Sixty recipients of Austin’s Live Music Fund grants are currently in non-compliance with the city’s reporting requirements, leaving more than half a million dollars in hotel tax funds unpaid and effectively frozen, according to data presented at the June 16 meeting of the Austin Arts Commission. In total, 70 grant contracts across all city arts […]
City Hall
Posted inCity Council
Council reaffirms its commitment to making Austin a more age-friendly city
Austin is getting older, and its growing population of residents aged 65 and up is living proof. In fact, those between 65 and 74 represented the fastest-growing age group between 2010 and 2020, according to city reports. With that demographic shift in mind, City Council recently directed the city manager to take greater steps to […]
Posted inCity Hall
Jobs and redevelopment take center stage in annual economic development report
The Economic Development Department says it supported more than 27,000 jobs and distributed over $54 million in community investments during fiscal year 2024, according to its recently released annual report. The report outlines the department’s evolving priorities, including the transfer of its cultural programs to a new Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment and […]
Posted inAustin
Austin food trucks no longer have to move trailers for health and safety inspections
Desnudo Coffee’s East Austin location serves hundreds of cups of coffee each day. But once a year the truck has to shut down for its annual health safety inspection. Closing for even a day can cost the business thousands of dollars as it has to prepare and move the trailer, and that’s doesn’t include how […]
Posted inAustin
Former Council Member and dedicated environmentalist Jackie Goodman has died
Jackie Goodman, 79, who served on the Austin City Council for 12 years starting in 1993, passed away on Tuesday. She had been hospitalized but had come home before her death. She served as Mayor Pro Tem for several years starting in 1998. She is survived by her sisters, Janis Morgan of Austin and Joann […]
Posted inAustin
Downtown report: Office vacancies up, infrastructure growth continues
Downtown Austin is in a transitional period, with the latest “State of Downtown Austin” report highlighting diverging paths for public and private sector development. The Downtown Austin Alliance’s annual review, now in its seventh year, notes an increase in downtown office vacancies, up to 22 percent versus the 18 percent reported last year. Office vacancies […]
Posted inCity Hall
Audit cites city failures to address discrimination, harassment
The city has made some progress in handling discrimination, harassment and retaliation complaints by city employees, but some investigations still fail to follow basic rules for conducting such inquiries, according to an audit conducted by the City Auditor’s Office. Members of the City Council Audit & Finance Committee heard about the audit, which followed up […]
Posted inAustin
City opens $5 million grant round for anti-displacement work
At its meeting last week, the Community Development Commission learned about a newly-launched $5 million grant opportunity aimed at combating displacement and promoting economic mobility near Austin’s Project Connect transit corridors. Housing Department staff explained that the current $5 million solicitation is the final portion of a $15.9 million allocation for fiscal years three through […]
Posted inBudget
Tax rate election seems likely this November
During the City Council Audit & Finance Committee meeting Tuesday, Kerri Lang, director of the city’s budget office, laid out the steps the city would take in deciding whether to submit a request to voters for a property tax increase on the November ballot. At least seven members of Council must vote in favor of […]
Posted inAustin
ACME previews grant updates, community plans at Music Commission meeting
The city’s newly formed Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) is moving forward with a restructuring of cultural funding programs, with plans to complete new grant guidelines by mid-summer, launch applications in August, and distribute funding by early next year. At Monday’s meeting of the Music Commission, assistant director Morgan Messick detailed the […]
Posted inAustin
Austin arts groups facing budget cuts after cancellation of NEA grants
An assortment of arts organizations in Austin were among the hundreds across the nation that learned late Friday that their most recent round of funding from the National Endowment for the Arts was being withdrawn. The Austin Monitor has confirmed at least four Austin organizations — Cine Las Americas, Women & Their Work, Tapestry Dance […]
Posted inAustin
New Austin program helps connect residents with jobs as city begins major construction projects
Before Jennifer Cobb became an electrician, she worked as a receptionist in a doctor’s office in the Austin area. She was making about $16 an hour and raising two boys, which meant money was tight. She had to rely on government assistance to help make ends meet. “Sometimes I didn’t know how my kids were […]