Austin Council Approves Up to $1.21 Million for Legacy Businesses: Esther's Follies, Royal Blue Grocery, Escuelita del Alma and Waverly North
Four Place-Based Enhancement Program agreements, approved October 22, authorize up to $1,213,341 over five to 10 years — with the largest share, $864,210, tied to housing-stability work at Waverly North. The maximums are not guaranteed payments.
AUSTIN — The Austin City Council has approved up to $1.21 million in support for four longtime local names, authorizing four Place-Based Enhancement Program agreements on October 22 that together total up to $1,213,341 for downtown businesses, childcare capacity and housing-stability services. The agreements cover Esther's Follies, Escuelita del Alma, Royal Blue Grocery and Waverly North, with terms ranging from five to 10 years.
The two downtown agreements are the smallest and the most familiar. Esther's Follies, the Sixth Street comedy troupe, is eligible for up to $182,664 for building improvements, preserving its archives and continuing operations in downtown Austin; the first year of its agreement is funded through the fiscal 2026-27 Economic Incentive Reserve Fund, which covers July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Royal Blue Grocery is eligible for up to $82,077 to remain downtown.
The other two agreements reach beyond storefronts. Escuelita del Alma could receive up to $84,390 for relocation and continued childcare capacity serving approximately 230 students. Waverly North could receive up to $864,210 — the largest of the four — for nonprofit office space tied to income-restricted apartments, eviction prevention, case management and resident programming, services that connect the agreement to housing stability beyond the apartments themselves, according to the council's action notes.
The city's own terms carry a caveat Austin readers should hold onto: according to Austin Economic Development, the maximum commitments are not guaranteed payments. Future installments depend on available appropriations and on annual compliance and performance requirements. The city projects approximately $1.92 million in net financial benefit over the agreements' terms. The program generally targets locally owned, non-franchise legacy businesses, cultural organizations, cooperatives and nonprofits. 'Legacy businesses play an important role in Austin's economy because their impact goes far beyond the businesses themselves,' said Mac Cummins, director of Austin Economic Development.
