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| $490 Million ARRA Funds Committed Locally |
 The Intergovernmental Stimulus Coordination Committee reported to the CAN Board of Directors last Friday that almost $490 million in federal stimulus funding has been approved or received in the Austin area. Funded projects range from new federal buildings and highway projects to funding to help families on the verge of homelessness make their rent payments.
Click on the logo at left to link to the CAN Federal Stimulus-Local Impact page where you will find a two page summary of what American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants are funding locally. There is also information on how CAN partners are working together to coordinate stimulus funded projects for maximum impact.
On this one year anniversary of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Center for Public Policy Priorities has released a report on what jobs the Act has created in Texas. |
Austin Ranked #1 in Small Business Vitality
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The Austin metro area was ranked #1 in small business vitality among the nation's 100 largest metro areas. The rankings, by Austin Business Journal parent company bizjournals, award the honor to the five county Austin Metropolitan Statistical area because of its growth in population, growth in employment, and growth in small businesses. Austin was ranked 4th in last year's report.
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Travis County Ranks 7th in Health Outcomes
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of
Wisconsin Population Health Institute are partners in a national county by county health ranking project, " Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health." The study reports that, among Texas counties, Travis County ranks 7th in Health Outcomes and 9th in Health Factors. The study is a "call to action"' for local and state health departments to work with others in their communities to improve public health. An overall look at the Texas rankings shows that Williamson County ranked number 1 in Health Outcomes and 5th in Health Factors. |
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| Nonprofits Count! |
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Non-profit organizations are a powerful tool in reaching out to difficult to count groups of people. Resources and materials to help non-profits communicate the importance of the Census to their clients are available for free at the nonprofitscount website. |
Community Calendar
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Visit the CAN Events Calendar to keep up to date with community events and to post your events.
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CAN Dashboard - Education Indicators
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The CAN Community Council will hold a public forum on education indicators tomorrow afternoon from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. at the City Hall Boards and Commissions Room.
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| Customers Receiving Utility Discounts Increased 82% |
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Austin Energy is now automatically enrolling people who receive benefits through the state Medicaid program or Travis County Energy Assistance Program in the City of Austin utility discount program. The program provides discounts of about $45 per month for an average electric user. As a result, the number of low-income customers receiving utility bill discounts increased 82% from 4,501 customers in 2008 to 8,183 in 2009. Austin Energy also now requires community agencies that qualify customers for City of Austin emergency utility bill assistance funding to help recipients fill out and submit an application for the discount program. Austin Energy staff also promote the discount program at community events, churches, senior citizen centers and neighborhood groups.
Customers also qualify for City of Austin utility bill discounts if someone
in their household receives benefits from state-paid
Medicare, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or the Travis County Hospital
District Medical Assistance Program (MAP). |
| Kid's Count Data Book |
 The State of Texas Children 2009-2010 Data Book has been released by the Center for Public Policy Priorities. Texas KIDS COUNT began in 1993 as an effort to evaluate the educational, social, economic and physical well-being of children in Texas. This analysis of Texas and its 254 counties is supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. |
| Current Recession Worst Since WWII |
| The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas anticipates the current recession will be the longest of the post-World War II era. By December 2008, it had already surpassed the average of all post-World War II recessions yet continued to rise throughout 2009. The article A Historical Look at the Labor Market During Recessions in the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' latest newsletter compares unemployment and employment trends of this and previous recessions.
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| Dialogue on Race, Gender, Class and Political Issues |
The Central Texas Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators will host an open dialogue about critical issues facing our community on February 18th from 6 - 8 p.m. at Huston-Tillotson University. Community leaders will come together to address issues including healthcare, education, criminal justice/police accountability, voting, economic prosperity and affordable neighborhoods. Learn more. |
| AISD African American Heritage Celebration |
| The Austin School District will host its 27th Annual African American Heritage Celebration this Sunday, February 21st at 3 p.m. at the Delco Activity Center, 4601 Pecan Brook Drive. The District will honor more than 250 outstanding students of African American heritage, and will recognize local educators and community leaders for their contributions to the success of Austin students. Special recognition will be given to eleven students selected as African American heritage High School Scholars. For more information, contact the AISD Department of School, Family and Community Education (512) 414-0112. |
| Summer Food Program Webinars |
 Each summer, 18 million students are at risk of going hungry when school ends and free school lunches are no longer available. Faith-based, community and private non-profit organizations can help make a difference in the lives of hungry children by participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Schools, churches, recreation centers, and camps can serve meals in neighborhoods with high percentages of low-income families. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold webinars on how to offer the program on Tuesday, February 23rd from 10 - 11 a.m. and on Thursday, February 25th from 2 - 3 p.m. Click here to register. |
| Workshop for Reducing Financial Stress |
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Catholic Charities of Central Texas will offer a workshop on reducing financial stress on February 26th from 9 to 10:15 a.m. at Catholic Charities, 1817 East 6th Street in Austin. The workshop will discuss ways to take control of financial situations in order to reduce financial distress and the most effective tools to understand and manage personal finances. This free workshop is taught by representatives of Cornerstone Financial Education. Space is limited and participants must register in advance. To register, call (512) 651-6100. |
| DADS Seeks Input on Appropriations Request |
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services is accepting input on its 2012-2013 appropriations request through March 17th. The 82nd Regular Session of the Texas Legislature is less than one year away, and DADS would like stakeholder input on services that should be maintained, expanded or added. Visit www.dads.state.tx.us to learn more. |
| National Symposium on Homelessness |
| Mobile Loaves and Fishes and many other local partners are hosting a National Symposium on Homelessness on Wednesday, March 17th at St. Edward's University. The day-long event will feature Steven Bouma-Prediger and Brian Walsh, authors of the groundbreaking book, "Beyond Homelessness: Christian Faith in a Culture of Displacement." Local homeless people will share their daily challenges and concerns, and the result of a recent face-to-face survey of people in Austin who are homeless will be shared. Visit www.homemarch2010.org for more information. |
| Symposium for Parents of Special Needs Children |
 Parents and caregivers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are invited to attend "Transitions to the Future" a free symposium on the services, resources and options for people making the transition to adult services. Texas Monthly writer Mimi Swartz will be the keynote speaker at the symposium on Friday, April 16th at Goodwill Industries.
Participants will learn about options for housing and employment; financial supports, such as Medicaid waivers; and guardianship and other legal issues. The symposium is free, but space is limited. Learn more and register online at www.iddc-ctx.org. | |
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Community Action Network (CAN) is a partnership of agencies and organizations in Austin and Travis County that provide resources to improve the health and well-being of people in our community. CAN is a collaboration of organizations and individuals working together to build a community of equity and opportunity.
CAN's role in the community is to ...
- enhance awareness of community issues;
- strengthen partnerships and connect planning efforts;
- support collaborative strategies that maximize community resources and impact; and
- mobilize action by reporting on progress made to improve the community's well-being.
CAN Partners: Austin Area Interreligious Ministries, Austin Chamber of Commerce, Austin Community College, Austin Independent School District, Austin Travis County Integral Care, Capital Metro, Central Health, City of Austin, Community Justice Council, One Voice Central Texas, Seton Family of Hospitals, St. David's Foundation, St. Edward's University, Travis County, United Way Capital Area, University of Texas at Austin, and Workforce Solutions - Capital Area.
CAN Issue Area Groups: Aging Services Council, Austin/Travis County Victim Services Task Force, Basic Needs Coalition, Behavioral Health Planning Partnership, Central Texas Afterschool
Network, Child & Youth Mental Health Planning Partnership, Ending Community Homelessness
Coalition, Early Care and Education, HousingWorks, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Coalition, Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, Ready by 21, Reentry Roundtable, and Regional Transit Coordination Committee.
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