(Credit: City of Austin)
The cities of Austin, Texas and Limerick, Ireland announced a new cooperation agreement last week to expand on innovation and economic opportunities and further develop sharing of best practices on creative industries and economic development corporations.
The agreement, in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formalizes the mutual interaction and strengthens the existing relationship between Austin and Limerick at the strategic and working level, focusing on the development of key areas such as film, innovative technology, and advanced manufacturing. The interaction will leverage the Irish presence in Austin to capitalize on foreign direct investment opportunities.
Limerick is home to Troy Studios, a film hub with 350,000 sq. ft. (8 acres) under one roof and contained on a 26-acre site, complete with multiple sound stages. Continued expansions are expected in 2019, positioning Troy as the largest international standard film and TV studio in Ireland.
The City of Austin Economic Development Department’s International Program is dedicated to scaling Austin’s position in the global marketplace through opportunities and partnerships in emerging, established, and industry-specific markets.
Austin and Limerick have a shared interest in innovation and new growth opportunities in film and tech industries with rapid entrepreneurship growth happening in both cities. Enterprise Ireland and Industrial Development Authority (IDA) Ireland work in collaboration with the Irish Consulate Office in Austin to attract inward investment into Ireland and work to develop and grow Irish enterprises into world markets such as Austin, TX.
The MoU between the cities was signed by Mayor Steve Adler, Austin City Council Member Jimmy Flannigan; Councillor James Collins Mayor of Limerick; Conn Murray, Limerick Chief Executive – Limerick City and County Council; Dr. Pat Daly, Deputy Chief Executive Director of Services for Economic Development – Limerick City and County Council; Rebecca, Giello, Interim Director with the City of Austin Economic Development Department; and Pat Doab, Founder and Director with the Irish Network Austin.
