This is a BIG deal! Site Selection Magazine's prestigious Mac Conway Award recognizes the top local and regional economic development agencies in the US. Judging is based on six criteria: total projects, total investment associated with those projects, jobs associated with those projects, and the remaining three criteria represent a per capita calculation of those same metrics.

The projects that made this award possible include Tesla, Apple, Bold Commerce, Digital Realty Trust, Amazing Magnets, Katana Graph, Literati, and BAE Systems. Oracle, along with many other companies moved its headquarters to Austin in 2020.

Our Opportunity Austin economic development initiative is aimed at fostering job-creating investment in the five-county Austin region. Our incredible staff is able to provide confidential support for projects, detailed real estate research, and facilitation of all aspects of the site selection process. Ultimately, we create jobs.

Through Opportunity Austin – the Chamber’s economic development initiative aimed at fostering job-creating investment in the five-county Austin region – the Chamber's economic development staff is able to provide confidential support for projects, including real estate research, and the facilitation of all aspects of the site selection process.

Opportunity Austin Chair Gary Farmer said,

“2020 was certainly a most challenging year for economic development in America. However, despite the global pandemic and related economic downturn, the articulated vision of Opportunity Austin coupled with the resilience and dedication of our Chamber professionals resulted in more than 22,000 new jobs announced for the Austin region in 2020. These new jobs include opportunities for all levels of education and experience across multiple industries. While we are grateful to receive the prestigious Mac Conway award again, our work continues to create the most robust and diversified economy in the nation so that families across the Austin region can live, work and prosper.”

Since 2004, our Opportunity Austin initiative has helped create 465,900 jobs, resulting in a 69% job increase across the region and $29.9 billion in added payroll. It has been an honor to be the Mac Conway Award Recipient in 1994, 2012, 2019, 2020 and 2021, with an honorable mention in 2010.