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One of the best ways to make Austin more affordable is to ensure we have a diverse set of industries which provide local, skilled and the hard-to-employ talent the opportunity to compete for jobs that have a career ladder. The Austin City Council is considering adopting a revised economic incentive policy, expanding the previous one-size-fits-all policy. If the Austin Chamber of Commerce presents a company that meets the criteria for an incentive as set by City Council policy, will you vote to support incentivizing jobs for both small operators and large in our city? How will you monitor success with the provision requiring employment of the hard-to-employ?

Vincent Harding

City Council, District 1

I support focusing incentive packages on local businesses and small businesses. I also think with the level of poverty and inequity in Central Texas we cannot close the door on other opportunities. I want to find ways to help people move out of poverty and provide economic advancement opportunities for people at all income levels. I monitor success by the percentage of jobs we are providing to “hard to employ” individuals by comparing it to the percentage of similar jobs that did not receive an incentive. I also monitor success based on the details in an incentive package and whether metrics are being achieved.

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