Creative Community to Get In Tune with Affordable Austin Living

Austin, Texas (February 21, 2007) – The Austin Music Foundation (AMF), Gibson Guitar and the City of Austin are teaming up to provide Austin’s creative community with information about affordable living at the Get In Tune event Saturday, February 24, 2007 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Gibson Guitar Studio, 3601 South Congress, suite G400/Penn Field. More than 17 vendors will be on hand during the free open house to provide information on developing small businesses, home ownership, affordable health insurance, renter’s rights as well as tips to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

“I think I will feel comfortable being a part of something with other musicians. When we get together, we usually collaborate to create music, but who knows what could happen if a couple of us get together and learn something about small business.” Jeff Bradberry, lead singer of Austin band Larry. “We could really create something amazing.”

“The creative community is an economic engine in Austin and they have given this city vitality and worldwide recognition,” said Margaret Shaw, Deputy Director of Neighborhood Housing and Community Development for the City of Austin. “We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Gibson Guitar and the Austin Music Foundation to market information to a huge segment of the Austin community.”

Throughout the afternoon open house, workshops will be held focusing on home buying, credit, and income documentation. Gibson will also be raffling off one of its signature guitars.

Approximately 20 Austin musicians will come together to help Austin Habitat for Humanity DeConstruction with a project in East Austin at 907 Mansell Avenue. Materials from the deconstruction will be available to the public through the Austin Habitat ReStores. Some of the volunteers will provide a lunchtime acoustic jam session.

“Austin is such an environmentally aware community, it only makes sense people want to utilize our DeConstruction Program to salvage reusable building materials,” said Michael Willard, AHFH Executive Director. “With this program Austin Habitat is helping to improve our city by keeping material out of the landfill, providing affordable building materials to the public, and building homes with hard working low-income families. This is a win, win, win proposition.”

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please call 974-3100 (voice) or 974-3102 (TDD) for assistance. This project is made possible by funding from HUD through the City of Austin.

CONTACT: Jackie Mayo, AHFC, 974-3121 (voice), 802-7108 (pager)