When it comes to business, it seems the whole world has a place in the heart of Central Texas.
Austin – a region defined by stunning growth, lower business and living costs than most major metro areas and a youthful, well-educated population. It’s a magnificent place to live as well. All this plus a focus on innovation has made Austin the top location in the country for the “creative class,” according to author and leading economist Richard Florida.

Welcome to the Human Capital. Population 1.5 million.
Booming. That describes not only the Austin area, but the attitude as well. In fact, the Austin metro area grew by 41% from 1996 to 2006 – staggering when compared with the population growth of Texas at 24% and the nation at 13%. One reason for this is our “never say never” attitude, another is the way we embrace innovators. And the stock we place on new ideas and new ways of doing business shows this is a population – and an energy – that is growing by leaps and bounds. Our diverse population is also younger by four years than the national median (32.5 years vs. 36.4 years).

Find yourself in very good company.
Austin’s attractiveness as a place to live and work is a huge draw for corporate and regional headquarters. Our technological infrastructure, business climate, talent pool, natural beauty and active nightlife makes Austin a coveted home for diverse companies like Golfsmith, Dimensional Fund Advisors, National Instruments, Borland Software and Tokyo Electron, to name a few. Home grown success stories include Fortune 500 giants Dell and Whole Foods Market.

"We chose to locate in Austin because of a high quality of life, moderate living costs and a strong entrepreneurial climate. You want a place that has a good labor pool. And it was important to have a place where people want to live."
— David Booth, CEO, Dimensional Fund Advisors

"We moved to Austin to take advantage of an area that combines a strong talent pool with a costeffective environment for Borland, so that we can continue to execute on our plan to profitability, while building our company for the future."
— Tod Nielsen, President and CEO of Borland

Austin's major corporate headquarters include industry leaders such as:

Divisional/regional headquarters of major U.S. and foreign firms include:

Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc., a large money management firm which manages more than $100 billion for institutional and investment adviser clients worldwide, announced in late 2006 that is was relocating its headquarters to Austin and eventually plans to locate 800 employees in the Austin area.

Borland Software decided to relocate its headquarters from Cupertino to Austin after opening a successful R&D center in Austin in 2005. Borland was founded in 1983 and offers technology used in the development, deployment, integration and management of software applications with worldwide employment of 1,200. Borland plans to hire 150 staff in Austin and estimates that the relocation will save them $4-$6 million per year.

Merkatum Corporation, a leading provider of biometric technology software and services, announced that it will be relocating its North American corporate headquarters from Miami to Austin. Company officials said the move was intended to help them effectively serve customers in the U.S. from a centrally situated and well-established technology center.

The Austin area was named number one in Expansion Management’s “Top Metros for Future Business Locations” in 2006, calling Austin "the total package" and number one again in 2007 as "The City Where Business Opportunity is Greatest for Growing Companies." These evaluations are based on assessments of 332 metro areas based on criteria used by site selectors in making location recommendations. From a low cost of doing business to affordable home prices, to a lower overall cost of living compared with most of the rest of the country, the Austin region makes financial sense. Our tax structure is fair, user friendly, competitive and designed to make companies feel welcome.

Young, educated. Home to the Creative Class.
Our labor pool may be the most energetic, innovative and educated in the world. In Austin, 39% have attained a college degree or higher, compared to the national average of 27%. It’s smart to do business in Austin because Austin is so smart. Here, the best and the brightest lead many diverse business sectors. And you’ll find like minds coming every day to join them — whether it’s from outside our area or through one of the largest talent pipelines in the country — The University of Texas at Austin.

Respected worldwide, the University of Texas heads the list of area universities and colleges with a combined enrollment of more than 118,000 students. This provides an ample supply of well-educated workers to area employers. Within 200 miles of Austin, there are an additional 21 major universities with a total enrollment of 300,000 students, providing a talent pool that is almost endless.

Colleges & Universities in the Greater Austin Area

Creating one of the most educated workforces in the world obviously starts with education.
The region is one of the top targets for venture capital investment in the country with a demonstrated capacity for generating new ideas and innovation. In fact, in 2006, the Wall Street Journal ranked Austin the third “Most Inventive City” in the U.S. due in part to our large amount of patent activity. Thanks to our strong ties to the University of Texas, corporate collaborations have yielded world class programs in business, bioengineering, computer science, engineering, nanotechnology and pharmaceutical research.

"The leading global regions to keep an eye on in the coming years are San Diego, California; Austin, Texas; Cambridge, England; Bangalore, India; and Shenzhen, China."
— Ross DeVol, Milken Institute

Austin is well appointed. And well connected.
True to Austin’s reputation as a technology center, businesses can rely on sophisticated and reliable information technologies to maintain a competitive advantage. Austin boasts proven telecom, electric and water infrastructure to satisfy diverse operations: from data centers to semiconductor manufacturing; Fortune 500 firms and global enterprises.

Austin is strategically located between the east and west coasts and centrally located relative to the major Texas metros of San Antonio, Dallas and Houston. Austin sits on Interstate 35, the primary trade route between Mexico and Canada. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) is a modern international airport served by 12 major airlines with 300 daily arrivals and departures including direct flights to more than 80 domestic destinations and 3 foreign cities throughout the year. ABIA also features a 300,000 square foot cargo port that is one of the most sophisticated in the nation.

Non-Stop Jet Destinations 2008

Available & Affordable Real Estate
Diverse corporate real estate opportunities abound for growing companies and corporate headquarters with long-term expansion plans. Thanks to a continuing supply of office space with a wide variety of environmental characteristics, the region can accommodate nearly any operation, large or small. Class A office space is available in a vibrant downtown, as well as a variety of suburban markets. The Austin Chamber can help your company locate the site that fits your unique needs.

The highest quality of life. As so many “Best of” lists will attest.
The Best Place for Business and Careers. The Best City for Singles. The Best City for Relocating Families. The Live Music Capital of the World. Ask anyone who lives here and they’ll tell you it’s as good as advertised. We have it all — highly rated public school districts and entertainment venues tailor made for the outdoor type or the art lover. Home to rock climbers, Tour de France champions, rock and rollers, movie stars, theater lovers and the cream of the creative class.

No matter where in the world you come from, we’re sure once you experience Austin, you’ll want to call it home.