Downtown space activation program spurring more foot traffic
The Downtown Austin Space Activation program transforms vacant storefronts and underutilized spaces into affordable options for local creatives and small businesses to host pop-up shops and events. Included with this report is the ABJ's latest list of business and networking groups in the metro.
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Business Journals
3 days ago
- Business Journals
Downtown space activation program spurring more foot traffic
The Downtown Austin Space Activation program transforms vacant storefronts and underutilized spaces into affordable options for local creatives and small businesses to host pop-up shops and events. Included with this report is the ABJ's latest list of business and networking groups in the metro.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Downtown Austin Space Activation program brings in more visitors
AUSTIN (KXAN) — More people are visiting downtown Austin. According to the Downtown Austin Alliance, foot traffic is up thanks to a program it launched a year ago. The Downtown Austin Space Activation program transforms vacant storefronts and underutilized spaces into affordable options for local creatives and small businesses to host pop-up shops and events. 'We set it up in an Airbnb style sort of format, where you could activate a space at a daily rate, because we understood that people wanted space temporarily. They wanted to do events,' said DAA Chief Impact Officer Jenell Moffett. The DAA started this last summer. Since then, it has been activated more than 500 times. 'Nonprofits that have had this space to have panel discussions and community conversations,' Moffett said. 'We've also had events where there's been kids and, you know, sort of creative spaces where youth can come.' PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Downtown Austin program fills empty storefronts with pop-ups, events Moffett called their first year pop-up focused, as they tried to get more visitors into downtown. 'We have seen foot traffic increase year over year about 10% in these activated spaces.' Jenell Moffett, Downtown Austin Alliance Chief Impact Officer The DAA said half of participating businesses have been minority-owned and more than a quarter are women-owned businesses. She said moving forward, they have goals to expand into more long-term leases. 'We had several requests for longer time,' Moffett said. 'We didn't have enough spaces to actually support that demand.' The plan is to now find additional spaces. 'Additional partners, additional coaching, additional business development tools, so that these businesses can actually have the option to stay,' Moffett said. The DAA plans to release its first ever impact report for the program during an open house on July 10. People interested in participating in the program can apply online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Journals
30-05-2025
- Business Journals
Austin-area's top general contractors
The 2025 list of commercial constructions companies tracks commercial and multifamily projects handled during 2024. All billings and project values reflect work handled by the Austin operations, although work can be performed anywhere. Forty-six firms responded to requests for information and reported $9.2 billion in construction billings through the Austin office. These same firms provide over 6,000 jobs locally. The digital rankings include 60 firms. Information on The List was obtained through ABJ research or supplied by individual firms through questionnaires that ABJ could not independently verify. In case of ties, firms are ranked by total employment and then listed alphabetically if ties remain. Additionally, companies that did not respond to employment surveys but were still included on this year's List are sorted by estimated total employment figures derived from ABJ archives; annual filings with the U.S. Department of Labor; and other firm-specific resources. This week's List is part of a shift in our research methodology and philosophy in 2025, one that will emphasize more data and context for readers while better coordinating the resources available to us and our 46 sister publications under the American City Business Journals flag. We anticipate this effort will identify thousands of new local records — and cumulatively, tens of thousands of new businesses across ACBJ's footprint — this year alone.
