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 […]
Chad Swiatecki
Chad Swiatecki is a 20-year journalist who relocated to Austin from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He has written for Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Daily News, Texas Monthly, Austin American-Statesman and many other regional and national outlets.
Posted inWhispers
Foundation Communities seeks funds to save pantries, health worker programs
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 […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Rally Austin eyes affordability programs for creatives in 2026 bond package
Rally Austin, the nonprofit tasked with helping to preserve and expand Austin’s cultural spaces, is eyeing three programs in the city’s upcoming 2026 bond election, including expanding the city’s cultural trust. During a recent meeting of the Austin Music Commission, organization leaders delivered information from its annual report that included a look at plans to […]
Posted inWhispers
Umlauf celebrates new partnership with Bloomberg Connects
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 […]
Posted inHousing
HUD cuts could endanger portion of more than $15M in federal housing funds
The city could see significant disruptions to its affordable housing and homelessness programs as a result of proposed federal budget cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a memo released last week. The memo, issued by intergovernmental relations officer Carrie Rogers, advises that reductions in HUD staffing and funding could affect […]
Posted inWhispers
Hill Country groups call for expanded water-saving strategies
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 […]
Posted inWhispers
ACC expands semiconductor training with HICAM partnership
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. […]
Posted inWhispers
Movability spring grant apps due by March 6
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 […]
Posted inCity Council
Council sets the stage for more short-term rental regulations, with tax collection to begin in April
The city will soon begin requiring platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues on behalf of short-term rental properties, marking the first in a number of expected changes in the industry. The change, which goes into effect April 1, is aimed at closing loopholes that have allowed thousands […]
Posted inAustin
Panelists cite city, state programs among positives for health of Austin music scene
Praising attempts by the city and state to offer more support for Austin’s musicians and live music venues, panelists weighing in on the state of the city’s music scene were upbeat Tuesday during a discussion at the LBJ Presidential Library. The Future Forum discussion on the health of Austin’s vaunted music ecosystem cycled through the […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Bond task force votes to roll climate-related projects into 2026 election
The city’s 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force has decided against pursuing a climate-focused bond election in 2025, opting instead to incorporate climate-related projects into a broader 2026 general obligation bond election. The decision followed discussion about funding availability for bond elections in consecutive years, the public engagement process for a 2025 election and the […]
Posted inPlanning
Student housing union advocates for renters ahead of city’s UNO update
The University Tenants Union student group at the University of Texas has launched a new housing toolkit aimed at helping student renters better navigate the housing market in West Campus and surrounding areas. The organization, which advocates for tenant rights and policy reforms affecting student housing, developed the resource to centralize legal and practical guidance […]