Category Archives: Economic Opportunity

Economic Opportunity refers to job creation and training, small and minority business development, economic incentives, improvement districts, economic development corporations, trade and commerce, minority and women owned business contracting policies, emerging technology, tourism, events, entertainment, live music, film and television production, sports, library, culture, art, and related matters.

Mayor Adler to DOT delegation: Austin moving ahead, no matter what

“Simply put, mobility is a life or death issue for Austin.” -Mayor Adler

Today Mayor Adler and officials from the Austin Transportation Department previewed their presentation to the delegation from the U.S. Department of Transportation that is in Austin for the Smart City Challenge. In his remarks, Mayor Alder promised to move ahead with the technological transformation of Austin’s mobility regardless of the outcome of the Smart City Challenge because doing so, he said, could create “an economic boom that lifted up the people who are usually left behind.”

Mayor Adler, along with ATD Director Rob Spillar and ATD Chief of Staff Karla Taylor, made the case that Austin, one of seven finalists for the $50 million competition to use technology to make mobility safer, cheaper, cleaner, and more effective for everyone, was the best choice for the Smart City Challenge.

“No city needs this more, and no city is better situated to take advantage of all the Smart City Challenge offers on mobility. What we can accomplish with mobility technology can provide ladders of opportunity for everyone in Austin as well as greater mobility for everyone in the country. You don’t get opportunities like this all the time, and we are going all out to win it,” said Mayor Adler. Continue reading →

NEWSLETTER: Progress on affordability (3/5/16)

Remember when I said last week was busy? This week started off with SXSW announcing that the President and First Lady are coming to town, U.S. News & World Report naming Austin the 2nd-best city in the country to live in, and my declaration of a breakfast taco war with San Antonio. But more importantly for Austin, the Council made a lot of progress on affordability this week. Continue reading →

OPED: Mayor weighs in on Austin music crisis — and what the city’s going to do about it

logo_revised910By Steve Adler
3.4.16 | 9:11 am

Editor’s note: In this exclusive op-ed, Mayor Steve Adler weighs in on the current state of Austin music — and plans for the future. 

We didn’t need another study to tell us that Austin’s local music industry is suffering under the affordability crisis, but the news that it has lost 1,200 jobs since 2010 was sobering. We won’t be the Live Music Capital of the World for much longer if we keep losing musicians and music venues.

That’s why I’m happy to tell you that the Austin City Council just did something about it by adopting the Austin Music and Creative Ecosystem Omnibus Resolution. This resolution proposes creative solutions for our creative class, because inherent in the problems facing the music and arts sectors are opportunities that, if successful, will help them not just survive but thrive.

Continue reading →