After years of financial shocks and ongoing government spending to offset the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, financial analysts expect 2024 to be less volatile but still somewhat uncertain for the nation and state. The good news for the Austin area is strong growth trends and the state’s unexpected budget surpluses in recent years will […]
The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce
This group counts more than 2900 businesses and other entities as part of its membership. According to its web site, the organization has served as the “voice of the business community since 1877.”
Posted inTransportation
Business leaders eye contract, job opportunities from $25B in transportation projects
With $25 billion in road, rail and airport infrastructure projects on tap for Austin over the next decade-plus, business leaders are starting to shape how the regional economy and its workforce can get the most benefit from the far-reaching changes in local transportation. The demands and opportunities for Austin businesses of all sizes, and the […]
Posted inAustin
Chamber partnership looks to strengthen connection to startup community
The Austin Chamber of Commerce has extended its reach to become directly involved with launching startups in the city, bringing the business incubator Founder Institute Austin into its offices downtown. The one-year pilot program allows the institute, which has chapters in 200 cities and 100 countries, to hold in-person courses in Austin for the first […]
Posted inAustin
Chamber economic forecast sees Austin strong despite inflation, recession worries
Looking at the Austin-area economy for the next 12 months, local experts see that a series of “once-in-a-lifetime” events both good and bad are about to run into the realities of rising interest rates and the increasing likelihood of at least a minor recession to cool off inflation worries. The good news, according to the […]
Posted inAustin
Austin economy seeing ‘growth surge’ coming out of pandemic
Driven by strong job growth, in-migration and the ongoing supply of federal stimulus funds, the Austin area is experiencing a “growth surge” that economists expect to continue for the foreseeable future. That was the main message at a recent economic forecast presentation organized by the Austin Chamber, where the vital statistics of the national and […]
Posted inRoads
Watson presents a new plan for I-35
State Sen. Kirk Watson unveiled a radical vision for the future of Central Austin on Monday: No more dual decks on Interstate 35. Watson’s speech before the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce marked the debut of a new plan concocted by the Texas Department of Transportation to add two new tolled lanes in each direction […]
Posted inAustin
Austin’s bid is in for Amazon’s second headquarters
Austin is officially in the race for perhaps the biggest corporate prize ever. “This afternoon, we formally submitted the Austin-region bid for Amazon HQ2,” Mike Berman, senior vice president at the Austin Chamber of Commerce, said. Austin Texas Region Bid for @amazon HQ2 submitted. — Austin Chamber (@AustinChamber) October 18, 2017 The quest to lure […]
Posted inBudget
Push on to ‘normalize’ minority chambers’ funding
Austin’s four minority group chambers of commerce could see their funding from the city of Austin restructured and made more transparent in the coming budget year, a change that is seen as needed to make the groups more equal. The city’s Economic Prosperity Commission approved a resolution at its meeting last week asking City Council […]
Posted inTransportation
Chamber says land reform is top transportation priority
The Austin Chamber of Commerce has a new primary pill in its prescription for treating the city’s notorious traffic congestion, but it’s one that’s been known to cause many a case of political hives: density. The group will unveil that recommendation along with several others that make up the meat of its 2016 Mobility Report […]
Posted inCity Council
Biz groups oppose more rules for permitting
Four Austin business groups are opposing a plan to require extra steps in the city’s permit review process. The steps would lead to more protection for construction workers, but they would also involve extra time and paperwork as well as additional fees on projects going through the proposed expedited review process at the Development Services […]
Posted inTransportation
Adler drops surprise $720M mobility bond proposal
Mayor Steve Adler has blasted into the middle of the ongoing conversation about a November mobility bond election by proposing an estimated $720 million package of projects along Austin’s most vital arterials. In a closed-door speech before the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Adler called for the city to “focus on our major streets.” He […]
Posted inAustin
Chamber luncheon focuses on preparing students for jobs
Austin leads the nation in job-creation growth, and while this is good news, it puts pressure on the city and employers who are having a hard time filling some of those positions. Paul D’Arcy, senior vice president at Indeed, delivered the keynote at the Austin Chamber’s State of Education luncheon on Tuesday. He told the […]