We need your help!
As I am sure you’ve heard me say – with the Asian population more than doubling in the decade between 2010 and 2020, Asians are the fastest-growing ethnic group in Central Texas. And as we’ve learned from our work on the Central Texas Asian Impact Project, this growth even accelerated after COVID with the Asian population in the region now estimated to be around 8% of the total – and still growing.
Working with Impact Project Knowledge Partners like City of Austin Demographer Dr. Lila Valencia, we understand the Asian population is projected to double and double again in the decades ahead, reaching approximately 15% of the total Greater Austin population by 2050. Just imagine that! This is really exciting for the community and our organization. As a chamber of commerce, we are positioned to support a thriving and growing community with steadily increasing impact and leverage in the region.
So yes, Austin is already very Asian and becoming more and more Asian every day. Consequently, we have the growing capability to help shape the future – but we have to build that capability and we have to build our “voice”. That’s where you can help. Please help us build and amplify that voice by completing the 2025 Central Texas Asian Impact Survey.
The Impact Survey is VITAL to helping us engage stakeholders and public officials in the region. With survey results in hand, we can directly identify and communicate key issues facing our businesses and can clearly describe our priorities. For example, in last year’s survey we learned:
- 39% of our respondents own their own business.
- A majority of our respondents cited “Market Environment/Competition” and “Access to Capital” as their greatest business challenges.
- 70% of our respondents travel to Asia and 66% plan more Asian travel in the future.
These kinds of data allow us to engage local and statewide organizations to greater effect, and it doesn’t stop there. For example, one of the exciting projects we are working on with the City of Austin is an effort to bring direct flights from Asia to Austin. Your responses from our 2023-24 survey are being impactfully used in ongoing discussions we are having with Asian airlines.
So yes, we need your help to shape the future and to Be Heard. Please complete the Impact Survey. If you are a business owner, your voice helps us shape the future business environment in Austin. If you are a young professional, your voice helps us shape the future, and, if you are a not-so-young professional, just help our community be heard!
As a sweetener, the super-cool thing is that once you complete the survey you will have a chance to win prizes like Austin FC Swag, Apple iPads, or a Premiere-level membership at the Chamber…
The survey will be open until the end of March, but don’t wait – it takes just five minutes – please do it now!
Warmly,
Mark Duval
President & CEO
Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce