The Opportunity Austin fundraising campaign has officially ended with investments of $13 million- $2 million over the $11 million goal. Over the next five years, thousands of jobs and billions of dollars will be added to the economy in the Greater Austin area thanks to 247 investors who contributed $13 million dollars to the campaign, almost all of it in private contributions. This overwhelming support sets a record for a Central Texas economic development initiative.

Opportunity Austin was launched in 2003, a plan based on extensive study conducted by Market Street Services, a national economic development consultant based in Atlanta. Market Street's principal recommendation was a multi-pronged economic development program to get Austin and Central Texas moving again. With local leaders, they developed a detailed implementation program that includes strategies and budgets to achieve specified goals. Opportunity Austin is a five-year plan aimed at creating 72,000 jobs while pumping 14 billion dollars into the regional economy.

"With Opportunity Austin, we have a plan, which will allow us to compete—and win!," said Gary Farmer, President of Heritage Title Co. of Austin and Chair of the Greater Austin Economic Development Board who headed the fundraising campaign. "These investors make it possible to carry out that plan successfully."

The success of the campaign shows that the business community voted with its pocketbook for a strategy to grow the economy in a way that makes economic sense and is on target. Additional funds provide additional opportunities to move the Austin region ahead of the pack into greater competitive advantage. The additional dollars raised will be leveraged to increase the return on investment.