On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the allocation of $10 million for direct rent, mortgage and utility assistance. The rental assistance will be available to Travis County residents. This one-time cash assistance was complemented by a $2.4 million budget transfer to the county’s emergency assistance program to make up for the pre-Covid […]
COVID-19
Posted inCity Council
Council seeks plan to form conservation corps using federal Covid-19 aid
The city intends to use some of its federal Covid-19 relief money to create an update of the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps that was dedicated to job creation that preserved and enhanced the country’s natural resources. City Council voted unanimously last week to direct the city manager to create a program structure focused on […]
Posted inAustin
Task force releases initial recommendations on reopening Central Texas
Last week, the Austin Chamber of Commerce sent Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt the initial recommendations of the Opening Central Texas for Business Task Force. The task force, which is made up of 125 members representing a broad array of business and community interests, has worked since the end of April […]
Posted inCity Council
Council wants plan for how to spend $170M in federal aid for Covid-19 relief
Later this month City Council will get the first estimate of how the city can best use just over $170 million in federal funds dedicated to relief from the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of the consent agenda Thursday, Council approved a resolution directing city staff to prepare an initial framework by May 21 for how […]
Posted inAustin
City taking steps toward $1,000 grants for musicians impacted by Covid-19
The city is preparing to give grants of up to $1,000 to musicians who have lost income and are facing severe economic hardships due to the shutdown of music-related businesses as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. At Wednesday’s meeting of the Music Commission staff, community members and commissioners discussed the best way to handle […]
Posted inAustin
City and county consider long-term telecommuting strategy
When the city and county issued Stay Home-Work Safe orders on March 24, Austin became a community of teleworkers virtually overnight. Although there was minimal preparation for the change in work environment, the effort has been sufficiently successful to prompt both city and county leaders to consider extending work-from-home policies even after the crisis subsides. […]
Posted inCity Council
Idled restaurants may serve as low-income neighborhood groceries during pandemic
Austin Public Health is proposing a “micro food-distribution” program to bring fresh produce and select packaged foods into low-income neighborhoods that have limited access to groceries. The two-month program aims to prevent crowding in grocery stores while lowering the burden and risk of shopping during the pandemic for residents who may also lack access to […]
Posted inAustin
Gov. Abbott says Texas salons and barbershops can reopen Friday
Hair salons, barbershops, nail salons and tanning salons may reopen starting Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced. Gyms, nonessential manufacturers and businesses that work out of office buildings will be allowed to reopen May 18, with certain restrictions. “Our ability to show we can coexist with Covid-19 depends on ongoing efforts and good hygiene to continue […]
Posted inCity Council
City announces lottery rental assistance program
Last week, City Council and the Housing Authority of the City of Austin announced the Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) program, a lottery program that will help Austinites at risk of losing their rental housing due to the pandemic. “In the wake of this terrible virus are anxious families without money for rent […]
Posted inAustin
Loan forgiveness, grants highlight recommendations to Council for economic recovery
The Economic Prosperity Commission has given City Council a list of suggested new programs and financial practices that are designed to assist low-income residents and small businesses most impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. At last week’s meeting the commission voted 8-0 to approved the 13 recommendations, which are focused around forgiveness of city loans made […]
Posted inCity Council
Council looks to assemble blueprint for federal Covid-19 assistance dollars
City Council is expected to lay down the guidelines next week for how to use money handed over from the federal government to assist with prevention and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Council Member Ann Kitchen is among the city leaders working to assemble the blueprint for how to deploy money from the Coronavirus Aid, […]
Posted inAustin
City ‘continues to work through’ governor’s order to slowly reopen Texas
Texas’ statewide stay-at-home order expires Friday, but the city of Austin has yet to clarify how this might affect local residents, how it will enforce the governor’s new order and what, if any, additional requirements the city will enact. “The city of Austin continues to work through the implications of the governor’s Executive Order,” a […]