Austin’s annual New Year’s event with Visit Austin has made some upgrades to this year’s experience with a drone show and expanded media coverage from national outlets.

What to know: Community members can check out headliners The Head and the Heart, who will be joined by local musicians Chaparelle, Tameca Jones and The Point. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy the experience with bites from local food trucks, nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages and a drone show. 

Presented by Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, the drone show will be a first in Austin’s New Year’s celebration and will kick off the lighting of the downtown skyline with a fireworks finale. As part of their national New Year’s Eve coverage, CNN will broadcast live from Austin.

Stay tuned: The city will share the full lineup of artists in December. Individuals looking to attend the event can also expect transportation and general event tips to be posted on the website in the near future.

• Auditorium Shores, 900 W. Riverside Drive, Austin

Two local businesses won more than $700,000 in combined support from the city this fall, the first such awards to take place under Austin's recently revised economic development incentive program.

City Council approved two local incentive deals under Austin's local Chapter 380 economic development framework Nov. 20. The awards included $547,623 for Balance Dance Studios' expansion project and $163,341 for The Hideout's relocation from downtown to South Austin.

“These are cherished local businesses with strong roots in Austin, and we are proud to encourage community-oriented policies that combine economic growth and tourism with prosperity for our legacy businesses and creative spaces," Anthony Segura, Austin Economic Development's interim director, said in a statement.

Both businesses' projects received high marks in the city's evaluation of the incentive packages. Together, the expansion and relocation are expected to net Austin nearly $4 million over the course of the 10-year deals.

HOPE Outdoor Gallery has officially reopened in its new home, bringing the outdoor art park and creative campus back to Austin.

The background: In March 2010, HOPE Outdoor Gallery was launched off Baylor Street, nearby 24 Diner. The concept became known as the only art park of its kind in the United States, according to a news release.

The original location officially closed in January 2019 to make way for its future home. Opening was delayed to this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and permitting process, as previously reported by Community Impact.

What's happening: The new home for the gallery, near the Austin airport, is complete with outdoor park space, mural walls and a 6,000-square-foot gallery event space. It also features a coffee bar, gift shop and art supply store.

HOPE is free, open to the public and serves as an all ages experience.

• 741 Dalton Lane, Austin

The Hays County Homeless Coalition is partnering with Texas Homeless Network, the Hays County Health Department and local volunteers to conduct the annual Point-in-Time Count on Jan. 22.

The PIT Count captures a one-day snapshot of individuals experiencing homelessness in the county. This data helps the county plan future programs, track trends and guide policy and funding decisions.

The setup: The annual PIT Count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which uses the data to gain a better understanding of the nation’s homelessness trends.

On the PIT Count day, volunteers and organizers will conduct surveys and offer support to people experiencing homelessness across the county. The data collected will be submitted to THN and shared with HUD.

What they’re saying: “As a community, we have a responsibility to understand the challenges our unhoused neighbors face,” Isabella Vigil, Hays County Behavioral Health coordinator and co-chair of the PIT Planning Team, said.