[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6555777,"mediaKeyId","3346646-2e14fa903e4cfb2481c73419b6201a13","parentId",3346646,"title","City staff to roll out high‑quality childcare fee waivers; council may need action to extend to new centers","audioSeconds",428,"startMs",4666000,"endMs",5094000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3346646-2e14fa903e4cfb2481c73419b6201a13&start=4666&end=5094","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3346646-2e14fa903e4cfb2481c73419b6201a13/thumbnail_4666000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6555777/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/City-staff-to-roll-out-highquality-childcare-fee-waivers-council-may-need-action-to-extend-to-new-centers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555777-a18a652433b7d592dfcc55b32e265faf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524087&Signature=nsiDhlsBQ8JTNRf~XhOuHJre-LlRE4ZK6k73br7xec-2HghFsHAZhIiHxFTvnPVPo-oIX245sAyKjXyzHduUqDqKBVojbEerONklbjn9q4-NbE--5aI5kNcgYlA5RTR0hwnsbyBc0yQVRow~Uwd7XsQiwxQRBy8zYplKKaCwuIVRbozsm~RKjwxJN3NaO90-QxOnZHTIq-7QIGDfZr4oVXU~Fr7MxAsl8uBuztts44lfqfRMu5e6OMgyd5nB7fT4jpms4LkHzCeKI92hc~zq3VnLTw4XyhR0aUCXuqXeT4tZ4P76PMVC9gDChftqatBlR2q76oJWaHv3Z0ZGoGU9Tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-05-16T00:00:00Z","article","City staff told the Economic Opportunity Committee on May 16 that the long‑anticipated high‑quality childcare fee waiver program will begin a mid‑to‑late‑June rollout but that the current ordinance limits waivers to existing high‑quality programs, so council action will be needed to extend waivers to new or expanding childcare centers.

Vice Chair (Mayor Pro Tem) Fuentes framed the program as part of a broader city effort to reduce childcare deserts and expand access, particularly on the East Side. Fuentes said the program was authorized by a 2023 council resolution and that staff has funding to begin offering waivers but that implementation has taken time.

Anne Eaton, assistant director (department not specified in the presentation), said the ordinance language approved by council currently limits the fee waivers to existing high‑quality programs. Eaton told the committee she and legal staff reviewed council direction and concluded that expanding the waiver to cover new programs would require an additional council action; staff plan to return in the summer with a proposal to clarify or expand eligibility.

Eaton said staff expects to roll out the initial waiver program mid to late June and that current authority to use the set of fee waivers runs through Sept. 30, 2025. With the funding and current ordinance language, Eaton estimated the department will be able to reach roughly 12–15 programs before Sept. 30, depending on project scope and fee amounts. Staff told the committee they will report monthly to the vice chair’s office on program uptake and will return to council if additional authority or an extension is required.

Committee members asked whether the waiver authority could be applied to both new and expanding centers. Eaton and staff said if council wants waivers to apply to new programs, staff will bring a follow‑up item for council consideration later this summer. Council members also raised the program’s limited authorization window and the need to include it in next year’s budget to continue the effort.

Eaton said staff have coordinated with Development Services and other departments to streamline application and outreach so applicants work primarily with Economic Development staff.

Ending: Committee members requested monthly progress updates and signaled support for returning to council with proposed ordinance language or budget authority to broaden the program and extend funding beyond Sept. 30 if needed.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Economic Opportunity Committee - May 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff told the Economic Opportunity Committee on May 16 that a high‑quality childcare fee waiver program will begin a mid‑to‑late‑June rollout but that existing ordinance language limits waivers to current high‑quality programs; expanding eligibility to new or expanding centers will require council action.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6555781,"e3 Alliance outlines cradle‑to‑career manufacturing pipeline; partners report 3,300 guaranteed enrollments in first year",1055,1793000,2848000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3346646-2e14fa903e4cfb2481c73419b6201a13&start=1793&end=2848","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3346646-2e14fa903e4cfb2481c73419b6201a13/thumbnail_1793000.jpg","/articles/6555781/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/e3-Alliance-outlines-cradletocareer-manufacturing-pipeline-partners-report-3300-guaranteed-enrollments-in-first-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555781-6879c63b755c3de91fee4e5a58455b86/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524087&Signature=Ys3yrb6L6auvSIZ9L7L44rOpkoWC6LgLE4td1ptzQ3WP3q1a6~OZnmC9mKapcpCvMnIW3XcPgi4adzWpu~BJuSBkn7zl7idR3Xfs7zSRLO5zV~fI3JF-vnlS9E5JDGLxi5QH1gyVbgDur2KJ2GrawlrFWD6ZRAY46E3ThwmJ5o~Gujx8UO2gcEO5f~cOLrOKBgtYZd8Ek0cevwLNDMu0PvOGxkxy4bGheNuOI-wiTghGVEWt-Jm4vUEEhKQPRy3mgs~UUFkTAieCw2B-UJ71csjOkeORtJskEwjNKZnPMRvAcprbm3f0bZOByMKZvo2g-eGswuxbv7Xwfx5atrMXlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives from e3 Alliance told the Economic Opportunity Committee on May 16 that a regional cradle‑to‑career effort focused on advanced manufacturing has produced early enrollment gains and a coalition of education, community and industry partners.

Kyle Siegel, senior director of postsecondary and workforce readiness at e3 Alliance, described a multi‑year strategy to align middle‑school math pathways, high school courseware, dual credit and employer‑backed credentials so students can “live here, train here, and thrive here.” He said the program’s design principle was to spend “10,000 hours” upfront to define a guaranteed and viable pipeline from middle school to early career.

Siegel said the initiative — in partnership with the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Austin Community College, Texas State Technical College and multiple school districts — has recorded about 3,300 guaranteed enrollments in its first year and set a five‑year target of 10,000 students in the pipeline. He said the initial regional workforce estimate for advanced manufacturing jobs was 20,000 but that the figure may rise as more companies locate to Central Texas.

E3 Alliance staff emphasized the need for stackable credentials, credit‑bearing pathways and access to local training facilities beyond the I‑35 corridor. They identified mentorship, representation and employer investment in K‑12 as recurring success factors. Staff also said they are completing a regional workforce landscape analysis, to be released in July, that will identify gaps and “investable tenants” for scaling programs.

Committee member questions focused on paid “earn‑and‑learn” structures and supports for students and workers. Siegel highlighted dual‑credit tuition waivers from Austin Community College as a regional model that reduces cost barriers and noted that employers are being asked to invest in earlier education stages (elementary and middle school) to create long‑term talent pipelines.

Committee members suggested adding renewable energy manufacturing (solar and battery) to the manufacturing focus, and e3 staff said career and technical education pathways for renewable energy already exist and could be amplified.

Ending: Staff said a landscape analysis will be completed in July and that the coalition will continue to refine program design and partner with regional intermediaries for replication across other workforce sectors such as allied health and IT.

","Representatives from e3 Alliance briefed the committee on a regional effort to create a stackable, credit‑bearing workforce pipeline for advanced manufacturing and adjacent sectors. Staff described partnerships with colleges, school districts and employers and initial enrollment and outreach milestones.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6555786,"Austin Convention Center redevelopment progresses; city says project on budget and on track to reopen in 2029",1787,2421000,4208000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3346646-2e14fa903e4cfb2481c73419b6201a13&start=2421&end=4208","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3346646-2e14fa903e4cfb2481c73419b6201a13/thumbnail_2421000.jpg","/articles/6555786/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-Convention-Center-redevelopment-progresses-city-says-project-on-budget-and-on-track-to-reopen-in-2029","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555786-018b660ca23a15e8f863d4ceb28a693c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524087&Signature=bIueWGFYWPGD734l~lAtZRieCTVn-yYjobTB57DmTr9HVMA46qvvcvGUajkIC1rEZ41RYPUeSblynn3VX4SYhz3pckdpjvt3TQL6pctzfZ-BcB1JbRU86HWKfegwLxFsgkUOU9f4j2u8D6LeVmEytxZsf9bzzn4YpFyIAKg~kkSrn2fr1upayT7m4gvmtHmKA47l6bdwvtI9f-qMWM9iIN5gaj3dvme8mMq9OkSpPQ4ktUI1jrjEoeV6jCCq29BWALE6zXl6Tq~3L8m035~IoXEuoMBcNKlotheBK2MAygx5CKZV1AZXjAjQCaNTBa~puhU3or3D56ky5Ipa1jYgHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Acting deputy director Katie Zmeznick and Austin Convention Center staff told the Economic Opportunity Committee on May 16 that demolition and design are underway for the downtown Convention Center redevelopment and that the project remains on schedule and on budget for a 2029 reopening.

Zmeznick said the project has a construction budget of $1,260,000,000 and will increase rentable exhibit and meeting square footage from about 365,000 square feet to roughly 620,000 square feet, with the ability to add an additional 140,000 square feet later. The city estimates the expanded center will add about $285,000,000 in annual economic impact — bringing the center’s projected total to about $750,000,000 per year — and roughly $12,000,000 a year in tax revenue. Zmeznick said the expanded facility will support additional jobs (the presentation described an increase in employment but did not specify an exact final tally beyond the estimated tax and economic impact figures).

The project team named JE Dunn and Turner (construction joint venture) and Element and Page (design) among firms under contract, said the city closed the existing facility on April 1, 2025, and described a fast‑track process in which demolition and ongoing design work overlap. Zmeznick said excavation and deeper construction work will begin later this year and that the city will start booking large events for 2029 and beyond.

Sustainability and art: Zmeznick said the city intends the new center to be the world’s first zero‑carbon certified convention center and is targeting LEED Gold. The project includes a nearly $18,000,000 investment in art in public places; staff said 10 artists have been selected to design integrated architectural artwork. The team also described efforts to salvage and reuse roughly 80–90% of the existing building fabric and to create a local market for low‑carbon concrete.

Construction and business impacts: Staff showed renderings of the reconnected street grid, multimodal access, public plazas and underground exhibit loading docks. Zmeznick said the site team is conducting outreach to nearby businesses and has a targeted mitigation plan for businesses within a 0.5‑mile radius, including communications, wayfinding and coordination during road closures. She said Visit Austin and project partners are assisting with business outreach and that staff are working on additional materials to share with council and affected stakeholders.

Food waste and reuse: Committee members asked about food donation, composting and reuse during events. Zmeznick said the convention center already operates a food donation program and plans to add a walk‑in refrigerated storage unit to facilitate donations; she said staff also plan kitchen upgrades and equipment such as pulped extractors to increase composting and reduce waste.

Next steps: Zmeznick said retail vendor selection and specific activation plans will come later in the design phase, with community engagement and vendor selection expected as retail footprints are finalized. She said final vendor selections are likely around 2027 but the process will include community input.

Ending: Committee members asked for additional materials on business mitigation and requested ongoing updates as the project advances.

","City staff updated the Economic Opportunity Committee on the Convention Center redevelopment project’s schedule, sustainability goals, art investments and business mitigation work. Construction is underway; the city estimates a significant increase in rentable space and economic impact when the center reopens.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":79,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6555790,"Austin-Bergstrom Airport outlines $4 billion expansion, highlights local contracting and workforce opportunities",1565,228000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3346646-2e14fa903e4cfb2481c73419b6201a13&start=228&end=1793","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3346646-2e14fa903e4cfb2481c73419b6201a13/thumbnail_228000.jpg","/articles/6555790/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-Bergstrom-Airport-outlines-4-billion-expansion-highlights-local-contracting-and-workforce-opportunities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555790-0758077d4496af78a6b6952eb386e125/orig.mp4?Expires=1770524087&Signature=QUvggsi71mu0UBV9oXTS52LguWE1qpygvrD-~VHKiOKkuSL6R4nI32tPwx8uJPN513UWONwSMAY9xXwdq8ZfzO~-GaNha6QmeVcagRIe88Z6qaFqCaLezRTOGvSSeXGL-5axgo9j9dCjcMTwd-n4xR9eljj8acOUYKYOUwkDVqpXzWbXc0dlm-d0TH7OGkcDJyiEBh5IqWMCXWYHbbgKuLGPaCswisNy4a9JuiRLJVHqYjY-x6XaT4VHa2P5lUpOQSNN4trx4gjVYVHUZ16e0yJvDs9EmvMlGysikmyvAcM80KMEdhlyhW8VqiazUoxoeW1DjlUD13YX6365lfqp-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officials told the Austin City Council Economic Opportunity Committee on May 16 that a multi‑billion‑dollar expansion will increase the airport’s capacity and create thousands of construction and long‑term jobs while aiming to preserve local contracting opportunities.

Chief of Aviation Ghislaine Badawi said the airport served about 21.8 million passengers in 2024, operates on roughly 4,200 acres and is self‑funded through airline fees, concessions, parking and federal grants. She described a phased program launched in 2024 — “Journey with AUS” — and said the airport’s expansion work represents “more than $4,000,000,000 in investments,” with over $1,000,000,000 in direct labor costs and roughly 1,400 active construction jobs today, with about 1,200 more expected this year.

The airport is pursuing multiple near‑term projects to improve capacity and passenger experience while larger elements such as a new Concourse B and a new arrival and departure hall proceed in sequence. Badawi said enabling projects such as midfield taxiways and demolition of an existing garage must finish before new concourse and hall construction can begin. Near‑term milestones she described include a multi‑phase baggage handling system (a 1.5‑mile conveyor capacity described as 4,000 bags per hour), a gate expansion adding three gates, an atrium infill adding roughly 12,000 square feet of queue space, a “West Infill” adding about 75,000 square feet, and a new parking garage whose first phase is anticipated next year and full completion by 2027.

Badawi outlined goals for Concourse B that include more than 20 gates and an overall capacity increase she estimated at “more than 40%.” She also described cargo operations, about 18 carriers, 14 international destinations and cargo volume figures presented during the briefing.

Committee members pressed airport staff on two recurring operational concerns — staffing at air traffic control and workforce development. Mayor Pro Tem Fuentes and others described national air traffic control staffing shortages that have produced ground stops at congested East Coast airports and urged ongoing engagement with the Federal Aviation Administration. Badawi said AUS has provided input to the FAA and is advocating for adequate staffing, and described the shortage as a nationwide issue.

On contracting and workforce development, Badawi said AUS hosted outreach events that drew more than 1,700 attendees and ran “Runway to Opportunities” events that connected prime contractors with local subcontractors; she said about 250 potential subcontractors registered on site. AUS staff said they are partnering with Workforce Solutions Capital Area on an Infrastructure Academy and apprenticeship programs to prepare local workers for airport construction and future operations.

Committee member questions also addressed traveler circulation to future Concourse B (an underground tunnel with escalators, elevators and potential moving walkways), whether airport projects would include sensory or quiet rooms, and how the airport plans to recruit local and diverse concession vendors.

What happens next: Badawi said the airport will return to council for additional authority if the final number of Concourse B gates changes. Several enabling projects are already under construction or in procurement; the airport expects to bring a construction request related to the integrated baggage handling system to council in summer 2025.

Ending: Committee members expressed support for local contracting and workforce training goals while emphasizing continued attention to FAA staffing and operational reliability.

","Austin-Bergstrom International Airport officials described a multi‑billion‑dollar expansion plan at the Economic Opportunity Committee meeting, emphasizing local subcontracting opportunities, workforce training partnerships and near‑term projects to reduce passenger congestion.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff to roll out high‑quality childcare fee waivers; council may need action to extend to new centers

e3 Alliance outlines cradle‑to‑career manufacturing pipeline; partners report 3,300 guaranteed enrollments in first year

Austin Convention Center redevelopment progresses; city says project on budget and on track to reopen in 2029

Austin-Bergstrom Airport outlines $4 billion expansion, highlights local contracting and workforce opportunities