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Austin's latest in research, local reports, upcoming events and community engagement opportunities.
CANews: March 3, 2016
NEWS & REPORTS
The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Releases Austin Population and Migration Report 

February's Central Texas Economy in perspective report highlights migration to Austin.  The report finds that m56% of the people moving to Austin are coming from other cities in Texas.  Following are a few other insights in the report...
  • The five-county Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) gains 158 net new residents every day. This includes 108 due to net migration and 45 to natural increase (births exceeding deaths).
  • New residents added since 2010 account for 7.8% of total 2014 population, which is the largest share among major metros.
  • The greatest sources of new migrants to the Austin MSA are other parts of Texas, followed by California, Florida, Illinois, and Michigan.
Austin Travis County Health and Human Services 2015 Community Impact Report  
 
The Research & Planning Division within Travis County Health and Human Services & Veterans Service recently completed the FY 2015 Community Impact Report. The report offers highlights of community conditions most pertinent to the services purchased within each issue area in FY 2015. The report also details investment, programmatic, and performance information on nearly $17.5 million of the Department's social service contracts. This report addresses nine issue areas. Also available is an Investment Overview, which provides a summary of the investment, client, and performance information for all of TCHHS/VS's external investments within these issue areas. 
 
 
United Way for Greater Austin launches 2-1-1 Mobile App
 
United Way for Greater Austin has launched a new 2-1-1 mobile app to help community members navigate the complex system of health and human services in Central Texas. The app allows users to connect to the assistance they need quickly, anonymously, and from the convenience of their mobile device.

In 2015, UWATX's 2-1-1 call center, which has the most up to date, comprehensive directory for social services information, handled more than 300,000 calls, each representing a person in need of assistance. From mothers who need food for their children, to working families who cannot afford to pay their utility bills, or a dialysis patient trying to coordinate transportation to medical appointments, 2-1-1 can direct users to more than 30,000 social service resources. The app also makes it easy to call 2-1-1 directly when a human touch is required.
 
City, nonprofits sign 'compact' for healthy, safe homes
 
Austin Mayor Steve Adler and more than a dozen City of Austin departments and nonprofit agencies have signed a compact for a new interagency collaboration to better deliver government and nonprofit home repair services for Austin residents. 
 
Agencies are implementing a home intervention model that allows those seeking services to go to any participating agency and have access to multiple services that improve the health and safety of their home and to get energy-saving (and cost-saving) improvements.  
 
"Great cities do big things, and with this Austin is accomplishing what few think possible. This compact turns an incomprehensible bureaucratic labyrinth into a single open doorway," Mayor Steve Adler said. "Now, these families will only have to go to one place to get home improvements that will make their lives healthier and safer.

This compact, part of the national Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, focuses on:
  • Better health outcomes for children, seniors and families.
  • More efficient use of public investment through improved interagency coordination.
  • Improved energy-efficiency for low- and middle- income families.
  • Higher quality green jobs.
  • Reduced barriers to school attendance and work among families with young children.
  • Support for neighborhood stabilization through more effective and sustainable home investments
State of the City 

On February 16th Mayor Adler delivered his second State of Our City address, entitled "Great Cities Do Big Things," highlighting mobility and affordability as two of Austin's most pressing issues. A full transcript of the address is linked below. 
SURVEY: What does Asian quality of life mean to you?  
 
Do you live or work in Austin? Are you Asian? The City of Austin want to your voice to be heard!

Complete the survey linked below to help the City of Austin improve services to make your life better. Also, where do you get your information? What is the best way to provide information to your community?
UPCOMING EVENTS
City of Austin Small & Minority Business Resources Department to Host Disparity Study Outreach 
 
In 2014, the City of Austin commissioned a Minority-Owned, Women-Owned and Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise Disparity Study.  This study examined the participation of businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans in public sector contracting over the last several years in a wide variety of areas including construction, consulting services and other goods and services.

The City of Austin's Small & Minority Business Resources Department will host a public meeting to discuss "Business Disparities in the Austin, Texas Market Area," a study of the business environment in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area from 2008 to 2013. The study will be used to set the City's goals around contracting with small businesses owned by minorities and women. 

SMBR's Disparity Study Outreach Session
Thursday, March 10 at 6:00 PM
Austin City Hall - Council Chambers
301 West 2nd Street Austin, TX 78701

 
Imagine Austin Speaker Series: A City that Lost a Million Pounds
 
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett implemented a series of changes in Oklahoma City, installing new sidewalks, parks, and other placemaking features and amenities to get his community moving. Additionally, he encouraged people to pledge to do more to lose weight, and collectively the city lost over a million pounds!
 
A public meeting with Mayor Cornett will be held on Wednesday, March 9th at 8:45 a.m. at Austin City Hall, 

FAFSA Frenzy at ACC

ACC is hosting events through March to help students find resources to pay for college.
 
Nationally, two out of three community college students receive financial aid. To be eligible for most of that money, students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). ACC financial aid staff will be available to meet with students and their parents one-on-one to guide them through the process.
CAN UPDATES
Language Access Work Group

About one-third of Travis County residents speak a language other than English at home and 13% speak English less than "very well," according to 5-year American Community Survey data. Providing services and support to people who speak another language can be challenging.  CAN is convening a Work Group of people representing public and private agencies who are interested in sharing best practices and developing shared community standards to increase the quality and availability of translation and interpretation services in the Greater Austin area. For more information, contact Raul Alvarez at ralvarez@canatx.org or join the Language Access Austin Google Group.

CAN Board of Directors

The CAN Board of Directors, comprised of board members and senior executives of the CAN partner organizations, is dedicating 2016 to an issue by issue analysis of how our community is working to bridge the economic divide.  The March 11, 2016 meeting will focus on economic development. The CAN partnership includes four Chambers of Commerce. Leaders of these organizations will lead the discussion about how our community can use economic development to expand opportunity and equity in our community.   

 
CAN Community Council 

The CAN Community Council will continue to explore person-centered approaches outside of non-profit organizations -- in realms such as community engagement, public service/government, business, etc. at their meeting on Monday, March 21st. Community Council meetings are open to the public. Meetings take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, 1124 S. Interstate 35.    
  
 

CAN is a partnership of governmental, non-profit, private and faith-based organizations which leverage mutual resources to collective improve social, health, educational and economic opportunities in our community.

CAN Partners: Austin Chamber of Commerce, Austin Community College, Austin ISD, Austin Travis County Integral Care, Capital Metro, Central Health, City of Austin, City of Pflugerville, Community Justice Council, Del Valle ISD, Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, Greater Austin Asian Chamber, Greater Austin Black Chamber, Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber, Huston-Tillotson University, Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT), Manor ISD, One Voice Central Texas, Seton Healthcare Family, St. David's Foundation, St. Edward's University, Travis County, United Way for Greater Austin, University of Texas at Austin, and Workforce Solutions - Capital Area
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