TX Eco. Dev. Council history

But two things happened in 1966 that would exponentially boost Austin’s success and visibility.

In 1972 the Chamber assisted Seguin in recruiting a Motorola branch plant that made auto parts.

In 1975 the Chamber lured Eagle Signal, which made computerized traffic-control systems.

By 1978, 11% of all jobs in the area were manufacturing related, up from an estimated 2% when the effort first began about 20 years earlier.

But the shake-up was, when Director Vic Mathias announced he was quitting in November of 1982.

4 Ladendorf, Kirk, “3M wanted to be wanted,” Austin American-Statesman, Austin, TX, February 27, 1984.

In 1986, the Chamber sponsored recruitment tours to 10 United States cities.

Despite these and other setbacks, Cooke feels that he cashed in after a good hand when he left as Director in the summer of 1987.

He went on to become Austin’s Mayor in 1988 and inherited the worst local economy since the Great Depression.

By 1990, the Chamber had 7 people employed in its economic development program.

In 1991 the Chamber created a special section in the Austin American Statesman to highlight its programs and accomplishments.

By 1994, it had achieved such marked results that it won a national award for its work.

1995 was a particularly aggressive year, with 37 Austin business executives, community leaders, and staff visiting more than 84 companies.

3 Lyman, Ted, et al., ICF Kaiser International, 1998 Next Century Economy: Sustaining the Austin Region’s Economic Advantage in the 21st Century.

In 2000, it supported a massive expenditure of City of Austin money to purchase future water rights from the Colorado River, guaranteeing a water supply for a doubling in population.

2 Employment data originated on July 6, 2001 by Phil Arnold, Information Specialist for the Texas Workforce Commission.

Peter Zandan, June 24, 2002 – Managing Director, Public Strategies International and Executive Board Member of Austin Idea Network

Feb 10, 2004 - RB EDC grants the Community Garden Project $1,000.00 for the purchase of cinder blocks for garden borders as requested by Judge Leslie Wilson.

The City’s funding and the ordinance must be in place no later than January 1, 2007; otherwise the Runaway Bay EDC commitment is null and void.

May 27, 2010 – RB EDC approves the purchase of buoys for the beach at a cost of $2,320.50

April 19, 2012 – RB EDC approves $1,500.00 of the $3,000.00 needed to purchase pool lift chair for the City pool.

April 10, 2014 – RB EDC approved $250.00 for June 7, 2014 Clean-up T-Shirts and $5,000.00 for the 4th Fest and Golf Tournament

April 21, 2015 – RB EDC approved the funding of June 11th Clean-up T-Shirts ($500.00) and approves funding of $1,000.00 for pool furniture such as pool light, pool vacuum, umbrella and rescue tube.

July 7, 2017 – RB EDC votes to create its own website (this one) which goes on-line in late July