A Strong Start to 2026: The Austin Chamber’s Mid-Year Progress

From workforce development and entrepreneurship to economic growth, advocacy and community collaboration, we're building momentum around the priorities shaping Central Texas’ future.

Posted on 09/03/2026 by Austin Chamber

View the Full Report

As we move into the second half of 2026, the Austin Chamber remains focused on the priorities that matter most to the long-term success of our business community and region.

This year, we’ve continued advancing our work to support entrepreneurship, strengthen the workforce pipeline, drive economic growth, advocate for public safety and foster stronger collaboration between businesses and nonprofits. Along the way, we’ve convened thousands of business leaders, welcomed new members and created opportunities for our community to connect around the issues shaping Central Texas.

Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished so far — and where we’re headed next.

  • A Message From Our 2026 Board Chair, Denise Davis

    This year, we have remained focused on priorities that are critical to our region’s success — supporting entrepreneurship, strengthening our workforce pipeline, driving economic growth, advocating for public safety, and fostering collaboration between businesses and nonprofits to build a stronger community.

    From expanding resources for entrepreneurs and connecting employers with future talent to advocating for policies that support long-term competitiveness, the Chamber continues to serve as a catalyst for progress.

Priority Updates

  • Economic Growth

    We’ve advanced the Chamber's Economic Growth strategy by launching the Economic Growth Steering Committee and developing the first Economic Growth Agenda. We also launched the Business Retention & Expansion Survey, advanced the Entrepreneur Resource Hub, and convened the Small Business Strong Roundtable with City leaders.

  • Entrepreneurship

    We continued building a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem through the Entrepreneurship Council and ATX Entrepreneurs Collective. Programming has included conversations on workplace well-being, leveraging technology for business growth, and strategies for scaling operations, with additional educational opportunities planned throughout the year.

  • Public Safety

    We’ve advanced conversations on Austin's most pressing local issues by hosting a public safety event with Police Chief Lisa Davis and engaging the city manager and his executive leadership team at our Chairman's Circle Luncheon.

  • Workforce Development

    We’ve hosted discussions on key workforce development initiatives, including the development of a Central Texas College Promise program, aligning education and credential pathways with regional workforce needs, and advancing career mobility through stronger coordination between education, workforce, and industry partners.

  • Nonprofit Collaboration

    We’ve continued to strengthen our collaboration with the nonprofit community through partnerships with AFP and the CEC Council. Most recently, we hosted a nonprofit roundtable that brought together nonprofit leaders and business executives to discuss emerging community needs and explore how the Chamber can better support and partner with the nonprofit sector.

Check out the full 2026 Mid-Year Report to see the impact and momentum shaping what’s next.