Apex Austin is marking a decade in existence with the premiere of a welcome DVD at the Paramount Theatre.

Founded in November 1999 with a grant from the Hormel Foundation, Apex helped establish the Welcome Center, Catherwood Home Child Care and Murphy Creek Townhomes.

From 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Apex will show a free, eight-minute video created for newcomers that summarizing services and amenities available in Austin.

Apex member Bonnie Rietz said the video covers information about schools, utilities, human services, parenting resources and charitable organizations. It was produced by John Deyo of ViDeyo Arts and the script was written by KAAL-TV personality Dan Conradt and his wife, Carla.

“We have all local people from Austin doing the spots in it,” Rietz said. “It will be a fun, festive event with a movie and treats.”

The DVD will be available for the public to pick up for free at the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce and the Welcome Center. Rietz said the schools and the Hormel Institute are also stocking them for new employees, and the Chamber is inserting them in welcome packets. It is available in English and Spanish.

Apex Austin was formed after volunteers gathered and named three issues that needed work in the community: child care, housing and language services.

“That’s where Apex Austin was born,” Rietz said. Their first project was founding the Welcome Center, a non-profit organization that provides services and information to new residents.

“We wanted a place where people who come to the community could go and access information,” Rietz explained.

Today, Apex has approximately 15 members from businesses and organizations in Austin, like Austin Medical Center, Hormel Foods, the United Way and the police department.

“Some of stayed from the very beginning,” Rietz said.

To learn more about becoming a member of Apex Austin, contact president Maryanne Law at 437-8330.

The Apex Austin DVD premiere is open to the public.