Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an amendment to the interlocal agreement with Austin Community College for the Fashion Incubator, to increase the annual amount for the equipment maintenance agreement and software license by $59,980 in year one and $61,360 in years two and three, for a total amended agreement amount not to exceed $182,700.
De
Lead Department
Economic Development.
Fiscal Note
This has no fiscal impact.
Prior Council Action:
Resolution No. 20160922-031 approved the first three-year Fashion Incubator partnership in 2016.
Resolution No. 20190620-030 extended the agreement for another three-year term.
Resolution No. 20220728-007 authorized the partnership for another three-year term.
For More Information:
Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director, Economic Development Department, 512-974-3131, and Sabine Romero, Global Business Expansion Division Manager, Economic Development Department, 512-974-9235.
Additional Backup Information:
The City partners with Austin Community College (ACC) on the Fashion Incubator, a 7,500-square-foot facility at ACC’s Highland Mall Campus that includes $13,000,000 in advanced manufacturing equipment donated by Gerber Technologies. The City’s annual contribution pays for maintenance of the Gerber equipment and its related software licenses. This amendment will increase the City’s annual contribution from $55,000 to cover a recent increase in the cost of the maintenance agreement and software license.
The Fashion Incubator supports Strategic Direction 2023’s Economic Opportunity and Affordability strategic outcome by creating middle-skill jobs that do not require a four-year degree. The Fashion Incubator cultivates the development of the local emerging design community, workforce, apparel manufacturers, and students, and connects them to many of the existing resources in manufacturing, sourcing, design, and technology in the Central Texas region. Workshops are taught by fashion industry professionals and are designed to teach skills the local design community and students will need in the tech-enabled fashion industry era. To date, the ACC Fashion Incubator has served 33 diverse brands and scores of business-minded creatives, supporting the City’s workforce and small business development efforts.