Casey Dobson, a partner at Scott Douglass & McConnico, has been announced as the chair of Opportunity Austin, the regional economic development initiative under the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. Dobson officially took over the role on Jan. 1, succeeding longtime chair and Opportunity Austin founder Gary Farmer, who led the organization for 16 years of its 22-year history. Farmer will remain active on the board as a strategic adviser. Dobson has served on the Opportunity Austin board since 2012 and as vice chair since 2017. In a prepared statement announcing his new role he emphasized his focus on expanding the region’s global reach and attracting foreign investment. “OA’s work and success would not have been possible without Gary’s leadership over the past 20 years. Looking ahead, I’m focused on expanding our international impact by attracting foreign investment and driving business growth. With life sciences as a key priority, we will continue collaborating with regional partners to strengthen our ecosystem and build lasting economic success,” he said. Opportunity Austin has helped create more than 700,000 jobs since its inception in 2004 and has played a role in attracting major corporate investments from companies like Tesla and Samsung Semiconductor. The Opportunity Austin board also welcomed new members:

• David Brewton, managing director, JP Morgan Chase
• Michael Crowl, CEO, University Federal Credit Union
• Miguel Romano, president of foundations, Ascension Texas
• Jeremy Smitheal, partner, Riverside Resources
• Alison Walgren, Central Texas managing principal, Deloitte

Foundation Communities, a nonprofit providing health and wellness services to Austinites, is seeking to raise $125,000 during Amplify Austin Day to sustain its health programs following the expiration of federal funding. The loss of American Rescue Plan Act funds in 2024 has forced the organization to scale back or eliminate key initiatives, including Healthy Food Pantries, fitness classes, health fairs and community health worker programs. To highlight the importance of these programs, the organization will kick off Amplify Austin Day with an event showcasing its Healthy Food Pantry, which distributed 383,000 pounds of food in 2024 to serve over 2,000 households. “These food pantries have become a lifeline for families facing food insecurity, especially with the rising cost of food in recent years,” Executive Director Walter Moreau said in a prepared statement. “Every dollar we raise during Amplify Austin will support our Healthy Living programs, ensuring our neighbors can access resources they need to improve their health and well-being.” The event will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the Trails at Vintage Creek Apartments (7224 Northeast Drive). Donations can be made at foundcom.org/amplify.

​The Umlauf Sculpture Garden + Museum is set to host a free public event 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, to celebrate its partnership with Bloomberg Connects, a global digital platform that enhances accessibility and engagement for arts and cultural institutions. The event will include a presentation on utilizing the new digital guide, opportunities to explore the garden and complimentary refreshments. Information and event registration are available online. Representatives from the Zilker Botanical Garden and the Bullock Texas State History Museum will also be present to share information about their own Bloomberg Connects guides and programming. Umlauf is in the early stages of a significant renovation plan aimed at enhancing accessibility and expanding its offerings. The Historic Preservation, Expansion and Unification (HPEU) Plan proposes integrating Charles and Angeline Umlauf’s historic home, private garden and artist studio with the existing museum and sculpture garden. The plan includes developing new facilities, such as the “Treehouse,” a multilevel structure designed to connect different areas of the property, and the “Gateway,” a welcoming center to accommodate educational programming.

Developers, conservationists and local officials are calling for expanded use of water-saving strategies in Hill Country developments following a recent gathering in Wimberley. Attendees of the gathering organized by Hill Country Alliance, the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance and Comal Conservation emphasized the need for rainwater harvesting, graywater recycling and sustainable site design to address growing water constraints in the region. The event featured discussions on regulatory barriers and potential policy solutions. Robert Mace, executive director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University, warned that worsening drought conditions demand urgent action. Highlighted projects, including a rainwater-reliant subdivision in Dripping Springs, showcased practical models for sustainable growth.

Do you have opinions on scooters and e-bikes? Sure you do! And now, the city of Austin is actively looking to hear residents’ opinions on safety, parking and how they use shared micromobility devices. According to a news brief from the city’s Transportation and Public Works Department, the online survey currently underway aims “to find new and innovative ways to make Austin’s transportation system safer and more convenient for everyone” and will be used in refining the rules that regulate scooters and e-bikes. In addition to the survey, which is open through April 6 and can be found here, the city will also host an in-person event at the Carver Branch of Austin Public Library from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 24.

The Austin Community College District is partnering with the Hayes Innovation Center for Advanced Manufacturing (HICAM) to expand workforce training in Central Texas’ growing semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors. The collaboration will see ACC offer its Core Automation and Semiconductor program at HICAM’s newly completed 52,000-square-foot facility in East Austin, near Tesla’s Giga Texas plant. The facility will also host ACC’s Engineering Development Program, which provides specialized training for Tesla employees in motor control technologies. The initiative aims to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline by providing hands-on training aligned with industry needs. HICAM, a nonprofit focused on accelerating manufacturing innovation, serves as a hub for companies specializing in robotics, automation and artificial intelligence. ACC officials say the partnership will help students access high-paying career paths while supporting local economic growth. The first Tesla training cohort is set to launch in April.

Movability, the Austin area’s transportation management association, is still accepting applications for its spring 2025 GoGrant program, which offers up to $7,500 in financial assistance to Austin employers aiming to promote sustainable mobility options. The application window is open until March 6.

The GoGrant program supports three types of projects:​

• Infrastructure projects: Funding for permanent structures like bike racks or lockers.​
• Programmatic projects: Incentives and policies encouraging active commuting, such as transit pass subsidies or vanpool programs.
• Mobility planning: Development of custom mobility plans, including transportation demand management research and auditing.​

Previous grant recipients include organizations such as Yellow Bike, Out Youth, O. Henry Middle School and ICC Austin, which have implemented projects ranging from bike refurbishments to transit pass programs. Employers interested in applying can access the application and additional resources on Movability’s website.

The Ethics Review Commission, which was scheduled to consider a complaint against former interim City Manager Jesús Garza, adjourned without action Wednesday night. Although five members of the commission were present and ready to hear the complaint regarding alleged violations of the city’s standards of conduct rules, the commission’s rules require six members to convene and take action. The complaint was filed by Brian Molloy, chief of investigations at the Office of the City Auditor, following an Austin Chronicle article outlining what the writer alleged was a violation of city regulations related to how much money a manager can authorize spending without City Council approval. Garza hired two former city employees – Laura Huffman and Joe Canales – to deal with city crises, which he said were unprecedented. Garza has denied any wrongdoing, telling the Austin Monitor, “In early 2023, the City of Austin faced an emergency – with multiple unprecedented crises and challenges highlighted in 2021 and 2022 City Auditor reports, including the aftermath of recent winter storms, issues with our 911 call center and the need to restore public confidence in city departments. It was essential to have the right expertise, so in the essence of time, I brought two highly skilled former City of Austin employees to address and solve these issues effectively.”

In addition, Garza said, “I believe this report and the allegations unfortunately overlook the urgency of the situation, and the valuable work done by these dedicated professionals.” Molloy said Thursday that he hopes the complaint will be heard at the next Ethics Review Commission meeting, which is slated for March 26.

Former District 7 City Council candidate Adam Powell has been named as the new executive director of the Austin History Center Association. According to a press release about the appointment, “Powell brings a unique blend of community engagement and digital storytelling to the role. His appointment also marks a historic milestone as AHCA’s first Black Executive Director.” Powell focuses on Austin history on TikTok and has served on the North Shoal Creek Association and the board of the SAFE Alliance. Powell will oversee the operations and community engagement of the association in his new role and focus on expanding its digital presence. “I am honored to join the Austin History Center Association as Executive Director,” said Powell in a statement to the press. “Austin’s history is a tapestry of diverse stories, and I look forward to working with the community to preserve and share these narratives. Together, we will ensure that the past continues to inform and inspire our future.”

An opportunity to provide feedback on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) examining the potential for negative impacts of Project Connect’s planned light rail expansion on the city’s citizens, critters and environment ends March 11. The DEIS was previously reported on by the Austin Monitor and reporting partner KUT. Jennifer Pyne, executive vice president for planning, community and federal programs with the Austin Transit Partnership, encouraged Austinites to submit comments before the deadline during a presentation to the Mobility Committee of Council on Feb. 20. Residents interested in submitting comments can call the ATP at 512-710-2100., email input@atpx.org or use the online portal. The ATP is obligated by law to reply to all comments.

The phone number in this whisper has been corrected. 

In about a month, Deep Eddy Pool will close for its annual spring cleaning and maintenance to get ready for the summer. The pool will be closed from Saturday, March 29, through Friday, April 18. Luckily, Austinites can visit Big Stacy, Bartholomew, Springwoods or Barton Springs pools during Deep Eddy’s hiatus from the public. For information about operating hours, visit AustinTexas.gov/Pools.

Austin ISD has formed a new Girls Flag Football League, which is set to take the field this spring, with a little help from the Dallas Cowboys. According to a press release from the district, each AISD high school will have a team in the league, and AISD is one of 11 districts to partner up with the Cowboys. A championship will take place in May at Frisco’s Ford Center. “The life lessons and values these young ladies will learn from the game of football extend well beyond touchdowns and teamwork,” said Dallas Cowboys co-owner and chief brand officer Charlotte Jones in a statement to the press. “We are also thrilled that with girls’ flag football becoming an emerging sport at the collegiate level, the game can now provide these young women a path to continuing their education at a higher level as well.”