FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Beverly Silas Tapped to Lead Central Texas Regional Visioning Project Date: Wednesday, December 12, 2001

Austin, Texas

The Central Texas Regional Visioning Project Board of Directors announced today the selection of Beverly Silas as the executive director. Silas brings 31 years of corporate management and community relations expertise to a new comprehensive regional planning effort.

"We are pleased to have Beverly at the helm to spearhead such an important project for Central Texas. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and a passion for being involved in the community," said Neal Kocurek, a regional planning committee member. ?Addressing the issues caused by exponential growth of Central Texas requires an individual with excellent management skills and the ability to coalesce communities. I am confident that the search committee has made the right choice."

Silas will provide direction to a visioning process for the Central Texas region, which will involve gathering input from decision-makers, regional stakeholders, and residents. This project will include the conception and evaluation of a long-range regional development and growth management plan for Central Texas. The overall goal will be to examine ways that the current growth trends in the region can be redirected to create a more sustainable, livable future for all residents of the region. Components of the regional project will include affordable housing, economic development, environmental and local land-use issues and transportation. The counties included in the project are Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson.

"I am committed to ensuring that the planning process will be an inclusive one," said Silas. "I will work closely with all constituents during this process. I will continue to identify ways to include segments of the population from which we don't usually hear."

The Central Texas Regional Visioning Project is a newly created non-profit organization governed by a board of directors of approximately 73 members and an approximate 15-member executive committee, composed of elected officials, business leaders, neighborhood organizations, environmentalists and other members of the various communities.

Silas also serves as vice chair of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees and chair of the Downtown Austin Alliance Board of Directors.

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