Southwest Austin - Dripping Springs Edition | November 2023

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Southwest Austin Dripping Springs Edition VOLUME 16, ISSUE 8 NOV. 28DEC. 20, 2023

Startups use Austin Community College’s Bioscience Incubator for various projects.

COURTESY AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Austin sees boom in biological, health industries

metros across the state and country, the rapid pace of growth in recent years represents the area’s next frontier, according to local experts.

The regenerative medicine company is just one of the many life science companies calling Austin home. While the biological science and health care industries are smaller in Austin compared to other

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & GRACE DICKENS

Research and innovation being done by South Austin-based Celling Biosciences is researching ways people can avoid joint replacement and other invasive orthopedic surgeries.

CONTINUED ON 24

Also in this issue

Impacts: Padel Club to bring new entertainment option (Page 6)

Government: Council takes action on child care costs (Page 11)

Election: Travis County voters pass $509.5M bond (Page 16)

Dining: Trattoria Lisina highlights Italian food (Page 28)

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Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity. About Community Impact

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Impacts

4 Stouthaus Coffee Roasters The Austin-based roasting company added a coffee trailer at Thicket Food Park. The food trailer sells espresso and cold brew beverages, chai tea and matcha. Stouthaus Coffee Roasters also offers a selection of pastries from Texas French Bread. • Opened Sept. 7 • 7800 S. First St., Austin • www.stouthauscoffee.com

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5 Cupprimo The Austin-based cupcake shop is opening a second location in Austin; however, the location is under construction and there is no opening date set. In addition to cupcakes, Cupprimo also sells regular, gluten-free and vegan cakes with custom decorating. • Opening date TBD • 4404 N. W. William Cannon Drive, Austin • www.cupprimo.com 6 Nothing Bundt Cakes Nothing Bundt Cakes, which sells bundt cakes in a selection of flavors, will open a second South Austin location. • Opening in December • 5400 Brodie Lane, Ste. 220, Austin • www.nothingbundtcakes.com 7 Victoria’s Secret The franchise is adding another Austin location at the Southpark Meadows shopping center. The shop sells lingerie, underwear, bras, sleepwear, bags and fragrances.

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evidence-based therapy and psychological assessment services for children, teens and adults, although she specializes in children and teens. Clark said she also offers parent coaching. Bluestem Psychological Services PLLC is an out-of-network provider and utilizes Superbill for insurance reimbursements. • Opened Oct. 16 • 8700 Menchaca Road, Ste. 502, Austin • www.bluestempsych.com 3 CJ’s Tacos The food truck opened a second truck at Thicket Food Park. CJ’s Tacos sells tortas and a variety of tacos, including chicken, queso birria, al pastor and chorizo. • Opened Aug. 15 • 7800 S. First St., Austin • Instagram: cjs_tacos

Now open

1 The Local This is the first restaurant owned by local husband- and-wife duo Nate and Tiff Wales. The restaurant offers scratch-made biscuits, classic American sandwiches, burgers and more. The Local also serves cocktails and has a full wine bar. • Opened Oct. 24 • 9901 Brodie Lane, Ste. 120, Austin • www.thelocalatx.com 2 Bluestem Psychological Services PLLC Local Julia Clark is the founder of Bluestem Psychological Services PLLC. As a licensed psychologist, Clark offers

• Opening in early 2024 • 9600 I-35 S., Austin • www.victoriassecret.com

8 Sabi Brows & Beauty The salon will offer an array of beauty services, including eyelash extensions, threading, waxing and eyebrow microblading. • Opening TBD • 3601 W. William Cannon Drive, Ste. 200, Austin

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Relocation

Now open

Coming soon

9 Living in Stereo The record and mid-century modern furniture shop has relocated and reopened in South Austin. The shop is owned by Austin natives Robert and Enzo Johnson. Living in Stereo, which was previously located at 4361 S. Congress Ave. and opened in September 2021, sells vintage stereos, vinyl records, coffee, mid-century modern furniture and

12 Graze Craze The shop offers a variety of grazing boards and boxes with fresh fruits and vegetables as well as premium meats and cheeses. There are also several different size options, which can be available for pickup, catering and delivery. The shop is owned by Eniola Akintayo. • Opened Sept. 18 • 6705 W. Hwy. 290, Ste. 609, Austin • www.grazecraze.com/austin-tx-oak-hill celebrated its 15th anniversary this November at Oak Hill Plaza. Tucci’s Southside Subs is locally owned by David Tucci and sells East Coast Italian hoagies and Philly cheesesteaks. • 7101 Hwy. 71, Ste. A5, Austin • www.tuccisubs.com 13 Zion Rest Missionary Baptist Church The church will celebrate its 120th anniversary in November. • 3326 Paisano Trail, Austin • www.zionrestmbc.org 14 512 Brewing Co. The brewery celebrated its 15-year anniversary Nov. 4. 512 Brewing Co. is locally owned by Kevin Brand and

15 Padel Club Austin This will be a nine-court pop-up outdoor sports complex offering padel—a combination of tennis and squash. The complex will have nine outdoor courts, a food truck, concession bar, pro shop and office space. • Opening in December • 505-511 Industrial Blvd., Austin • Instagram: padelclubaustin

collectible artwork. • Relocated Oct. 17 • 4825 Weidemar Lane, Ste. 600, Austin • www.livinginstereoatx.com

offers a selection of brews, including its Pecan Porter, 512 IPA, 512 Wit, Local Crush and Juicy IPA. The brewery

Relocation

also sells seasonal beers. • 407 Radam Lane, Austin • www.512brewing.com

10 Austin Custom Winery The South location is closing and moving to a new location in Lockhart. The winery sells a variety of red and white Austin wines and hosts wine tastings. • Slated to close Nov. 25 • 5207 Brodie Lane, Ste. 130, Sunset Valley • www.austincustomwinery.com

16 District Kitchen + Cocktails The original restaurant celebrated its 10-year anniversary Oct. 24. It is locally owned by brothers Amir and Ali Hajimaleki and offers a variety of brunch, lunch and dinner entrees. District also has an extensive wine and classic cocktail list. • 5900 Slaughter Lane, Ste. D-500, Austin • www.districtaustin.com

In the news

11 Tucci’s Southside Subs The sandwich shop, which first opened in 2008,

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Impacts

BY ELLE BENT

Coming soon

3 7 Brew Coffee Drive-thru coffee chain 7 Brew will open a Dripping Springs location in 2024. • Opening 2024 • 11801 Hwy. 290, Austin • www.7brew.com

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In the news

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4 Well Yeah Cakes Well Yeah Cakes celebrated its 10-year anniversary Nov. 2. The bakery offers cakes, cookies, cake balls and cupcakes. • 28109 Ranch Road 12, Dripping Springs • www.facebook.com/wellyeahcakes 5 Crystal Springs Custom Pools Crystal Springs Custom Pools celebrated its new showroom with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 15. The business offers custom pools and works on every stage of construction, beginning with design. Crystal Springs has been serving the area since 2015. • Showroom opened Nov. 15

online business in 2016 for her candles. The store offers candle making workshops and other crafts. • Opened Oct. 14 • 31560 Ranch Rd 12 Unit 205, Dripping Springs • www.theshabbywick.com Hill Country Dreamers The sleepover rental service from local Sarah Hail lets caregivers rent themed items including teepees, inflatable mattresses, bedding, breakfast trays and

Now open

1 Lone Star Market The convenience store, located at Shell gas station, offers snacks and meals, such as burgers, sandwiches and tacos. • Opened Oct. 27

• 13542 W. Hwy. 290, Austin • www.lonestarmarket.com

decorative items. • Opened Oct. 8 • www.hillcountrydreamers.com

2 The Shabby Wick The Shabby Wick offers artisan gifts, jewelry, candles and bouquets from a variety of small business owners and artists. Owner Nikki Lourens began the store as an

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Government

Austin leaders stress airport safety

Single-family zoning changes draw debate A proposal to allow more housing units on single-family property continues to draw strong opinions ahead of a final City Council vote in December. What happened The first-ever joint council and Planning Commission hearing Oct. 26 drew hundreds of Austinites to weigh in on the land-use concept. Supporters outnumbered opponents about two-to-one and said the “Home Options for Middle-income Empowerment,” or HOME, initiative will help address rising local housing costs and make more housing accessible. Opponents largely pushed back against what they viewed as an overly sweeping pol- icy and changing neighborhood character.

Airport hazards Local and federal officials are raising the alarm about safety at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport after several recent incidents. November 2022: Aircraft near-miss February 2023 : Aircraft near-miss April 2023: Airline employee killed; aircraft near- miss June 2023: Aircraft near-miss September 2023: Aircraft near-miss November 2023: City airport employee killed

As passenger activity continues to surge, Austin City Council urged the Federal Aviation Admin- istration to improve safety at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in the wake of multiple aircraft near-misses and employee fatalities. Two-minute impact Council unanimously passed a resolution Nov. 9 asking the airport to provide a new plane navi- gation system, and for the airport to notify city officials when critical incidents or emergencies take place. The resolution also affirmed the city’s support for federal aviation safety legislation, echoing similar calls from U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett. Doggett urged the FAA to address Austin’s low air traffic controller staffing in an Oct. 16 letter, citing it as a safety issue for the airport. “With multiple near-collisions this year endan- gering passenger lives, ABIA’s air traffic controllers

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

are clearly overworked and understaffed,” Doggett said in a statement. Diving in deeper ABIA now has 35 fully certified controllers with an additional eight in training. The tower is authorized to staff 42 controllers, while a 2023 FAA plan set Austin’s tower staffing target at 51.

Convention center expansion project advancing The Austin Convention Center’s expansion is advancing ahead of the downtown facility’s multiyear closure and redevelopment. What happened The new building’s current rentable space will nearly double to more than 720,000 square feet. Other proposals tied to the project include: • Reopening Second and Third streets

Austin Convention Center

• Adding new outdoor and community spaces • Integrating the complex with future light rail • Developing an adjacent high-rise through a potential public-private partnership

On Oct. 19, City Council voted to contract with JE Dunn and Turner for $1.2 billion in construction services, and LMN and Page for $65 million for design and engineering on the project.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY ELLE BENT, KATY MCAFEE & BEN THOMPSON

Council takes steps on child care access City Council took action this fall in an attempt to improve local child care access. What happened In October, officials updated local develop- ment rules to streamline child care centers’ creation across the city. Council voted in November to unlock property tax breaks for child care providers starting next year following Texans’ approval of the statewide Proposition 2.

Tesla lays out Central Texas investments Tesla reported Oct. 17 on its investments made in line with local deals that helped the carmaker establish its Central Texas footprint. The breakdown Tesla previously said its 4-million-square-foot manufacturing hub, Giga Texas, would bring thousands of jobs to Travis County, boost the local economy and support Del Valle ISD. Tesla told county officials it’s now meeting those goals. Tesla also promised the factory would bring 5,000 jobs with at least 50% going to locals. Giga Texas now has over 15,000 employees, just over half of whom are county residents, company representatives said. Tesla must also invest some of its taxes in Cen- tral Texas education and employment programs. The company said it will spend more than double its requirement of $298,000 this year.

Paid $15 million in taxes to Travis County and over $49 million to Del Valle ISD since 2020 Supported $2.1 billion in total local sales activity related to Giga Texas construction in 2022 Progress report Tesla says it is meeting local commitments made related to its headquarters in Central Texas

Spent $750,000 on local education and employment programs in 2023

SOURCES: TESLA, TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

West of Giga Texas, Tesla is now ramping up a 120-acre ecological restoration project near the Colorado River. Quote of note “I know there’s lots of chatter in the community about [Elon] Musk and Tesla and all that,” Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea said. “What you’ve created here is remarkable, and for the critics, I think you just stand on what you’ve accomplished and what you’ve created.”

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In-person events: Nov 16, Dec 5 & 6 Virtual event: Dec 13

If you live, work, or play in Austin, the Austin Transit Partnership wants to see the city from your perspective. Show us how you move, whether you use the bus or train, walk, scoot, or roll, and what you love about your neighborhood. Maybe it’s your favorite park, school, library, restaurant, or shop. Your perspective will shape mobility and neighborhood improvements across the city.

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Translation is available in English & Spanish for all events. For translations in other languages, contact us by email at input@atptx.org or phone at 512-389-7590.

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Transportation

BY ELLE BENT

Self-driving car company Cruise pauses operations General Motors’ Cruise announced late Oct. 26 that all operations of autonomous vehicles, or self-driving cars, will be paused nationally until further notice. The company stated that the decision was not related to any new incidents on the road. The decision comes after the California Department of Motor Vehicles suspended Cruise’s deployment and driverless testing permits Oct. 24. In Austin, more than 50 complaints have been made to the city about Cruise cars as of Oct. 23. On Sept. 17, at San Gabriel and 23rd Streets near The University of Texas campus, a line of Cruise cars stopped trac after detecting many

Self-driving car complaints Prior to Cruise pausing the project, the city was tracking issues with the cars.

Near miss: 20 Blocking trac: 12 Safety concern: 9 Collision: 6 Ignored police direction: 3 Nuisance: 3

53 Total complaints

Cruise was testing self-driving cars without a human backup driver in the UT area earlier this year.

ELLE BENTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Paige Ellis said on Oct. 27. Since launching in Austin in September 2022, city leaders have been unable to regulate the vehicles due to state law. In 2017, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2205, which amended the Texas Transporta- tion Code with policies governing autonomous vehicles. In addition, SB 2205 placed oversight in the state’s hands, rather than local municipalities. “We should not be treated like guinea pigs,” Ellis said Oct. 27.

pedestrians leaving a football game, said Cruise General Manager Michael Staples at a Downtown Commission meeting on Oct. 18. Diving in Since July, the complaints include near misses, collisions and concerns about nuisance and safety, according to the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department. “Thankfully, there haven’t been injuries related to driverless cars in our city, but they’ve caused their fair share of frustrations,” Mayor Pro Tem

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Education

BY HANNAH NORTON & JAMES T. NORMAN

TEA temporarily blocked from issuing new A-F accountability ratings

What changed?

School district officials have expressed concerns about several changes to the A-F system. The following information was shared by the Texas Education Agency.

Based on performance from the 2021-22 school year, about 15% of Texas schools would receive lower A-F ratings under the new system.

temporary injunction Oct. 26 to prevent the agency from assigning or adjusting the ratings. The TEA said it would immediately appeal the injunction. If the agency appeals, the injunction would stand until a final determination is made, according to court documents. Kingsville ISD Superintendent Cissy Reynolds- Perez said districts would lose revenue if their accountability ratings drop, as some parents would send their children to other schools. “This ruling completely disregards the laws of this state and, for the foreseeable future, prevents any A-F performance information from being issued to help millions of parents and educators improve the lives of our students,” TEA spokesperson Jake Kobersky said.

A district court temporarily blocked the Texas Education Agency from issuing its new accountability ratings for public schools, siding on Oct. 26 with over 100 school districts who sued the agency calling the ratings “unlawful.” Some schools said updates to the TEA’s A-F accountability system would substantially lower performance ratings despite indications that performance has improved. A few weeks after the case—Kingsville ISD, et. al., v. Morath—was filed in August, the TEA announced Sept. 12 it was delaying the release of the new ratings, which would be based on performance and test scores for the 2022-23 school year. District Judge Catherine Mauzy issued a

Meanwhile, 14% of schools would receive higher ratings and 71% would not change.

7% of elementary schools, 6% of middle schools and 47% of high schools would receive lower ratings.

Kingsville ISD Superintendent Cissy Reynolds-Perez said many districts' overall ratings would drop by one or more letter grades due to the changes, even if their performance improves. If a district or one of its campuses receives a failing grade for five consecutive years, the state can intervene.

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

The A-F accountability system was established by the 2017 Texas Legislature. Ratings are based on a variety of factors, including:

The framework TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said the agency updated its A-F system to:

What’s next?

Account for students on alternate paths, including those who previously dropped out Increase focus on the “lowest- performing,” or most at-risk, students Align the STAAR test with classroom instruction Better reflect student achievement coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic

The annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness

“We look forward to future conversations with [TEA

Commissioner] Mike Morath about how to implement the assessment and accountability system in a manner that is fair and transparent for all school districts in the state of Texas,” the Texas Association of School Administrators said in a statement. The trial on the case will take place at 9 a.m. Feb. 12.

Academic growth

High school graduation rates

Student preparedness for college, a career or the military

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY ELLE BENT

Dripping Springs ISD ups pay for support sta Some Dripping Springs ISD employees will see a change in their compensation eective Nov. 14. The gist Trustees approved three changes to the com- pensation plan during a board meeting Nov. 13 as well as a one-time retention incentive. The changes made to the plan are: • Increase of $3 to the hourly pay of special education instructional aides • Increase of $3 to the hourly pay of bus monitors, raising minimum hourly pay from $16 to $19 • A stipend of one-eighth of the base salary for teachers who have taken on additional classes for coverage amid vacancies In an eort to retain sta, the board approved a one-time lump sum payment of $1,000 to all current, full-time regular employees and $500

Austin ISD resumes superintendent search The superintendent position will be posted on the district's website from Nov. 17 until 5 p.m. Dec. 7. The board of trustees will review the applications Dec. 7 during a board meeting. The board of trustees chose not to take the route of a national search after receiving public input, and instead decided to post the position immediately. Interim Superinten- dent Matias Segura is eligible to apply. The decision to extend Segura's contract in March for another year paused the $42,000 process of nding a permanent replacement that began in May 2022. Former Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde left the district in June 2022 for a position at Dallas ISD.

“We’ve always said that we want a life-changer in every position. I know that we have them

in the positions that we have, and I hope we can keep them.” MARY JANE HETRICK, TRUSTEE

for part-time regular employees and long-term substitutes. The background In June, the board approved the 2023-24 budget with 61% for payroll, totaling a $122.8 million general fund budget for the scal year. This budget included a 3% salary increase for all sta, a 33% increase in hourly wage for bus drivers and a $1 increase for bus monitors. Bus monitors, who assist and supervise students while on the bus, are facing a 40% vacancy rate.

Austin ISD launches new enrollment system A new enrollment system for families register- ing for the new school year or looking to attend Austin ISD is now available ahead of the 2024-25 school year. The gist

Dates to remember

Nov. 8: Priority registration application opens Feb. 6: Priority registration application closes March 5: Decisions from Priority registration released to families March 26: Annual Forms must be completed for students that received a seat conrmation during Priority registration. April 2: General registration opens

registration, transfer requests and prekindergar- ten applications. In addition, families will be able to rank up to seven programs or campuses if considering more than one option for enrollment. In March, the system will assign students to the highest ranked school based on capacity and eligibility. For more information, visit www.austinisd.org/ enroll.

In an email sent to families Nov. 2, the new sys- tem, referred to as “Enroll Austin,” will combine all applications into one system, including online

AUSTIN ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Election

BY KATY MCAFEE

Travis County propositions pass with widespread support

Travis County’s $509 million bond package aimed at improving roads and parks passed with broad support during the November election. The average Travis County homeowner will pay an additional $4.78 in taxes per month as a result of the bonds. “I think Travis County voters understand the pressure we’re under with the rapid growth and we want to do the right thing,” Travis County Com- missioner Ann Howard said. “We want to build smart infrastructure that helps people be safe and healthy, and enjoy the best we have to offer.” The details Proposition A funds $233.06 million to improve and construct a slew of roads throughout the county. Every project includes adding shared-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists. The bond funds will allow the county to incor- porate its Safe2 road design on several two-lane county roads without shoulders.

Proposition B totals $276.44 million and will add new trails along Onion Creek and Gilleland Creek, and build new sports fields at Bee Creek Sports Complex and Southeast Metro Park. The biggest chunk of the proposition—$200 million—will go toward acquiring green space and securing conser- vation easements in the following areas: • Cow Creek • Gilleland Creek

For Against Parks and road funds pass

75.78%

Proposition A Parks

• Lake Travis • Onion Creek • Pedernales River • Post Oak Savannah Springs • Wilbarger Creek

77.11%

“We’re gonna see in [December] movement to acquire some pretty significant tracts of land as a result of this bond passing ... they’re going to move on quickly,” Commissioner Brigid Shea said.

Proposition B Roads

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Real estate

Number of homes sold

October 2022

October 2023

Residential market data

34 40

19 23 42 55 44 38 30 30

+17.65%

+21.05%

78620

78739

Year-over-year median home prices and sales were mixed across the eight ZIP codes in Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs, according to data from the Austin Board of Realtors.

13 10

-23.1%

+30.95%

78735

78745

8 4

-50%

-13.64%

78736

78748

360

MOPAC

18 19

+5.56%

78737

78749

290

Median home sales price

2022

2023

2022

2023

78620

78739

+14.72%

-1.77%

$671,500

$820,000

$585,350

$834,775

78736 78737 78748 78749

78620 78735

78739

78745

78735

78745

+39.4%

+2.11%

$1,289,408

$509,000

$925,000

$498,500

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS 512-454-7636 WWW.ABOR.COM

78736

78748

-6.34%

-1.99%

$547,450

$456,250

$584,500

$465,500

78737

78749

-0.31%

-10.69%

$800,000

$585,000

$802,500

$655,000

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Government

BY BEN THOMPSON

The Harvest Trauma Recovery Center, a resource oce for those aected by violent crime in Austin and Travis County, opened in East Austin on Nov. 1. It’s the rst center of its kind in Texas. The city- and county-funded trauma recovery center, or TRC, is based on a national service model. The community resource run by nonprot African American Youth Harvest Foundation oers mental health treatment and community interventions. The big picture The new trauma recovery center’s startup is supported by $1 million from Travis County and $1 million from Austin for its rst two years of work. More than 50 TRCs exist in other states, and local ocials and advocates said they’d been working for years to bring one to Texas. “This is a one-stop shop that’s going to make Trauma recovery center opens

Elected city and county ocials joined the African American Youth Harvest team and other community representatives to mark the Harvest TRC's launch Nov. 1. (Ben Thompson/Community Impact)

a huge dierence. It’s evidence-based, it’s trau- ma-informed, it’s what Austinites need, and it’s what Austinites deserve,” Council Member Vanessa

stress, grief and witnessing violent incidents. Anyone seeking help at a TRC will nd access to mental health treatment and other recovery services, such as relocation assistance or help navigating the justice system, at no cost. “Trauma is an umbrella for a myriad of issues,” Kelly said. “We want to let them know that these services are here, they’re accessible, and we want them to take full and complete advantage of them.”

Fuentes said. The overview

Calvin Kelly, chief clinical ocer for the Austin program, said the new center will assist those aected by domestic violence, post-traumatic

SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION

Austin sees boom in biological, health industries From the cover

Two-minute impact

State of the industry As of July 2023, Austin’s life sciences industry includes:

compared to other life science-heavy economies, such as Denver, Houston and Boston. Despite this, Austin only has 5,800 hospital beds compared to Houston’s 21,000 beds and 1.6 million square feet of lab space compared to Boston’s 52.7 million square feet, according to a July 2023 report from Austin Next and Austin Medtech Connect. “Imagine what we could be doing if we had more people working in the industry, if we had more beds, more clinicians, more lab space,” Scharf said. “I think one of the biggest gaps is that we don’t quite have the physical infrastructure.”

The establishment of the Dell Medical School in 2013 marked the beginning of a “new life science era” in Austin, said Stacy Schmitt, senior vice president of communications and external affairs for economic initiative Opportunity Austin. According to the initiative, the region has over 260 life science companies, from pharmaceuticals and medical devices to information technology and research organizations. Jason Scharf, an investor providing capital to life science startups and founder of health and tech podcast Austin Next, said Austin “generally punches above its weight” in the industry

Over 18,000 employees

Over 260 companies

74% employment growth since 2019 Nearly

1.6M square feet of lab space

SOURCES: AUSTIN MEDTECH CONNECT, AUSTIN NEXT, NEWMARK/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Austin's employment breakdown

In a nutshell

How we got here

10% Entertainment

Life sciences is an umbrella term used to describe many biological sciences, from the study of lab specimens to the treatment of patients, according to the Austin Next and Austin Medtech report. Some products of the industry include medical devices, such as cochlear implants, and the development of cures for different cancers. On the local scale, health and education services make up about 11% of the greater Austin economy, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry is one more opportunity for Austin to continue diversifying its economic portfolio to withstand economic hardships, said Bryce Bencivengo, director of public relations and media for the Austin Chamber of Commerce. While bigger names downtown such as Dell Medical School and the future University of Texas at Austin Medical Center—which will add a hospi- tal and an MD Anderson Cancer Center—are at the forefront, the South Austin market in particular is home to dozens of life science companies like Celling Biosciences, according to Opportunity Austin. Sydney Pruitt, ACC Senior Media Relations Coor- dinator, said that the market has the advantage of having access to better engineers, sales represen- tatives and office staff, along with more markets to play into and hospitals and clinics to plan. “It’s good to know that a company like us is in your backyard,” Pruitt said. “I don’t see us leaving anytime soon … It just kind of goes to show that you’re not limited by where you practice; invest- ments in Austin and Texas in general are welcome and can work out for you one way or another.”

There are several indicators that point to whether an area is a good option to pursue life sciences, said Matt Schwab, managing direc- tor of Karlin Real Estate. Among those, Austin stands out in the relatively young age of the average working individual at 35.8 as well as its large supply of educational institutions. The abundance of local higher education facilities pave the way for a reliable workforce for life science companies, Schwab said.

11.5% Community services and education

11.6% Life sciences and health care

19.1% Office, business and financial operations

Local schools

19.8% Management and sales operations

Between UT, Austin Community College and the other area higher education facilities, there are:

28% Manufacturing, construction and farm-related jobs

About 8,800 science, technology, engineering and math graduates annually About 4,700 health care graduates annually

SOURCES: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, AUSTIN MEDTECH CONNECT, AUSTINNEXT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCES: AUSTIN MEDTECH CONNECT, AUSTIN NEXT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Area life science job options

Annual average wage

“Because of the growing ecosystem that we have with the educational institutions and the technology that’s already here, a lot of these tech companies [and] venture capital firms are very interested and want to invest in Austin startup companies that are here.” STACY SCHMITT, OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS & EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers

$81,980

Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians

$56,900

$86,720

Registered nurses

Health care diagnosis or treating practitioners

$113,530

SOURCE: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & GRACE DICKENS

The bigger picture

Innovation district

183

Dell Seton Medical Center

While Austin shows key indicators for the success of a life sciences industry, available lab space remains an issue, Schwab said. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, the largest lab space developer and investor in the nation, has also acquired two properties in the Central Austin area in recent years. One is 198,972 square feet and the other almost 2 million square feet, although the exact purpose for those facilities has not been confirmed, according to a company report. Scharf said the last five years in particular have brought a life science explosion to Austin, thanks to the convergence of science and technology. “A lot of the innovation is going to start coming, and I think that Austin—with this kind of thriving tech sector and thriving health care sector, and the convergence of the two—is really primed well for that,” Scharf said.

J.J. Pickle Research Campus

360

North Austin

MOPAC

The influx of life science companies began after Dell Medical School opened in 2013 in Austin’s Innovation District. On Nov. 9, Austin City Council voted to create a research and sciences mixed-use subdistrict near the University of Texas’s J.J. Pickle Research Campus to pave the way for more science labs.

• Hanger Clinic : prosthetics and orthotic care • Smith & Nephew : devices to repair and regenerate soft and hard tissue • Spinesmith Partners : creates devices to treat spinal injuries • Syneos Health: research services for pharma and biotech companies • Tekton Research : clinical trials for pharma and device companies • WuXi Clinical: research studies for pharma, bio and device companies

A number of pharmaceutical/ biotech and medical device companies have set up shop in South Austin, including:

SOURCE: OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Needs for industry growth For the industry to continue to grow, the report from AustinNext and Austin Medtech Connect said the following must be prioritized:

Looking ahead

“There’s very high growth, but it’s in its [beginning] stages of growing, which is why we’re so excited about it,” Schwab said. “We see no reason why there won’t be more and bigger companies coming our way, if the infrastructure and real estate projects are there for these tenants to come.”

Compared to major research hubs across the country, from the top-performing Research Triangle Park in North Carolina to Texas’ own largest industry in Houston, Austin has a small life science industry, by all measures, according to the report from Newmark, a national real estate services firm. However, the exponential growth of Austin’s industry in three years proves, despite its size, life science opportunities are high in demand, Schwab said.

More available lab space

Further investment into life sciences industry

Continued supply of skilled workforce

SOURCES: AUSTIN MEDTECH CONNECT, AUSTINNEXT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Events

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

December

Blue Genie Art Bazaar The 23rd annual Blue Genie Art Bazaar will feature nearly 200 regional vendors selling handmade items such as art, jewelry, pottery, clothing and more. • Nov. 17 - Dec. 24, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. (Closed 6 p.m. on Dec. 24) • Free ‘There’s Something About Merry’ The Austin Gay Men’s Chorus will present a winter concert featuring classic holiday songs—both comedic and traditional—as well as songs from various cultures throughout the world. The show Dec. 1 will be interpreted in American Sign Language. • Dec. 1-2, 8 p.m.; Dec. 3, 4 p.m. • $20-$60, free (volunteers) • First Baptist Church of Austin, 901 Trinity St., Austin • www.agmcsings.org • 6100 Airport Boulevard, Austin • www.bluegenieartbazaar.com ’The Nutcracker’ The Long Center is showing its 61st annual production of “The Nutcracker,” which will feature music from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreography by Stephen Mills accompanied with music from the Austin Symphony Orchestra. • Dec. 2-23, times vary • Ticket prices vary • The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin • www.thelongcenter.org/events/61st-nutcracker Plant Swap Vista Brewing will be hosting a plant swap with brunch, beverages and a pop-up shop by Secondhand Scraps. Attendees will need to bring their own plants— houseplants, vegetables, seeds, cuttings, flowers or succulents—to swap with one another, and they are encouraged to label the plant and include care instructions. • Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. • Free

Vintage Market Days This three-day upscale vintage-inspired market will feature original art, home decor, clothing, jewelry, antiques and more. • Dec. 1-3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• $7-$15 • Dripping Springs Ranch Park, 1042 Event Center Drive, Dripping Springs • https://events.humanitix.com/ greater-austin-holiday-event

Western Wonderland Grand Opening There will be an ice rink, a holiday vendor market, community performances and trail of lights. • Dec. 8, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. • Cost TBD • Dripping Springs Ranch Park, 1042 Event Center Drive, Dripping Springs • www.drippingspringsranchpark.com/home/ events/17246 Senderos del desierto II This exhibit will feature art from painter Salvador Rodriguez, who uses his research of the history of ecosystems to highlight Texas deserts. Rodriguez will give an artist talk and there will be a reception in December. The exhibit will be open from Nov. 11-Dec. 16.

• Artist reception, Dec. 6, 7-9 p.m.; artist talk, Dec. 13, 7-9 p.m. • Free • Julia C. Butridge Gallery, 1110 Barton Springs Road, Austin • www.austintexas.gov/department/ julia-c-butridge-gallery Caliterra Hill Country Holiday Bazaar This two-day event will have a variety of arts and crafts by Texas artisans as well as food and music. • Dec. 9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. • Free (admission) • Caliterra Clubhouse, 505 Wynnpage Drive, Dripping Springs • www.austinartistsmarket.com/directory/entry/ caliterra-hill-country-holiday-bazaar

• Vista Brewing, 13551 RM 150, Driftwood • www.destinationdrippingsprings.com

SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION

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