Opportunity Austin is a five-year regional economic development initiative aimed at fostering job-creating investment across the Austin region.

Through Opportunity Austin, the Chamber's economic development staff is able to provide confidential support for projects, including real estate research, and the facilitation of all aspects of the site selection process. Here are some recent project announcements bringing jobs to the region:

Curative, Inc.

Curative, Inc. will open its third COVID-19 testing facility in Pflugerville. In this Austin American-Statesman article Opportunity Austin is recognized as a collaborator on the project:

Amy Madison, the executive director of the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation, said her organization collaborated with Opportunity Austin to find a site for the Curative lab and present it to the company.

“We’re really really excited about this company because it not only brings additional jobs that are sorely needed that will help with employing our residents, but it will also provide a much-needed service in the state of Texas,” she said. “One of our focuses is on expansion of biomedical in our community as a target industry.”

This Connect Texas article notes that Curative, Inc. plans to hire 300 employees and also mentions Opportunity Austin's involvement in finding a site for the lab:

The company, which has lab facilities in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, plans to hire more than 300 workers locally.

“We were fortunate to work with Opportunity Austin and find a home for Curative, Inc., who is delivering a fast, safe, and painless sample collection method for Texas residents,” said Amy Madison, executive director, Pflugerville Community Development Corporation.

Gecko Technology Partners

Opportunity Austin welcomes UK company Gecko Technology Partners Inc. The company hopes to grow to 25 employees over the next two years.

Austin Chamber/Opportunity Austin Senior Vice President of Economic Development, Charisse Bodisch said in the press release:

“We are pleased that Gecko Technology Partners selected Austin for its U.S. Headquarters. Opportunity Austin continues to attract worldwide companies, bolstering economic diversification and growth."

Read more in this Austin Business Journal article detailing the company's plans.

Shell Studio

Another recent Opportunity Austin project was announced with this week with the launch of Studio X, Shell’s new open innovation studio. The Austin studio will immediately offer software tools, on-demand work, prize-winning challenges, mentorship opportunities, and more to energy innovators.

Austin Chamber President, Laura Huffman joined Good Day Austin to discuss shifting to a new way of doing business, the short and long-term benefits of Tesla coming to Austin, and how the Austin Chamber can be a resource for the local business community.

"For every job that Tesla creates, we are estimating that there will be four additional jobs that are created through indirect and induced jobs."

Giving back is a major aspect of what we do at the Austin Chamber. Austin Gives is a program that recognizes businesses for their commitment to give back to the community through financial contributions, the donation of products/services and volunteer hours.

The Austin Chamber of Commerce, I Live Here I Give Here, and RecognizeGood have partnered up to establish Growing Good. Through this partnership, we are conducting the Central Texas Corporate Giving Survey to understand corporate philanthropic giving in the region.

Austin Chamber Senior Director of Engagement, Beth Krueger is quoted in this Patch article:

Added Beth Krueger, senior director of engagement for the Austin Chamber of Commerce: "The Austin Gives business council has worked on this survey since its inception, encouraging businesses to join in our effort to gather this data. The continued participation in this annual survey is a testament to our community's culture of giving back."