[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6474534,"mediaKeyId","5795532-bfed4702c2b8fc93053bc3baf0147bd6","parentId",5795532,"title","Committee hears brief update on summer youth employment; city, county and private funding alignment raised","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",6533000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5795532-bfed4702c2b8fc93053bc3baf0147bd6&start=6533&end=6533","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5795532-bfed4702c2b8fc93053bc3baf0147bd6/thumbnail_6533000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6474534/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Committee-hears-brief-update-on-summer-youth-employment-city-county-and-private-funding-alignment-raised","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474534-555e16cc25a6ce4ede776a21ec89471c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445627&Signature=YkptCAtFXLUxao~Eo-a0YO1BQYFq2AmXfGjEMo0UwsMo53NpseGc8He49IiqfVQun2gFZqi18mXDRIyV4A968gemqmKldXSWbE0NGanoF1a1yqHFgLb2b3sqYacg7UzIWXpD9Z1~gwJSitWXoXqkNkFBplENGYudYKnRSAnT-imfPlcNxxKjsBzi1mfhru7e4iZd5bMC9O1WQA1yiu6kYZzWPyYBHY2CArJLnK6ILjn5UMfefO31nehOpWoyq9dML~IjDEEIzGHLRLvuzMbvnBlgVHlofqwZPBV2-0BIjakuokPR7S7Ddsa0uyy0n3gyMfS-cfEVmG4izFolAm3pZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-09-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Economic Opportunity Committee received a brief memorandum update on the city’s Summer Youth Employment program during the Sept. 19 meeting.

Anthony Segura, interim director of the Economic Development Department, said the city provided funding and that the program delivered nearly 200 internship placements this summer. He said the city did not reduce its portion of the budget but that the number of student positions served was affected by a smaller private donation to the program; the program’s duration was reduced from seven weeks to six weeks for this cycle.

Councilmembers raised questions about alignment and coordination with other youth internship programs in the community: an AISD internship program supported by the chamber and a separate summer internship administered by another city office. Segura said staff plan to use the off‑season to coordinate across partners, review outcomes and develop joint messaging and intake so youth and employers face less confusion about where to apply for summer opportunities.

No formal action was taken. Committee members asked staff to continue planning for improved coordination among the city, county and education partners to maximize placements.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Economic Opportunity Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Staff updated the committee on the summer youth employment program, noting nearly 200 interns served, program length reduced from seven to six weeks, and that participation was affected by a private donor reduction; councilmembers requested more coordination between city, county and AISD internship efforts.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6474538,"ACME unveils streamlined Creative Reset grant guidelines, opens multiple funding programs this fall",2154,4200000,6354000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5795532-bfed4702c2b8fc93053bc3baf0147bd6&start=4200&end=6354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5795532-bfed4702c2b8fc93053bc3baf0147bd6/thumbnail_4200000.jpg","/articles/6474538/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/ACME-unveils-streamlined-Creative-Reset-grant-guidelines-opens-multiple-funding-programs-this-fall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474538-408aacaa5e2f2fe2b569890c4a668af3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445627&Signature=hurjm815LAd6n0Bfju6PurfXstM0sFYlOpzQRb9mxbnFCZHd6VYYgMvXWzuH5Yo5W6EyE~xMgap2sxmX~sDFN6FGQdlXHzISTwrl6SWF4OLBeKyNWErsxzQa3jcOj3r7ThVlq-qBmd5Xo5bpkh2w8EJMJWScaKe-56ljIhEnp9yuPJxV0R4wiJDE0PT0d7gnnePgCm6OCHtRmldbKog1Az7C8p2JNkOwDtluXu~i2XSRUKjcFKa2021eiusHwjE9IOLTVRhrgmXDBOisM7JCuosLadW3RAD9i6VqiLhfqRvgg5YU2ySYxAsGFZ4tP3zfneGHvCkZImDtxEflCJdaIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Angela Means, director of the Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) department, and staff presented the department’s Creative Reset updates and new fiscal year 2026 grant funding guidelines to the Economic Opportunity Committee on Sept. 19.

ACME consolidated six previous grant guidelines into a single, streamlined set of documents and said it processed more than 11,800 public comments during a six‑step community engagement process used to shape changes. “This engagement model shows what’s possible when community, technology and staff all work together,” interim chief administrative officer Candace Cooper said.

Assistant Director Morgan Messick described notable changes across the department’s program suite: Nexus (entry-level awards for individual artists and small arts groups, now $5,000 or $10,000 awards based on scoring), Elevate (wider award ranges, applicants grouped to compete against organizations of similar operating budgets), Thrive (top‑tier operational support for 501(c)(3) cultural nonprofits with updated eligibility and removal of a prior mandatory break requirement), Creative Space Assistance (flat $60,000 award for eligible leased creative spaces), Austin Live Music Fund (awards to musicians, promoters and qualifying venues with updated thresholds), and an expanded Heritage Preservation Grant (now includes events as an eligible category and awards from $50,000 to $250,000).

Messick said ACME introduced universal appeals procedures across all programs, strengthened standard operating procedures to prevent double‑dipping between funds, updated panel and scoring processes, and published “eligibility at a glance” guidance to help applicants find the best fit. Staff also committed to workshops, office hours and targeted outreach aimed at broadening the applicant pool beyond historically funded recipients.

Key rollout dates provided in the briefing: application openings on Oct. 21 for Elevate, Austin Live Music Fund, Creative Space Assistance and Heritage Preservation grants; Nexus will open March 2026; the department expects a regular cadence of application openings starting in 2027 (March, July, September cycles).

Councilmembers asked about appeals timing and staff capacity. ACME said it would set aside a portion of program budgets as a reserve to handle successful appeals and would schedule appeals before final awards are distributed to avoid delays in fund disbursement. Councilmember Harper Madison and others also emphasized continued investment in outreach and community navigators to reach new applicants and smaller creative organizations; ACME staff said they will explore ways to revive navigator‑style outreach and to partner with local influencers and grassroots organizations to reach underrepresented groups.

No formal council action was requested; staff said the proposed guidelines will be published and the application periods will open according to the schedule shared in the briefing.

","The new Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) department presented consolidated funding guidelines and community-driven changes to Nexus, Elevate, Thrive, Live Music Fund, Creative Space Assistance and Heritage Preservation programs, with applications opening Oct. 21 for several funds.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6474543,"City staff to explore Financial Empowerment Center model; CFE Fund academy and grants described",986,3365000,4351000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5795532-bfed4702c2b8fc93053bc3baf0147bd6&start=3365&end=4351","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5795532-bfed4702c2b8fc93053bc3baf0147bd6/thumbnail_3365000.jpg","/articles/6474543/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/City-staff-to-explore-Financial-Empowerment-Center-model-CFE-Fund-academy-and-grants-described","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474543-317f43712518153b462b98644e00746a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445627&Signature=CPoBRg7F8S1LWM2W2X7T1qqUHz~BabSKCvBath4xIlNZRz0N1NExSOjs~5rfDg6Ad5Z2O0FQMwVfU3FImkOeTVbznX-xv033T9Qep9CbUnNUG-aYzFKAplCAhxMuSZL~C~iS6CQbH27Q2vw8TPHw2hIIa2dUY8SMqwlls7-K8lWpataTdNzyXdDurr0zpJ6jdfaFwyU4Z4Q-cNz7VcKMCsB6ehqyxkjPRcEgd7zCGiph3UO4uCXUrJhiZvaSCY~ElPOyq-cTlavf8R1wJ~e2Awui6FIvwfJicCdd~cu4Li3Dq2RX84-Uo7VmRJt8hdz5mpdDPqOR5f5729luK3oRyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Lindsey Wilson, director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion, briefed the Economic Opportunity Committee on Sept. 19 about Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) models and how Austin might pursue the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE Fund) program.

Wilson explained that FECs provide free, professional one‑on‑one financial counseling focused on banking access, credit improvement, debt management and savings. She said roughly three dozen local governments operate FEC models nationally and the CFE Fund supports city participation through training and technical assistance.

Wilson described two primary delivery options: an in‑house model, in which a city hires counselors and manages service delivery, and a contractor model, in which a city contracts nonprofit partners already providing financial counseling. In‑house models provide tighter oversight but higher operating costs; contractor models reduce initial investment but can present sustainability and quality‑control challenges, Wilson said.

She reviewed examples from peer cities (Dallas, Houston, Shreveport) and described how local programs vary: Houston and Dallas use contractor models at multiple sites, while some other cities use in‑house delivery. Wilson told the committee there are no current Austin city programs that meet the formal FEC standards for structured one‑on‑one financial coaching.

The CFE Fund’s Financial Empowerment Academy is a two‑phase, roughly 15‑month program: an initial feasibility and planning phase (including registration and training) and a second technical assistance phase. The Academy includes a $20,000 planning grant and, upon completion of the two phases, eligibility to apply for a $150,000 matching implementation fund. The transcript notes a 2025 enrollment window and an October 2025 academy start for jurisdictions moving forward.

Wilson said cities considering participation must demonstrate capacity (cities typically have more than 50,000 residents), choose a delivery model, register on the CFE Fund platform and complete counselor training and certification. Councilmembers asked about timing and costs; Wilson said the Academy is a 15‑month commitment, organizations would need to plan for ongoing operational funding, and staff would return with more specific resource needs if Austin pursues the program.

No formal council action was requested at the briefing; committee members expressed support for further exploration and for submitting an application to the next Academy cycle. Wilson noted the need to evaluate whether to stand up in‑house capacity or to partner with local nonprofits and asked staff to return with feasibility and cost estimates.

","Office of Equity and Inclusion and Economic Development staff reported to committee on Financial Empowerment Center models, program delivery options, grant timing and next steps for possible city participation in the CFE Fund Financial Empowerment Academy.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6474548,"City briefs committee on proposed downtown digital kiosk network, seeks code changes and local office meetings",945,2492000,3437000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5795532-bfed4702c2b8fc93053bc3baf0147bd6&start=2492&end=3437","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5795532-bfed4702c2b8fc93053bc3baf0147bd6/thumbnail_2492000.jpg","/articles/6474548/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/City-briefs-committee-on-proposed-downtown-digital-kiosk-network-seeks-code-changes-and-local-office-meetings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474548-f4d34e49e57bfeebb64a334caee954cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445627&Signature=OOoyeVS-cQhw2RJhQ683v9xCwG-cF2XmmzIwCWid5cuRISqqu~pEvR1xZ7Kte~uCrcpAoIhXjiXHnWedQ0WIjaMGmsCEYoIJsSNUl~qF~t2-LAhVjU7Fds~PgKODKk5sy90nCVAa5bGTSho3JsVMLH89qG9qEzZQnXBPaf9qFzBDK4s0cAG5JvvGHR-pueB4ydCfsfRQwAEqNMSpuDA9Ks~NTzYRORdFsJdpLwVsMASwTPLKbCJ7xKXNpx~08WUJJs9d9up3rjyCVnnA6jvoRfuVaaWBCb2oAUNTSqocr0yE9gXYB5gxh0fkHF93CW1518yyRYgzZ-PZbtudgds3rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim Economic Development Director Anthony Segura briefed the Economic Opportunity Committee on Sept. 19 about a proposed interactive digital kiosk program intended for high‑pedestrian civic areas in Austin.

Segura described a vendor-funded deployment of roughly 50 kiosks that would be “hardwired” for power and data and made available at no startup cost to the city. The model would rely on ad revenue with a revenue-sharing arrangement; unsold advertising time would be made available to the city for public service announcements at no cost, Segura said.

Segura told the committee the kiosks are approximately 8 feet tall and weigh about 830 pounds. He said advertising content would be regulated to prohibit false or misleading ads, tobacco, drugs, firearms, adult entertainment, violent or obscene content and ads that conflict with city policies. Staff also proposed a 500‑foot exclusion zone for alcohol advertising around sensitive uses including schools, libraries, day care centers, parks, hospitals and treatment centers.

The program would require an amendment to city sign regulations (described in the briefing as “chapter 20 5‑ten”) to permit off‑premise advertising on kiosk displays. Segura said Transportation/Public Works would retain oversight of siting, spacing, sightlines and lighting once code changes are authorized.

Segura said the kiosks are already present in other Texas cities including Arlington, Houston and San Antonio, and that Austin already has some kiosks at the domain. He said the city issued an RFP in May and is finalizing a vendor contract. Tentative next steps include presentations to the Code and Ordinance Joint Committee and Planning Commission in October, a city council public hearing on the code amendment in November 2025, and potential kiosk deployment in fall 2026 after permits and utility work are complete.

Committee members asked questions about accessibility, privacy and content control. Chair Cawdrey asked whether kiosks could provide navigation for people experiencing homelessness and emergency “press a button” functions; Segura said those features are possible and that the city would be able to use inventory for city job postings and public communications. Councilmember Siegel raised concerns about right‑of‑way impacts and potential effects on people with mobility or vision impairments. Segura said staff will provide a fuller presentation to each council office and seek feedback on siting and ADA compliance.

Privacy questions surfaced about cameras included in some kiosk packages. Segura said he would verify whether cameras could be disabled and provide further detail to council offices. Councilmembers also asked about revenue expectations; Segura said revenue estimates are being worked on and that final projections would be provided once the vendor contract is complete, though he suggested six‑figure revenue in a typical year was plausible.

Members discussed whether advertisers could monopolize inventory in particular neighborhoods and how targeted block‑level advertising might work; Segura said the vendor manages sales and the city would enforce content and placement rules, and he promised to follow up with details on political advertising boundaries and camera/privacy configurations.

Segura said staff have met with the Downtown Austin Alliance and local chambers and will continue community engagement and one‑on‑one briefings with council offices before code hearings. No formal action was taken at the committee meeting; staff will return with code amendment language and technical details for council consideration.

","Economic Development staff outlined a plan for a 50-unit interactive digital kiosk network paid by advertising revenue, requiring changes to city sign regulations and additional review on accessibility, privacy and content rules.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6474553,"Austin Infrastructure Academy launches navigators, scholarships after $5 million city investment",2602,58000,2660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5795532-bfed4702c2b8fc93053bc3baf0147bd6&start=58&end=2660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5795532-bfed4702c2b8fc93053bc3baf0147bd6/thumbnail_58000.jpg","/articles/6474553/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-Infrastructure-Academy-launches-navigators-scholarships-after-5-million-city-investment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474553-2c972d551dae338b3d551b29926c9d28/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445627&Signature=ESVZD2cPtSe1pPFfcnH36JzoP0b6QiWckaKMmHetIy-xJaef9isdkVnzoGOkAmBl2X66EFyVLCVGbHf0u8loalwLN1Kd7rYnWpzaa65wO6xgoPt~VSzGnxYUNLfz~eY84Q2OP1nRxni3~RHAP8SVkCllkA5mYBNOSCaGpGtjr4ZflH9kz6uEpYwN2qNC8RCp7ARzxg4sOjXGRJL-XLSNbsgaKaz4gsPgfiM-F57voDLiAdrCBUfppb6vT-DjpnFW1v7~b3DpZNhg-JRjRAsw0TPdcEYjEByiY4f37y~dr2z1AjOz98qRC7aJet2Vr~pZxzDRiXtFQKp6lneqmj0etw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes convened the Economic Opportunity Committee on Sept. 19 to receive an update on the Austin Infrastructure Academy, a city-backed workforce initiative designed to connect local residents to training and jobs in construction, transportation and skilled trades.

The interim CEO of Workforce Solutions, Yael Lawson, told the committee the Infrastructure Academy serves as a networked “ecosystem of partners” — including Austin Community College (ACC), unions, training providers and community organizations — rather than a single physical facility. “We help employers find the workers that they need, connect local people to local jobs, support people in building long term careers, and we remove barriers such as the training costs, child care, transportation,” Lawson said.

The program launched in March 2025 after a planning phase that included a study funded by CapMetro and ATP. Lawson said the city council approved $5,000,000 to put the initiative into action and that ACC has offered space on a new campus being built by the airport. Private and philanthropic support cited during the presentation included grants or funding from Texas Mutual and Google to support planning and hiring.

Lawson described new roles called career navigators that Workforce Solutions has hired to provide hands-on guidance. “They don’t have a caseload. They’re just talking to people and sharing the opportunities that are available to them,” she said. Navigator services include placement assistance, referrals for childcare and transportation support, and help with on-the-job needs such as tools.

Committee members pressed for details about how the Academy will reach groups underrepresented in the trades. Lawson highlighted outreach to women, justice-involved individuals and people experiencing homelessness, and noted the Academy is tracking referrals and navigator contacts to measure use of supports such as childcare and transportation. “Women represent just 14% of the workforce in these skilled trades,” Lawson said, framing the gender gap the Academy plans to address.

Program partners and training examples cited included ACC, Local 286 (plumbers and pipefitters) and the MC3 pre-apprenticeship curriculum. Lawson said ACC and unions built an MC3-like course and the Infrastructure Academy funded most of the first cohort. The presentation also described partnerships with Del Valle High School (spelled in the transcript as “Dale Valley”), an HVAC course run by the Other Ones Foundation for people experiencing homelessness, and employer collaborations intended to align curriculum with demand from large city and regional projects such as Project Connect, the airport expansion and I-35 work.

Staff gave a short tally of early outputs: 306 attendees at the launch/career fair (28 employers and 11 training providers), a June career fair with 209 attendees (21 employers and five providers), about 100 people who have met with career navigators, 47 scholarships awarded for training, and 28 job seekers who obtained full-time employment, nine of whom entered jobs after “earn and learn” training.

Councilmembers and staff discussed funding, coordination and next steps. Councilmember Greg Casar’s seat was not present on the dais; Councilmembers Siegel and Harper Madison asked detailed questions about childcare, transportation supports, outreach to women and justice-involved residents, and tracking of graduates into city hiring pipelines such as Austin Water and Austin Energy. Anthony Segura, interim director of the Economic Development Department, and Anne Eaton, assistant director, were among city staff participating in the discussion.

Lawson and staff said next steps include formalizing governance through an advisory council, building a marketplace (an online “front door” for training and employer demand) and exploring a colocated facility at ACC in early 2026. The committee was also reminded of a related public event, a water forum on Oct. 16.

The committee did not take a formal vote on policy changes during the briefing; members asked staff to return with additional details on program tracking, partnership agreements and how city budgeted funds are tied to public projects.

Questions and requests for follow-up included: more granular tracking of childcare and transportation supports deployed, plans to recruit and retain women in trades training, clarification of apprenticeship entry barriers for some justice-involved people, and coordination with existing city hiring pipelines.

The update emphasized measurement: staff said they will track wages, placement counts and upskilling over time to assess impact and accountability for the city’s $5 million investment.

Ending: Committee members praised the early outputs and requested follow-up briefings with additional detail on outcomes, funding sustainability, and how graduates feed into city infrastructure hiring needs.

","City-funded Austin Infrastructure Academy has hired career navigators, awarded training scholarships and reported early placement results as Workforce Solutions and partners align training with construction and infrastructure project demand.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears brief update on summer youth employment; city, county and private funding alignment raised

ACME unveils streamlined Creative Reset grant guidelines, opens multiple funding programs this fall

City staff to explore Financial Empowerment Center model; CFE Fund academy and grants described

City briefs committee on proposed downtown digital kiosk network, seeks code changes and local office meetings

Austin Infrastructure Academy launches navigators, scholarships after $5 million city investment