Tag Archives: Economic Development Department
Music Commission to tackle licensing issues
Although the city’s Music and Entertainment Division is billed as “an economic development accelerator and centralized resource center for Austin’s music industry,” program manager Don Pitts says he spends about 70 percent of his time on permitting issues. Aiming to…
Music & Entertainment • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 11, 2016
Tovo finds an apparently painless $2 million cut
After its second day of budget deliberations and numerous additions for quality-of-life programs, City Council still needed to find or trim an additional $1.2 million to $1.3 million in order to balance the budget for Fiscal Year 2015-16. A city…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Sep 10, 2015
City seeks to "empower" Red River district
With news spreading about the struggles of several music venues in Austin’s Red River Cultural District, many have raised concerns about the future of the area’s identity. Meanwhile, the city is rolling out a new plan that could help give…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Jul 15, 2015
Chapter 380 won't stop firms from tax protests
City Council Member Kathie Tovo’s attempt to prevent companies that enter into Chapter 380 economic development agreements with the city from appealing their property tax appraisals ended with something considerably less than that Thursday, after Council members heard from a…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Dec 12, 2014
Council OKs 'local' loan for planned hotel franchise
Questions from City Council Member Katie Tovo about a proposed Family Business Loan led to an illuminating discussion at Thursday’s Council meeting about what the word “local” really means. Tovo said she was surprised to find out that the program…
