The Business Expansion Program is an employment growth program aimed at identifying and qualifying high-impact projects for local, domestic or international businesses seeking to grow or relocate to Austin and bolster their workforce. The BEP is a pay-for-performance program that pays out annually to approved projects that meet annual compliance. Learn more about the program below:
If interested in seeking assistance through the program, submit an Incentive Inquiry Form.
Program Categories:
The Business Expansion Program provides incentive opportunities in the following categories:
Category 1: Local Small Business Growth
The Local Small Business Growth category seeks to connect employment and quality working environments to local small businesses with expansion opportunities.
Eligibilities:
- For Businesses with 100 employees or less.
- Business must be operational in the City of Austin for the past 12 months OR has been displaced out Austin within the past 24 months.
- Business will increase the full-time employment count by 10% with a minimum creation of one (1) full-time job.
- For Businesses that do not meet the Living Wage Requirement, the business may request a deferment period (Additional details in guidelines).
Category 2: Large Business Expansion and Relocation
The Large Business Expansion and Relocation category seeks to provide strategic interventions and investments that attract employers relocating to and/or expanding within the local market to grow and hire in Austin.
Eligibilities:
- For Businesses with greater than 100 employees.
- Business will increase the businesses full-time employment count by 10%.
- Business will invest a minimum of $2.0 million in real and/or personal property improvements.
- Business must demonstrate business growth and stability.
Category 3: Apprenticeship Utilization
The Apprenticeship Utilization category seeks to provide pathways for workforce development opportunities that focus on maximize meaningful employment opportunities for members of the City’s labor force.
Eligibilities:
- Business commits to one or more Apprenticeships
- Individuals must be an Austin resident.
Targeted Hiring Inducement Bonus
The Targeted Hiring Inducement Bonus provides an additional incentive for providing workforce development opportunities to members of the City’s Targeted Hiring population.
Eligibilities:
- Business commits that at least 25% of New full-time jobs created meets criteria for members of Targeted Hiring Population.
- Individual must be an Austin resident.
For a full list of minimum requirements/eligibilities for all categories, please see the Business Expansion Program Guidelines.
Awards Offered
Category 1 and Category 2
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Jobs-Based Award |
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Investment-Based Award (Property Tax Reimbursement) |
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Category 3
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Jobs-Based Award |
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Bonus: Targeted Hiring Inducement
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Bonus Award |
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Program Resources
- Business Expansion Program - Scoring Rubric *COMING SOON*
- Business Expansion Program – Small Business Administration Guidelines
- Non-Discrimination and Non-Retaliation Certificate Template
- Contract Contingency Language Template
- City of Austin Living Wage
- Imagine Austin – Growth Concept Map
- Carbon Impact Statement
- City of Austin – Small and Minority Business Resources Department
- Transportation and Public Works Department – Employer Transportation Strategies
- United States Department of Labor – OSHA Training
- Texas Department of Insurance – Worker’s Compensation Insurance Guide
- Early Matters Greater Austin – Family-Friendly Workplace Toolkit
- Human Rights Campaign – Corporate Equality Index