AUSTIN COUNCIL APPROVES $50,000 TO IBIZ DISTRICTS

by Clay Dafoe
August 25, 2013

The Austin City Council last week approved a resolution that authorizes the spending of $50,000 for managing the Austin Independent Business Alliance's IBIZ districts. The IBIZ districts are a group of eight districts composed of over 400 local business located in areas like Burnet Road, West Lynn Street, North Loop Boulevard and South First Street. The districts were created in 2004 without city funding but since 2008 have received funding through the City of Austin's Small Business Development Program.

After the 2012-2013 contract was cancelled earlier this year, the City of Austin has vied for greater control of the districts. The new agreement includes new conditions including the requirement that the City of Austin Small Business Development Program approve marketing materials prior to distribtution, that they be given a guided tour and introductions to businesses involved and be given email contact information for all business owners, and that a Raney Street district be created.

What began as an indepedent business venture created to support local business has now become an organization controlled by central planning. The measly $50,000 over nine months granted to IBIZ districts pales in contrast to the over $10,000,000.00 in giveaways doled out to major corporations in the past year. Simply by following the money, it becomes apparent which businesses are the true priority of the City of Austin municipal corporation.

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2013/08/23/city-council-to-refund-ibiz-districts.html

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2013/08/20/city-council-may-renew-local-business.html

http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2013-08-23/then-theres-this-even-more-reason-to-buy-local/