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The Austin Region: Our Focus Forward

As we begin 2026, we want to reinforce our continued commitment to the region and our work alongside our regional partners and investors. Over the past year, our collective efforts have helped drive meaningful growth and prosperity across the Austin region, and we are entering the year ahead with momentum and a renewed focus on long-term impact.

Part of that momentum includes leadership changes that will strengthen partnerships and sharpen our focus on the core of what we do best: driving economic development for the Austin region. Susan Davenport has been promoted to President & CEO and will lead the organization with a strategic emphasis on business recruitment and expansion, innovation, and workforce development, in service of building a resilient and competitive regional economy.

Stacy Schmitt has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Our commitment to improving quality of life through dedicated advocacy remains steadfast. Stacy will continue to lead those efforts alongside marketing and communications while ensuring operational efficiency and alignment.

We are embracing these leadership transitions with optimism and look forward to continuing the partnerships and collaboration that advance our mission.

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Pitchbook released their Q2 Venture Capital report, showing that companies in the Austin region raised approximately $6.5B YTD, more than twice the money raised in the same period during 2025 ($2.9B). Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, showing that the Austin region is fourth among the top 50 metros in the percent of STEM jobs.

The Austin region’s continued ability to attract and grow companies depends on more than creating jobs, it depends on having the talent to fill them.

Austin Business Journal spotlights the many defense companies that have set up shop outside Austin lately.

STEM occupations account for over 11.1% of all jobs in the Austin MSA in 2024, making Austin the 6th most concentrated in STEM among large U.S. metros. Since 2019, STEM occupations in Austin have grown by 17%, adding 20,000 jobs and bringing the total number of workers to 139,820.

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