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Economic Development Mission: To achieve long-term sustainable and focused economic growth by building a diverse economy with high-wage, high-impact jobs to provide opportunity and prosperity for the region’s residents, businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities through strong cohesive regional collaboration.

Contact: Dave Porter, Senior Vice President, 512.322.5650.

Vice Chair, Economic Development
Gary Farmer
President
Heritage Title

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Opportunity Austin

2008 Strategic Plan

Opportunity Austin Economic Development is the Chamber’s major task. In 2003, the Chamber undertook a new initiative designed to create jobs, diversify the economy, attract new businesses to the Greater Austin area and retain and grow existing businesses. The effort, called Opportunity Austin, got underway with an Economic Development Analysis conducted by Market Street Services of Atlanta that provides a roadmap for Chamber activities. The study includes an evaluation of the region’s economic structure, strengths and core industries as well as an analysis of the region’s competitiveness in the global economy. It provides the foundation for an aggressive five-year, five-county plan to create 72,000 jobs and positive economic impact of $14 billion. The Chamber’s Economic Development Division is implementing this strategy, overseen by The Greater Austin Economic Development Board and working with regional partners. The Economic Development Division is concerned with recruiting key industry prospects, retaining existing employers, keeping our excellent business climate, encouraging international trade and investment and promoting Austin as a great location for business. To support these efforts, in 2005 the Chamber created and launched the economic development website.
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Opportunity Austin

Economic Development is the Chamber’s major task. In 2003, the Chamber undertook a new initiative designed to create jobs, diversify the economy, attract new businesses to the Greater Austin area and retain and grow existing businesses.

The effort, called Opportunity Austin, got underway with an Economic Development Analysis conducted by Market Street Services of Atlanta that provides a roadmap for Chamber activities.

The study includes an evaluation of the region’s economic structure, strengths and core industries as well as an analysis of the region’s competitiveness in the global economy. It provides the foundation for an aggressive five-year, five-county plan to create 72,000 jobs and positive economic impact of $14 billion.

The Chamber’s Economic Development Division is implementing this strategy, overseen by The Greater Austin Economic Development Board and working with regional partners.

The Economic Development Division is concerned with recruiting key industry prospects, retaining existing employers, keeping our excellent business climate, encouraging international trade and investment and promoting Austin as a great location for business. To support these efforts, in 2005 the Chamber created and launched the economic development website.

2008 Strategic Plan Priority Issues Priority issues for 2008 are to continue to achieve an annual goal of 1,000 serious relocation inquiries, 100 out of region company visits, 50 prospect visits, 20 project announcements, 100 regional retention visits, help create 21,199 new jobs and increase payroll by $882.9 million. The Economic Development department will also strive to fund more technology start-ups through the Emerging Technology Fund (ETF), joining together with the surrounding five-county area to support a proactive economic development campaign based on key marketing messages and target marketing efforts to specific industries that meet the region’s overall goals and continue to diversify the economy. To achieve these objectives the department plans to target specific trade sectors, help develop technology and research in these industries, attend industry trade shows, conferences, marketing missions and launch a direct mail campaign. Economic Development will continue to target site selectors and international companies with advertising in trade publications as well as the annual Showcase Austin event and international marketing missions.
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2008 Strategic Plan

Priority Issues

Priority issues for 2008 are to continue to achieve an annual goal of 1,000 serious relocation inquiries, 100 out of region company visits, 50 prospect visits, 20 project announcements, 100 regional retention visits, help create 21,199 new jobs and increase payroll by $882.9 million. The Economic Development department will also strive to fund more technology start-ups through the Emerging Technology Fund (ETF), joining together with the surrounding five-county area to support a proactive economic development campaign based on key marketing messages and target marketing efforts to specific industries that meet the region’s overall goals and continue to diversify the economy. To achieve these objectives the department plans to target specific trade sectors, help develop technology and research in these industries, attend industry trade shows, conferences, marketing missions and launch a direct mail campaign. Economic Development will continue to target site selectors and international companies with advertising in trade publications as well as the annual Showcase Austin event and international marketing missions.