday, as they ratified a contract with the Better Business Bureau…
Thursday, October 1, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Austin
Questions arise about how BBB administers grants
At Tuesday’s City Council work session, Mayor Steve Adler asked Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, the acting director of the Economic Development Department, to explain what went into the selection of the Better Business Bureau to administer nearly $26 million in federal emergency…
Monday, September 14, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Austin
Economic Development Department outlines plans for $12M creative space bond, creation of Austin EDC
The Economic Development Department outlined its plan for a $12 million creative space bond and a city-owned economic development corporation that could help it along at a joint meeting of the arts and music commissions Friday. The city launched a request…
Monday, August 17, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
City opens grant program to assist creatives impacted by Covid-19
Artists and workers involved in the city’s creative economy can apply today for $2,000 awards from Austin’s new Creative Worker Relief Grant program. The program, which has $3.5 million in total funding, is the latest spun up by the Economic Development…
Tuesday, August 11, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
City Hall
Report lays out possible structure for new economic development corporation
A consultant’s report recommends the city move to create an economic development corporation modeled after existing bodies in New York City, Philadelphia and Atlanta to allow for fast and flexible development deals around the city. The report from QBL Partners…
Friday, March 27, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Council wants ‘bridge aid’ for residents, businesses ahead of federal COVID-19 help
City Council directed staff to move quickly in the coming weeks to allocate direct payments and other forms of aid to residents and small businesses that have taken a severe financial hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. A wide-reaching item passed…
