Under The Austin Ether
With a funky vibe and an economic growth spurt that appears to defy all odds, one doesn’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand why Austin has been chosen the number-one, best city to live in by Kiplinger, as reported in a recent article, the Best Cities to Live in 2010.
While most major markets in the U.S. have showed a decline in workers hired over the past five years, Austin has actually added 99,200 jobs from 2004-2009, a %16 increase. It’s no wonder some of the most highly recognized corporations in the country have moved to the area, Facebook, among them, recently announced they’re hiring 200 people. On the heels of Facebook’s announcement, Samsung just announced a $3.6B microchip plant investment.
Other lesser known companies have also fallen under the Austin ether, companies such as OneWorld Leasing, Inc., a commercial equipment finance cooperative, LegalZoom, an online legal document provider and provider of legal document services, intends to add 600 new jobs, Hanger Orthopedic Group, and U.S. Courier have all recently announced an expansion or relocation to the Austin area.
In addition to its thriving software and computer industry, responsible for Austin’s nickname “silicon hills of the southwest,” Austin is also a hotbed of small business owners and entrepreneurs. Venture capitalists, as well as a brainpower trust that includes a network of local business owners, have helped fuel a 6% growth of small businesses in the area from 2009 to 2010.
But Austin isn’t all business either. The city has a thriving nightlife with 200 music venues to choose from, and a day life that reinvigorates the soul with a visit to one of Austin’s many scenic lakes and sprawling parks. The quirky charm of stores, like Lucy in Disguise of Diamonds, a costume store, helps reinforce the “Keep Austin Weird,” slogan and is just one more reason people and businesses alike continue to fall under the Austin Ether.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 at 6:38 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
