The City of Austin Economic Development Department has announced the grand opening of Assembly Hall, a newly revitalized event space in Central East Austin. This transformation was made possible through the Family Business Loan Program (FBLP), a public-private partnership between the City of Austin, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and private lenders. The program provides low-interest loans to small businesses that are expanding and creating jobs, supporting local businesses in increasing the tax base and enhancing residents’ quality of life.
“The opening of Assembly Hall exemplifies our commitment to revitalizing East Austin and supporting local businesses,” said Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director of the Economic Development Department. “We are excited to see this space become a community hub where residents can gather, celebrate, and engage in various activities. This project showcases our dedication to fostering economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for all Austinites.”
Assembly Hall is managed by the team behind Fair Market, a prominent event space in Central Austin since 2014. Fair Market has hosted over 700 events, including fundraisers for non-profits such as Out Youth, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and AIA Austin, as well as cultural events like Queerbomb and the Texas Woodworking Festival.
“Our team is thrilled to expand on the relationships made with the Austin community through the years operating Fair Market,” Assembly Hall Management stated. “We have years of experience catering to a wide range of businesses and residents. Assembly Hall will be another special venue for our community to celebrate and do business.”
Located at the northern edge of Plaza Saltillo TOD and adjacent to the East Austin Hotel, Assembly Hall features a catering kitchen, enhanced audio-visual facilities, visual projection, a powered lighting grid, and bathrooms. The collaboration with the East Austin Hotel aims to create additional event opportunities, further boosting the local economy.
This project transforms a previously vacant property into a productive community asset, enhancing local businesses’ capabilities and contributing to East Austin’s economic development.
For more information about the Family Business Loan Program or the Economic Development Department’s Small Business Division, please visit their website.
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