The debate surrounding the proposed incentive package designed to coax Tesla to make its new home in Travis County will continue at the Commissioners Court on Wednesday. After taking public testimony for the item on July 7, the commissioners unanimously recessed until 1 p.m. on Wednesday when they will reconvene the discussion. This is the […]
Travis County
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Travis County continues moving forward with its phased reopening plan
Unlike the city of Austin, Travis County will not need to revise its return-to-work strategy. The county approached its return-to-work plan with an eye toward flexibility and no date certain for reopening. As a result, county facilities are plowing ahead with the original plan to reopen incrementally, with a focus on essential positions and considerations for […]
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County development incentive for Tesla sees more support
This Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court once again opened the floor to public testimony regarding the development incentive package for Tesla’s proposed “Gigafactory” in southeastern Travis County. The court took no action on the matter. Over a dozen speakers expressed their opinions via the phone on the county’s plan to offer an 80 percent […]
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Travis County considers 80% tax break to coax Tesla
Electric vehicle company Tesla is considering moving to southeastern Travis County to build its “Gigafactory” where it will construct its much-hyped Cybertruck. To entice the California company to make its home in Texas, Travis County is proposing giving the company an 80 percent rebate on its property taxes for the first 10 years of its […]
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Travis County’s small business grant program sees $2.5M in requests in three days
In April, Travis County approved $10 million in grant funding to aid small businesses affected by the economic crisis caused by Covid-19. However, it was only last week that Travis County businesses outside of Austin had their first chance to determine whether they qualified for the relief grants. “We’ve seen over $2.5 million in requests […]
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Updated: Travis County extends moratorium on evictions until July 25
In a new order issued Thursday, Travis County announced it will continue to push back issuing notices to vacate until July 25. This order is applicable countywide and includes the city of Austin. Previously, the county extended a similar order until June 1. This order picks up on June 11 and leaves a gap of […]
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Travis County’s small business grant program to go live June 15
Small businesses have waited nearly a month and a half to apply for $10 million in grant money set aside for Travis County’s small business grant program, designed to help companies affected by the Covid-19 economic downturn. After weeks of planning and logistics, the businesses will be able to apply for funding beginning July 6. Beforehand, […]
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Travis County settles on $7.3M in direct assistance to smaller cities
Travis County will no longer be solely responsible for portioning out the $61.1 million to assist in disaster relief efforts during the pandemic. On June 2, the Commissioners Court unanimously voted to allocate $7.3 million, or $55 per Travis County resident, in the surrounding municipalities, excluding Austin, and allow individual cities to distribute those funds […]
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Travis County considers direct financial allocations to smaller cities
Twenty-one municipalities in Travis County did not receive direct allocations of financial assistance either from the state or the federal government to help temper the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. To help fund relief efforts for their residents, those cities jointly requested a total of $26.2 million from the county’s total federal assistance of […]
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Travis County plans for 75% of eligible county employees to telework permanently
Currently, 2,300 employees of Travis County telecommute to their jobs. Most of these newly minted teleworkers started working from home following the Stay Home-Work Safe orders issued by the city and county on March 24. Now the county is exploring ways to extend this policy permanently. On May 12, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously […]
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Travis County approves nursing home emergency staffing
People who live or work in nursing homes and senior living centers are some of the hardest hit by Covid-19. Austin Public Health has said both staff and residents are particularly vulnerable to the virus with 17 percent of the total cases in Travis County reported in these facilities as of May 12. To help […]
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Travis County directs $10M toward small business grant program
Despite the federal government authorizing $659 billion in small business aid, many small enterprises in Travis County are still in need of funds in order to survive the economic crisis caused by Covid-19. To help those business owners, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously authorized $10 million of the $61 million in federal funding received by […]