Austin Civic Solutions
Empowering Austin through community
Our
Story
Austin Civic Solutions began with a simple belief:
Local challenges are best addressed through practical, community-centered projects.
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We are a small Austin team focused on listening, learning, and working with neighborhoods to design hands-on solutions that support food access, small business development, and community connection.
About the Founders
Paul and Liz Baharet are a husband-and-wife team rooted in Austin.
Paul is a data analyst and Liz is a creative director; together they bring a mix of practical problem-solving, design thinking, and a shared love for this city.
The Pilot: "Common Loaf" Kitchen
Expanding Healthy Food Options Close to Home
In many Austin neighborhoods, access to fresh, healthy food can be limited. The Common Loaf creates a welcoming, walkable space where residents can find locally made meals, ingredients, and everyday staples.
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By working with local growers, cooks, and small vendors, we help bring more fresh options into the neighborhood while supporting the people who make Austin’s food culture unique.
Supporting Local Food Entrepreneurs
Many aspiring food makers struggle to find affordable, certified kitchen space.
The Common Loaf provides shared commercial kitchen facilities, equipment, and storage to help local entrepreneurs get started.
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We also offer basic business support, from food safety certifications to packaging and operations guidance, to help neighbors turn their ideas into small, sustainable local businesses.
Supporting Local Neighborhood Economies
Purchases made from Common Loaf vendors help support local cooks, workers, and small suppliers.
By keeping a portion of this activity close to home, the project helps strengthen neighborhood businesses and the broader community.
The New Town Square
Common Loaf is designed as a welcoming neighborhood “living room” a place where people can gather, share meals, and connect with their community.
Spaces like this help strengthen social ties and provide a consistent, positive presence in the neighborhood. In times of need, the kitchen can also serve as a community support point, offering food and a reliable space for neighbors to come together.
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It’s not just a marketplace — it’s a piece of community infrastructure.
How We Work
Our approach is simple: clear roles, transparent processes, and steady follow-through.
Each project we support is designed to be practical, locally grounded, and easy to understand.
A Focus on Good Execution
Many neighborhood projects struggle not because the ideas are weak, but because the day-to-day work is difficult.
We put strong emphasis on consistent operations, clear responsibilities, and open communication so partners and residents always know how things are progressing.
Two Key Components
To keep projects running smoothly, we use a straightforward structure:
1. The Operations Team
A small, hands-on team responsible for running the daily work — from kitchen management to vendor support. Their role is to keep the project moving and support community participants.
2. Community Oversight
We work with a local nonprofit partner to provide light-touch community guidance and keep the project aligned with neighborhood priorities. This ensures transparency and keeps residents involved in shaping the space.
Why It Works
This approach keeps things clear, organized, and accountable — qualities that help small projects succeed and give communities confidence in how things are run.