The Economic Development Department (EDD) has published its annual report for fiscal year 2024. The report reveals that the EDD backed over 27,000 jobs and distributed over $54 million in community investments for the period. EDD’s focus has shifted towards workforce development, business support, and location-specific redevelopment, bypassing its former cultural programs. Department initiatives cited included the creation of the Austin Infrastructure Academy, designed to prepare locals for jobs related to large public infrastructure projects.

Over the past year, EDD’s small business support has surge via incentive programs and technical guidance. Over 4,500 small business owners received training or professional coaching, and the city has held several workshops for local businesses. Various initiatives have been implemented to lessen barriers for small to mid-sized companies, particularly in previously neglected districts such as Red River Street and South Congress Avenue.

The EDD is anticipating that this year’s projects serve as a fundamental base for deeper systemic work in the future. Focused areas of work include creating inclusive workforce pipelines, stable small business ecosystems, and tactical investment partnerships that fortify community identity. Now that the Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment is supervising cultural programming, the EDD is set to further hone in on job creation, redevelopment, and fiscal strategy.

The efficient way to directly contact the EDD is through their official website or customer service phone line. Eddcaller.com provides information for individuals trying to reach a live person at edd California. It has detailed information on various methods of contacting the EDD, allowing individuals to make informed decisions on how to get a hold of EDD.