🟪 Interest in Williamson County picks up – and shows no signs of slowing (Austin Business Journal)

🟪 Austin's first Korean bank aims to take advantage of wave of Korean businesses, transplants (Austin Business Journal)

🟪 Lakeway City Council votes down boutique hotel zoning request (Community Impact)

🟪 Texas comptroller questions whether some Islamic schools can be excluded from voucher program (Texas Tribune)

🟪 Another exodus in Congress means Texas will need to start rebuilding its clout in 2027 (Texas Tribune)

🟪 The economy survived 2025, but many Americans are reeling (New York Times)

🟪 A rift in MAGA has top Heritage Foundation officials leaving to join with Mike Pence (NPR)

🟪 FDA approves first GLP-1 pill for obesity from Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk (CNBC)

READ ON!

Honored to share that I’ve been appointed to the Austin Chamber of Commerce 2026 Board of Directors, where I’ll serve as Co-Chair of Regional Policy and on the Executive Committee.

Central Texas is at a pivotal moment. I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to conversations around workforce development, infrastructure investment, and long-term regional competitiveness, alongside business and civic leaders committed to the region’s future.

Looking forward to the work ahead and to supporting a strong, resilient Central Texas economy.

📷: W/ Denise Davis (of Davis Kaufman PLLC) 2026 Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Board Chair.

READ: Austin Chamber Confirms 2026 Board Chair, Chair Elect, and Board
Leadership -> http://bit.ly/4ji2maU

[Blog] Austin 2026: The New Rules of Economic Development at City Hall

Learn more about Bingham Group’s new practice — and review all of our services here: binghamgp.com/services

🏛️ Memo: Social Services Funding Update (12.19.2025)

🏛️ Memo: Austin Government Relations / FY27 Congressional Community Project Funding Requests (12.15.2025)

🏛️ Memo: Austin Government Relations – December 2025 Legislative & Grants Update (12.15.2025)

🏛️ City Manager Executives and Advisors Staff Visual Chart

🏛️ City of Austin Org Chart (as of July 2025)

ℹ️ 2025 Essential Resources for Navigating the City of Austin

✅ Interest in Williamson County picks up – and shows no signs of slowing (Austin Business Journal)

Over the last few decades, Williamson County has transformed from a bedroom community to one that is on the radar of some of the most notable companies in the world.

That includes Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.'s big factory in Taylor and Apple Inc.'s new campus on the north side of Austin, plus Tesla Inc. operations in Hutto and Taylor. They complement longtimers such as Dell Technologies Inc. and Emerson Automation Solutions that call Round Rock home, and Firefly Aerospace Inc., which is leading the local space race with a growing headquarters in Cedar Park.

That momentum has resulted in the creation of tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of capital investment, but things slowed a bit in 2025 due to macroeconomic issues. Since October, things are starting to look back up.

In that span, there have been notable economic development wins like Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Pegatron Corp. acquiring a large building in Georgetown, Compal Electronics Inc. signing huge leases in Georgetown and Taylor, Texas Municipal League moving its HQ to Georgetown, Dutch semiconductor supplier ASML Holding NV opening an office outpost in Hutto, Firefly expanding its HQ within Cedar Park, and Wright One Inc. picking Cedar Park for its HQ amid a nationwide search.

And more could soon be on the way… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Austin's first Korean bank aims to take advantage of wave of Korean businesses, transplants (Austin Business Journal)

Since Woori America Bank opened its first Austin-area location in August, patrons have been excited about the familiarity of coming in and speaking Korean while making a bank transaction, and doing so in a place that looks like a bank does back home, according to Senior Vice President JoongMo Kim.

"Many Koreans visit here and it feels like a Korean bank branch," said Kim, who leads the Lakeline-area branch.

Woori America, a subsidiary of Seoul-based Woori Bank, is already growing its customer base at the Williamson County branch north of Austin, where Asian businesses and employees have flocked. In the three months since they opened the doors to the 2,000-square-foot branch at 14028 U.S. Highway 183, executives said they've already signed up more than 100 personal accounts, five business customers, two loan customers and two home mortgage customers.

Woori America has publicly named Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. among its clients — officials have said the bank helped finance Samsung's Taylor plant — and has had a long presence in the United States. It was established in 1984 and has more than 25 domestic locations, primarily in the northeast, according to its website. It also has one location in Dallas, which opened in 2020, and a loan production office in Houston. Funds in the U.S. locations are not directly connected to the South Korean bank… 🟪 (READ MORE) 

✅ Lakeway City Council votes down boutique hotel zoning request (Community Impact)

Lakeway City Council members voted down a zoning proposal that would have allowed for a three-story boutique hotel in Rough Hollow after residents warned it would lower home values and drive up noise problems.

The city would receive hotel occupancy taxes from the proposed 32-room hotel adjacent to the Yacht Club and Canyon Grille, according to city staff.

In the end, the council voted 4-2 to deny the request from Legend Communities at its Dec. 15 meeting.“There is nothing disqualifying about it. On the other hand, there is no compelling reason to grant it,” Lakeway Mayor Tom Kilgore said during the meeting. “It is a perfectly lawful request, but just because it’s a request doesn’t mean it needs to be approved, and I find no compelling reason on behalf of the larger community to approve it.”

Council member Kelly Brynteson added, “This one’s a hard one, I will admit.”

On his way out of the meeting, Legend principal Haythem Dawlett expressed regret in the council’s decision.

“They denied a project that’s in the development agreement, that allows them to only put the hotel at that location in North Hollow,” said Dawlett, who has overseen numerous projects around Lakeway in recent years. “I think it’s completely misunderstood, but hey, we fight another day.”… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Texas comptroller questions whether some Islamic schools can be excluded from voucher program (Texas Tribune)

Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock is asking the Texas Attorney General’s Office whether certain schools can be excluded from Texas’ new school voucher program based on connections to a U.S. Muslim advocacy group or alleged ties to the Chinese government.

In a request for opinion filed to state Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office on Dec. 12, Hancock asked whether schools could be excluded from the program if they were linked to a “foreign terrorist organization” or a “foreign adversary.” Hancock suggested schools that had hosted events for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group which Gov. Greg Abbott recently designated as a terrorist organization, would be affected. 

CAIR is suing Abbott over the terrorist designation, claiming it was defamatory and not based in law… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Another exodus in Congress means Texas will need to start rebuilding its clout in 2027 (Texas Tribune)

At least a quarter of Texas’ congressional delegation is headed for the exits next year, a massive departure that will weaken the state’s clout in the U.S. House and force its members to rebuild Texas’ oft-cited prestige on Capitol Hill.

Nine members of Congress from Texas — six Republicans, three Democrats — have announced they will depart at the end of this term. In addition, four incumbents are facing serious primary challengers. The new representative from Texas’ 18th Congressional District, who will be elected in a Jan. 30 runoff, will face either a primary with U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, or abort their short-lived congressional career, guaranteeing at least one more departure. And three incumbents in South Texas are facing competitive general election challenges.

Between 10 and 17 Texas members could end up leaving next year, a massive loss of the institutional knowledge, committee seniority and relationships that are the coin of the realm in Congress… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ The economy survived 2025, but many Americans are reeling (New York Times)

After a chaotic year filled with trade wars, market gyrations and the longest government shutdown in history, the U.S. economy has, once again, proved more resilient than many forecasters feared. But “resilient” isn’t quite the same thing as “good.” Many Americans are entering 2026 worried about their jobs, stressed about their finances and unconvinced that things will improve in the new year. The flow of official economic data resumed last week after a prolonged delay caused by the government shutdown. The reports were muddled by technical quirks related to the shutdown, but on balance they suggested the economy remained stuck in the same uneasy limbo it was in before the data blackout began. Job growth was decent in November, but unemployment rose. Retail sales were solid, but wage growth slowed. Inflation cooled, but remains elevated. That mixed picture is far better than the dire forecasts of last spring, when many economists warned that President Trump’s tariffs would lead to runaway inflation, a recession — or both.

Instead, data this week is expected to show that gross domestic product, which measures overall economic output, grew at a robust pace in the third quarter. Full-year data, when it becomes available early next year, is likely to show that output, adjusted for inflation, grew at about a 1.5 percent pace in 2025, a downshift from 2024 but far from a recession. A gradual deterioration, though, is still a deterioration. In surveys, Americans overwhelmingly say they are struggling with the cost of living and do not believe the economy is working for them — an impression borne out by data showing that consumer spending is being driven by a relative handful of rich households. Mr. Trump tried to shift that narrative in a combative — and often misleading — prime-time speech last week in which he blamed his predecessor for economic problems and promised that a “Golden Age” was just around the corner.

Many forecasters do expect a rosier backdrop next year. But the problem for Mr. Trump is that few of the larger economic problems that pushed voters away from the incumbent party in 2024 have improved, and some have gotten worse. Tariffs haven’t caused a spike in inflation, but they have pushed up prices for some consumer products. Homeownership remains out of reach for many Americans. Child care is still broadly unaffordable, electricity bills are rising and health care premiums are set to rise for millions of families when insurance subsidies expire at the end of the year… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ A rift in MAGA has top Heritage Foundation officials leaving to join with Mike Pence (NPR)

More than a dozen staff members at the influential conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation are leaving the organization to join a group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence.

The mass departure follows turmoil within Heritage and the larger conservative movement over the role of right-wing influencers who've promoted antisemitic and other extremist ideas. Those tensions were on display at Heritage after its president, Kevin Roberts, released a video defending Tucker Carlson for a friendly interview in October with Nick Fuentes, an avowed white nationalist who has previously praised Adolf Hitler. Roberts' video sparked controversy inside Heritage, prompting him to later apologize for it.

Pence's think tank, Advancing American Freedom, or AAF, announced the hires on Monday, saying they include leaders from the Heritage Foundation's legal, economic and data teams.

In a statement, Pence welcomed the new hires and said they "bring a wealth of experience, a love of country, and a deep commitment to the Constitution and Conservative Movement that will further the cause of liberty."

AAF President Tim Chapman told NPR that after learning of the Heritage staffers' interest in leaving the organization, AAF raised $13 million toward a $15 million goal in two weeks to help fund their salaries over the next three years… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ FDA approves first GLP-1 pill for obesity from Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk (CNBC)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved the first-ever GLP-1 pill for obesity from Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk, a landmark decision that health experts say could open up treatment access to more patients.

Novo Nordisk said it expects to launch the pill in early 2026. The Danish drugmaker said starting in early January, the starting dose of 1.5 milligrams will be available in pharmacies and via select telehealth providers with savings offers for $149 per month.

That’s the same price that cash-paying patients can access the starting dose of the pill on President Donald Trump’s direct-to-consumer website, TrumpRx, under a deal Novo Nordisk struck with his administration last month. Trump’s site also launches in January.

Novo Nordisk did not say how much higher doses of the drug would cost, but said additional information on coverage and savings options for eligible patients will be available at that time as well.

Shares of Novo Nordisk gained roughly 10% in extended trading Monday… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ U.S. oil blockade of Venezuela pushes Cuba toward collapse (Wall Street Journal)

Cubans are going hungry, suffering from spreading disease and sleeping outdoors with no electricity to power fans through the sweltering nights. A quarter of the population has fled during the island’s most prolonged economic crisis. And it’s about to get worse. The U.S. is ratcheting up pressure on Havana’s key benefactor, Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro’s regime, which has kept the Communist-ruled nation afloat with cheap oil.

Now Venezuelan oil exports are at risk thanks to a partial blockade targeting sanctioned tankers—the kind that carry about 70% of the country’s crude. One tanker that the U.S. has already seized was en route with almost two million barrels of Venezuelan oil. The blockade adds to a U.S. pressure campaign on Maduro that also includes a major military buildup in the Caribbean, airstrikes on boats allegedly connected to Venezuelan drug trafficking and threats of bombing the country itself.

Were Venezuela’s oil shipments to stop, or sharply decline, the Cubans know it would be devastating. “It would be the collapse of the Cuban economy, no question about it,” said Jorge Piñón, a Cuban exile who tracks the island’s energy ties to Venezuela at the University of Texas at Austin. Venezuela has been vital for Cuba’s economy since 1999, when then-President Hugo Chávez described the two countries as bound together “in a sea of happiness.” Cuba deployed sports trainers, doctors and counterintelligence agents to Venezuela, the latter to root out traitors who might overthrow Chávez. Venezuela responded with 100,000 barrels of oil shipped to Cuba daily. The heavily subsidized oil shipments have fallen to 30,000 barrels a day.

Agents from Cuba’s vaunted intelligence service remain in Venezuela, where they have worked to purge disloyal military officers and government officials, helping ensure Maduro remains ensconced in power. Cuba’s deep reliance on Venezuela means Cuba’s Communist government is doing all it can to prevent Maduro—who trained in Cuba as a young man—from being forced from office in his greatest challenge after nearly 13 years in office. That means ensuring he is always surrounded by security and loyal aides, with no one carrying cellphones or other electronic devices… 🟪 (READ MORE)