Opportunity Austin Receives Mac Conway Award for Economic Development Excellence

For the ninth year, Opportunity Austin has received Site Selection Magazine’s Mac Conway Award for Economic Development Excellence, recognizing top-performing regional economic development organizations across the country.

 

Named for Site Selection founder McKinley “Mac” Conway, the award is based on a national index that considers corporate facility projects, capital investment, job creation, per capita performance, talent attraction, metro dynamism, and broader economic performance. In this recognition, Site Selection highlighted strong project activity across communities including Round Rock, Georgetown, Buda, Pflugerville, and Hutto, as well as the Austin region’s position as the best-performing top 50 U.S. metro for job growth in 2025, adding 27,200 jobs for a 2% growth rate.

 

The recognition reflects a broader story of regional competitiveness. Austin-area companies have received roughly 78% of Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund grant dollars awarded statewide, totaling approximately $358 million across 18 grants. The region also saw a record year for venture capital, continued strength in patent production, and major startup milestones across sectors, from Firefly Aerospace’s IPO to continued growth at companies like Apptronik, Saronic, Base Power, and other innovation leaders scaling in Central Texas.

 

That growth is also being supported by the infrastructure and connectivity needed to compete for the long term. Southwest Airlines’ new Austin crew base at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, expected to create more than 2,000 jobs, is one example of how major employers are investing in the systems that connect Austin to people, talent, and markets. As our region continues to grow, infrastructure across transportation, aviation, utilities, workforce, and public space will remain critical to accommodating that growth and strengthening the region’s ability to attract investment.

 

For Opportunity Austin, the Mac Conway Award is a reminder that regional economic development is a collaborative effort. Much of the project activity recognized by Site Selection is happening beyond Austin city limits, where local partners across Central Texas are helping companies grow, connect to talent, and invest for the long term. That regional collaboration is what makes Austin more competitive, and it remains one of the clearest drivers of the area’s continued economic performance.