Editor's note: This story was updated with information about Cummins' hire and the cost of the city's recruitment process.
Austin has named its next head of economic development initiatives, as city leaders back a renewed push to attract and support more local economic investment.
What happened
The city announced the appointment of Michael “Mac” Cummins as Austin Economic Development's next director June 16. Cummins will officially start in that role July 27 on a $229,000 salary, and said he's eager to advance Austin's domestic and international economic profile.
“We are excited about Mac’s diverse experience in economic development and the energy he will bring to the City of Austin,” Assistant City Manager Eric Johnson—who's currently helming the economic development department—said in a statement. “His background and expertise position him well to help us move the City forward, and we look forward to introducing him to the community.”
The hire comes months after Johnson outlined a new economic approach led by city management, including the creation of a roadmap for development matters, and follows City Council's adoption of a separate economic development policy this spring.
The specifics
Cummins was chosen through a search process led by Mosaic Public Partners, which has overseen several recent hiring efforts for city leadership positions. The firm received dozens applications from around the country for the role, resume materials obtained through a public information request show, and Cummins was one of eight qualified candidates recommended by Mosaic in April.
Cummins' salary represents a more than 9% increase from the department's last full-time director who earned $209,248 as of fiscal year 2024-25; Johnson had recently been leading the department in addition to his management role. Cummins' benefits include insurance, vacation time, and housing and relocation assistance, according to his city offer letter.
City purchasing records show Mosaic was contracted for $44,600 total and billed the city $43,227 from April 2025 through June 11. The firm's expenses for multiple city recruitments and other services have totaled about $391,000 since September 2023.
Career history
A city news release noted Cummins' background in business retention and expansion, development planning, urban renewal, tax increment and affordable housing financing, tourism and convention planning, and other civic processes. Cummins most recently served as CEO of Reston Association, a Fairfax County, Virginia, property owners association with more than 500 employees where he oversaw municipal-style services for a community of over 61,000. He also served on the Reston Chamber of Commerce board.
Other previous experience includes leading the community development department for Bellevue, Washington; serving as planning manager in Westminster, Colorado; as a principal planner in Scottsdale, Arizona; and as an associate planner for Seal Beach, California. Cummins holds a bachelor's degree in public policy and master's degrees in planning and public administration from the University of Southern California.
In his application materials, Cummins highlighted Austin's status as a destination community and his experience in sectors tied to the city's growth like technology, downtown placemaking, redevelopment and transit-oriented development initiatives. He also stated his intention to support local strategies aimed at tech and artificial intelligence, cultural and creative industries, tourism, and equity and affordable development.
Quote of note
"In order to be successful in today’s competitive environment for business investment and real estate development, communities must leverage their pride of place with a fluid understanding of the variables that government can control, guide, or help to facilitate," Cummins wrote in his application. "I have substantial experience in administering and updating regulatory and policy documents, coordinating with the development and business communities, neighborhood leaders etc, to remove barriers to entry into the local market – facilitating the smart growth that the community wants to see, in the places they want to see that growth. I have experience working with communities to stimulate economic growth in under represented areas of the community that have seen a lack of investment in previous years."
