Stories by Savana Dunning
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…
Austin • By Savana Dunning • Sep 14, 2020
New RISE 2.0 relief program offers $10M to individuals in Austin, Travis County
The city of Austin has expanded its original Covid-19 relief program and will be distributing a total of $10 million to individuals experiencing hardships in Austin and Travis County. Applications open Sept. 14 online and over the phone for the new…
City Council • By Savana Dunning • Sep 10, 2020
Music Commission asks city to recognize African American Cultural Heritage District, add multiuse arts theater
The Music Commission unanimously voted in support of a proposal to direct the city to formally recognize and develop amenities within the state-designated African American Cultural Heritage District in East Austin. The commission approved of the main bullet points of…
Austin • By Savana Dunning • Sep 8, 2020
The Office of Sustainability releases draft Climate Equity Plan
The Sustainability Office released its new revised Climate Equity Plan for public comment Wednesday, with hopes to submit the plan to City Council in October. The 97-page document, which is available through the city’s engagement portal, outlines the Sustainability Office’s…
Environment • By Savana Dunning • Sep 4, 2020
Municipal golf courses to phase out BYOB policy, negotiating concession vendor contracts
The Parks and Recreation Department announced it will be eliminating its bring-your-own-beer policy for municipally run golf courses, starting Oct. 1. PARD’s Golf ATX Division quietly updated its website and Twitter on Aug. 21 with a public notice informing golfers…
Parks • By Savana Dunning • Sep 3, 2020
New Austin Public Health plan addresses Covid-19 disparities in Hispanic/Latinx community
Austin Public Health has revealed a new draft strategic plan to tackle disparities in Covid-19 cases in the city’s Hispanic/Latinx community. The plan, developed by the Hispanic/Latinx strike team within APH’s new Social Services Branch, is divided into four strategic…
Public Health • By Savana Dunning • Sep 2, 2020
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City adjusts underpass cleanup program in light of homeless displacement concerns
In light of concerns around homeless displacement, the Public Works Department is making adjustments to their underpass cleaning program. City Council approved an amended $575,000 contract with Relief Enterprises Inc. to clean underpasses and bridges at its July 29 special…
Transportation • By Savana Dunning • Aug 31, 2020
Carver Museum expansion project enters planning process
The Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center is moving forward into the planning stages of an expansion project that’s been 22 years in the making. Austinites voted to approve the bond to fund updates, construction and expansion on the…
Parks • By Savana Dunning • Aug 13, 2020
Zero Waste Advisory Commission unanimously recommends contract for bridge and underpass cleanup
At its July 17 meeting, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission unanimously recommended approval of a multiterm Public Works contract agreement to clean debris and trash under bridges and overpasses. The contract is with Relief Enterprise of Texas Inc., a nonprofit…
Resources • By Savana Dunning • Jul 24, 2020
Some Covid-19 economic recovery programs see progress while others stagnate
While six of the city’s 11 Covid-19 economic recovery programs have received or are about to receive applications for their grants and loans, the rest have yet to move on from the development stages. Austin’s economic recovery programs are designed…
City Hall • By Savana Dunning • Jul 22, 2020
Economic Development Department to update progress on CARES Act relief funding programs
As of June 29, five of the eight grant programs approved by City Council to provide economic relief to Austin’s economic sectors through the CARES Act had not yet passed the development stages in their funding allocation plans. The Economic…
City Council • By Savana Dunning • Jul 14, 2020
Police department inaugural gun violence report shows slight increase in violent offenses
In its inaugural quarterly gun violence report, the Austin Police Department has recorded a slight increase in major violent offenses involving guns compared to the same time last year. In the summer of 2019, APD released its initial gun crime…
