The task force has submitted the first round of recommendations to Judge Eckhardt and Mayor Adler, which is its first work product and represents our best efforts to strike a balance between public health and reopening the economy.

It is our goal to be transparent in our efforts and to lead with collaboration, innovation, and heart.

The priorities of this task force are to

1. Provide feedback on how we open our economy and to initialize future policy,
2. Monitor and evaluate the reopening, and
3. Inform the program design for city and county economic recovery funds.

Over the past weeks, we have worked with more than 125 task force members representing a wide range of interests, including small and large businesses in multiple industry sectors, business membership organizations, and community groups that support the needs of business such as transportation, public health, and safety. It's truly a team effort, relying on our business community leaders to provide their thoughtful guidance on many Zoom conference calls.

This is a complex situation, and policies must adapt to account for the evolving landscape in this unprecedented time. As conditions change, the task force is committed to providing real-time, industry-specific input, as well as general recommendations and feedback, that will help inform and guide policymaking.

As we move forward, the work of the task force will continue to ensure a strong and healthy recovery of the Central Texas economy.

Laura Huffman
President & CEO
Austin Chamber of Commerce