Leaders secured $2 million from the City of Austin and Travis County for the new year, an increase of $300,000 from last year!  In addition to meeting with City Council members and County Commissioners during the budget review periods, over 60 leaders and Capital IDEA participants attended the public budget hearing at City Hall.  This increase in funding means Capital IDEA will be able to enroll sixty more students in its program than last year, and provide people the education, training, and support they need in order to secure good, living-wage jobs with benefits.  

This is the signature accomplishment of the Legislative Session. The congregations of Austin Interfaith and the Texas Industrial Areas Foundation have been credited with playing a key role in working with the Lt. Governor to pass legislation that would add 127,500 children to the Childrens Health Insurance Program. (approximately $70,000,000 new dollars) This was the work of countless visits to the Capitol and 4 press conferences. The Lt. Governor has guaranteed that all eligible children will be covered, so it will be up to us to begin enrolling new children through our congregations and schools.