Opportunity Austin

The Regional Economic Development Initiative for Central Texas

Opportunity Austin is the prominent regional economic development organization dedicated to fostering job-creating investment and inclusive prosperity across the five-county Greater Austin metropolitan area. Originally launched in 2004 under the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and now operating as the Greater Austin Economic Development Corporation, this public-private initiative acts as a comprehensive, “one-stop” site selection and economic expansion partner for domestic and international corporations.

Core Pillars & Services

• Business Recruitment & Site Selection: The organization specializes in providing confidential, hands-on support for companies evaluating the Central Texas region. This includes conducting real estate and demographic research, facilitating local site tours across 48 municipalities, and helping companies navigate state and local tax incentives.
• Global & Innovation Programs: Opportunity Austin actively attracts foreign direct investment (FDI) and helps global enterprises scale in the U.S. market through dedicated programs:
  • Regional Soft-Landing Program: A risk-reducing integration program offering regulatory guidance, market research, and strategic industry matchmaking.
  • Global Austin Launch Pad: Managed in partnership with local academic and business giants (such as UT Austin’s Austin Technology Incubator and Texas Global), this initiative provides dedicated office space and customized business development support for international entrants.
• Talent & Workforce Development: Recognizing that a skilled talent pipeline is crucial to sustainable growth, the initiative spearheads programs to align K-12 education, higher education, and regional workforce training programs directly with the hiring needs of local industries.
• Policy & Regional Advocacy: The organization advocates for state and local policies that strengthen regional competitiveness. Key focus areas include accelerating critical infrastructure (mobility, energy grid reliability, and water conservation), advancing housing affordability, and safeguarding public safety.

Target Sectors & Impact

Opportunity Austin focuses its business attraction and retention efforts on high-growth, high-wage target industries including Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences, Clean Technology, Aerospace & Defense, Semiconductors, and Creative/Digital Media. Since its inception, the initiative has helped recruit nearly 1,000 new companies and facilitated the creation of over 600,000 regional jobs.