Mayor Kirk Watson, City Of Austin | City Of Austin website
Mayor Kirk Watson, City Of Austin | City Of Austin website
Recognizing the importance of community engagement, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) has established a dedicated Community Affairs team. This new team, consisting of four professional staff members, spent 2024 focusing on building relationships with the local community through various initiatives and events.
Throughout the year, AUS was present at numerous local events such as the Pecan Street Festival, SXSW, and the Mighty Texas Dog Walk. These efforts were aimed at sharing information about airport developments and fostering trust with stakeholders.
In April 2024, AUS hosted an Airport Open House event to engage with the community. The event provided insights into ongoing expansion projects and mobility and sustainability programs. Attendees had opportunities to learn about career prospects at AUS while providing feedback on their experiences.
Two significant initiatives launched this year include the AUS Speakers Bureau and the AUS Tours program. The Speakers Bureau facilitates community requests for airport representatives to speak at various gatherings about current activities at AUS. Meanwhile, the tour program offers educational tours of the airfield for school-aged children.
The Community Affairs team also spearheaded 'AUS for ATX,' a charitable initiative that raised over $14,000 for the Central Texas Food Bank and donated school supplies to Del Valle Independent School District students. Additionally, employees participated in parkland clean-ups and volunteered alongside airline partners to combat food insecurity locally.
Looking ahead to 2025, AUS plans to continue its outreach efforts by hosting more events and focusing on accessibility needs within surrounding communities as part of its future infrastructure planning.
Stay informed about AUS's community engagement by subscribing to their bi-monthly Community Connections newsletter.
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