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| This entry contains information about Austin, Texas. For links to small business resources found in and around Austin, visit the Austin, Texas Hub.
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Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Travis County. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Austin has a population of 656,562 people, making it the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 16th largest in the United States. Situated in the region of Central Texas, the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area is one of the fastest-growing in the United States and is home to an estimated population of 1.4 million as of 2004. Residents of Austin are known as Austinites.
The local economy
Austin is considered to be a major center for high tech. Thousands of graduates each year from the engineering and computer science programs at The University of Texas at Austin provide a steady source of employees that help to fuel Austin's technology and defense industry sectors. The metro Austin area has much lower housing costs than Silicon Valley, but much higher housing costs than many parts of rural Texas. As a result of the high concentration of high-tech companies in the region, Austin was strongly affected by the dot-com boom in the late 1990s and subsequent bust. Austin's largest employers include the Austin Independent School District, the City of Austin, Dell, the United States Federal Government, Freescale Semiconductor (spun off from Motorola in 2004), IBM, the State of Texas, Texas State University-San Marcos, and the University of Texas. Other high-tech companies with operations in Austin include 3M, Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard, Google, Cisco Systems, eBay/PayPal, Hoover's, Intel Corporation, The proliferation of technology companies has led to the region's nickname, "the Silicon Hills," and spurred development that greatly expanded the city. The concentration of high-tech companies has led the former American Airlines flight between Austin and San Jose, California to be dubbed the "nerd bird."
Austin is also emerging as a hub for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. About 85 companies from this industry are based in Austin.
In addition to global companies, Austin features a strong network of independent, locally-owned firms and organizations. The success of these businesses reflects the high level of commitment by the citizens of Austin to preserving the unique spirit of the city and has been tied to the "Keep Austin Weird" campaign.
Austin Real Time
- G4S Chooses Lumesse TalentLink for U.S. Talent Acquisition
- AUSTIN, Texas & LONDON -- -- Lumesse , a global leader in integrated talent management solutions, today announced that G4S has selected Lumesse to implement a new TalentLink solution throughout the U.S. G4S is the world's leading international security group working to safeguard the welfare and prosperity of millions of people globally.
- WAC Lighting's Sol Organic LED Chandelier Accepted by IES Progress ReportThursday, February 09, 2012
- WAC Lighting President Shelley Wald announced that its SA l Organic LED Chandelier has been accepted by the IES for its 2011 Progress Report, and recognized as a product that reflects significant developments and improvements in the lighting industry.
- Zachary Economic Development Director Chip Mills resigns
- The Executive Director for Economic Development for the Zachary Chamber of Commerce, Chip Mills, has announced he will be resigning in April and relocating to Austin, Texas.
- Texas Commercial Litigation Attorney Richard C. \
- Austin, Texas - Rick King joined King Law Group PLLC of Austin, Texas in June 2011.
- How One App is Greening the Way Educators, Doctors, and Architects do Business
- SEATTLE, WA, February 09, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Apple is changing the way people do business.
- Republican Face Off In Cherokee County GOP Forum
- Cherokee County candidates gave voters a glimpse at their background and plans for the future Tuesday night during a forum at Jacksonville College.
- Then There's This: Think Trees
- Thirty years to the month after surviving the Allied bombing of Dresden in February 1945, Margret Hofmann was standing in front of a mammoth, ancient tree near I-35 and Braker, gazing sharply into the lens of a camera.
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See also
External links
- AustinSmallBiz.com Calendar of small business events, classes and seminars maintained by the Austin Small Business Development Program.
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- Austin Independent Business Alliance - A nonprofit organization of locally owned and operated independent businesses that have joined together to promote the cultural and economic benefits of shopping locally. Affiliated with the American Independent Business Alliance.
- Austin SCORE - Austin SCORE counselors are executives with a wealth of expertise and experience in many industries. SCORE Austin offers: Free confidential business counseling and advice, low-cost workshops, free business resources and special customized services.
- BigAustin.org - BiGAUSTIN is a non-profit organization offering a single-source solution for entrepreneurial education, tailored business counseling and flexible loans.
- Historically Underutilized Business - The statewide HUB Program facilitates the use of HUBs in state procurement and provides information on the state’s procurement process to minority and woman- owned businesses.
- Small & Minority Business Resources Department - The Small & Minority Business Resources Department(SMBR) assists small, minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises (MBE and WBE) as they pursue contracting opportunities with the City of Austin.
- Texas State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) - Works with existing and startup small businesses to help them grow and compete in today’s global economy.
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