AUSTIN (KXAN) — As Austin’s airport expands, it wants to bring in more local, small businesses and help them be prepared for the business environment of airport concessions.
The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and the city of Austin Small Minority Business Resources Department (SMBR) will host a three-part prep series next month for small businesses interested in expanding into the airport.
The series, called Gateway 2 Concessions, was designed to “give prospective concessionaires the tools and insight they need to successfully navigate the unique business environment of airport concessions,” a press release from AUS stated.
The series is part of the airport’s multi-year expansion, development and improvement program, Journey With AUS.
As part of the expansion, the airport’s concession program is “actively seeking innovative, diverse, and dynamic small businesses,” the release stated.
“Our upcoming series gives small, local, and diverse businesses a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the Airport Concessions business from industry experts,” said Edward Campos, Director of SMBR. “We’re equipping our community of small businesses with the tools, connections, and confidence they need to secure a successful takeoff at AUS.”
AUS said in the release that the new concession spaces give small businesses the chance to gain visibility and grow, since millions of passengers travel through the airport each year.
More than 21.7 million passengers passed through the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in 2024. According to airport data, in 2024, AUS travelers purchased over 1 million tacos and more than 100,000 pounds of brisket. Plus, more than 9,000 Tyler’s T-shirts and over 7,000 Keep Austin Weird shirts were sold.
According to AUS, the Gateway 2 Concessions Prep Course Series includes the following:
- Gate 1, Understanding the ACDBE Program, Sept. 3: This virtual workshop provides a foundational overview of the Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program, including goal setting, certification steps and the broader role this program plays in upcoming opportunities at AUS.
- Gate 2, A Real Look into Concession Opportunities, Sept. 10: Hear directly from an experienced concessions operator and industry expert on what it takes to run a business in the airport—from day-to-day logistics to contract terms and long-term development.
- Guest Speaker: Cassandra Boseman, Principal Owner, ONE Enterprise Group
- Facilitators: John Gallo (AUS Deputy Chief Officer) and Jolene Cochran (SMBR Program Manager)
Parties interested in attending Gate 2| A Real Look Into Concession Operations must register and attend this in-person workshop.
- Gate 3, Business Concepts and Revenue Contracts, Sept. 17: This course will discuss understanding your business capabilities, ensuring you are certified in the correct NAICS codes and knowing what questions to ask prior to proposing on concession opportunities. This discussion will be led by one of the airport industry’s top ACDBE managers in aviation procurements.
Registration to attend the courses is available online.
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