Governor Rick Perry, a strong advocate of job creation in Texas, will be keynote speaker at the first Opportunity Austin Annual Investors Meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, February 24. This meeting will also feature a progress report on the first year of the Opportunity Austin economic development initiative, which aims at creating 72,000 jobs in five years.

The Greater Austin Chamber will unveil the new Do Business web portal that will help put our region on the short list for business relocations and expansions. Also on the agenda is a report on "Business in the Human Capital" which is based on interviews with 55 CEOs of local companies.

WHAT: Opportunity Austin Annual Investor's Meeting
WHEN: Thursday, February 24, 7:30 a.m.
WHERE: The Driskill, 604 Brazos Street

Opportunity Austin was launched in 2003 as part of a five-county, five-year plan based on extensive study conducted by Market Street Services, a national economic development consultant based in Atlanta. The plan is intended to diversify the economy and replace the more than 30,000 jobs lost during the technology slump. Opportunity Austin is financed by more than $13.5 million raised in 2004 by the Greater Austin Economic Development Corporation and a team of volunteers. The Corporation is headed by Gary Farmer, President of Heritage Title Company of Austin, and Chamber Vice Chair for Economic Development.