Austin budgets $12M for Central Texas higher education partnerships
Austin officials sign off on new collaborative agreements with six Central Texas colleges and universities meant to result in a range of new projects and public research.
City partnerships with area higher education institutions isn't a new concept, and a formal agreement with The University of Texas at Austin has been in place for years. However, city leadership recently decided that official partnerships could improve that work—and further collaboration between colleges and universities.
Following City Council authorization in September, Austin departments could spend up to $12 million on various projects, research, trainings and other initiatives under the agreements now set to go into place.
LaundroLab community event brings free laundry services and local resources to North Austin
Locally-owned business LaundroLab will host a community event where families can receive free laundry services and learn about local resources.
The specifics: The event will be hosted in partnership with LaundryCares Foundation, an organization which works to address the unmet needs of laundry customers, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The Free Laundry and Early Literacy Day event will offer complimentary laundry services, children’s books, food, family activities and access to community health resources.
The LaundryCares Foundation will give attendees access to a free digital library through Book Smart-World Reader, a reading initiative which provides children’s books and activities on mobile devices. All children will also receive a new story book to take home.
LaundroLab Laundromat, 8868 Research Blvd., Ste. 704, Austin
2 Austin homeless shelters to change operator after alleged 'misrepresented' records found
Nonprofit Urban Alchemy's contract with the Austin Homeless Strategy Office, or HSO, to operate the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, or ARCH, and the Eighth Street Women’s Shelter will not renew. The decision comes after some staff, identified by Urban Alchemy, "misrepresented Homeless Management Information System exit dates and records," according to a city memo.
What happened: An Urban Alchemy spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Community Impact that the nonprofit notified Austin officials after discovering the issue and terminated the employees responsible.
What's next: HSO officials plan to enter into an emergency contract with Endeavors, which City Council will need to approve Oct. 9. The agreement would authorize Endeavors to operate the shelters through Sept. 30, 2026. HSO officials will begin the process of seeking a new operator for the shelters Oct. 1, 2026, according to the memo.
"We are grateful for our years of partnership with the city of Austin and to the community and guests we served and impacted," an Urban Alchemy spokesperson said.
Check out these 20 new nonstop destinations from Austin’s airport
In August, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport announced a series of new destinations and nonstop flights beginning this fall to locations both nationally and around the globe.
International
Amsterdam, Netherlands: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Calgary, Alberta: WestJet
Cancún, Mexico: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines
Frankfurt, Germany: Lufthansa
London, United Kingdom: British Airways
and more.
Domestic
Fort Lauderdale, Florida: JetBlue Airways, new service starts Nov. 20
Fort Myers, Florida: Southwest Airlines, new nonstop service starts March 2026
San Diego, California: Alaska Airlines, increased frequency starts Jan. 7
San Francisco, California: Southwest Airlines, new service started Aug. 5
and more
Find details on nonstop flights and services on the airport's website, and visit individual airline websites for ticketing information.
