Austin’s creative spirit and local identity is continuously at risk because of displacement and rising costs – and with it, our competitive economic position. Rally’s Keep Austin Ours proposal provides tools to preserve what makes our city unique: our culture, our local businesses, and our communities. These bond dollars will seed and expand launch long-term programs, not one-off projects, and they will be managed independently by Rally Austin, so the City of Austin won’t take on new costs. With proven best practices, innovative financing, and a track record of delivery, Rally Austin is ready to expand programs that secure Austin’s identity for generations to come.
Without strategic investment, we risk losing the businesses, venues, and spaces that define Austin’s identity and power our local economy.
This bond will work to preserve Austin’s culture, creativity, and small business ecosystem for many generations to come. Watch this presentation by our Chief Operating Officer, David Colligan, as he shares about Rally Austin’s impact and the innovative proposal for the 2026 Community Investment Bond.
The Austin Cultural Trust represents $27 million of various funding sources available for investment and deal structuring. Since evaluating $350M of need in 2022, Rally has dedicated $19.15M to eight projects valued at $39.3M, securing 64,570 sf of affordable creative and cultural space, with an estimated impact of $78M to $98M. Rally’s 2026 Bond proposes:
Unlike many peers, Austin has already seeded its own Cultural Trust, demonstrating results ahead of the bond. With bond funding, Rally will scale acquisitions, expand grant/loan pools, and looks to protect at-risk cultural spaces from displacement. Learn more about how Rally started this program and it’s early success securing spaces by watching the July 2025 presentation to the City of Austin’s BEATF.
Best Practices Across the Nation:
Austin’s Leadership:
With bond funding, Rally Austin will establish a first-of-its-kind Commercial Trust for Austin, applying national lessons while tailoring the approach to protect businesses that embody Austin’s culture and economy.
With bond support, Rally Austin will apply these models locally, integrating affordable housing, creative workspace, and workforce training in community-driven developments across Austin.
How the Bond Process Works
The 2026 Bond Election is being shaped through a structured process led by the City of Austin and its Bond Election Advisory Task Force (BEATF). Rally Austin is contributing to this process by bringing forward community-driven solutions that protect Austin’s identity and expand opportunities for all.
Engage with Rally Austin
Note: This page is designed to provide information, not advocacy. Rally Austin’s role is to educate, prepare, and deliver community-driven projects that maximize public benefit.
