More than 140 developers, brokers, investors, and city leaders packed Buda City Hall on Tuesday for a rare joint appearance by six economic development leaders from Hays and Caldwell Counties. The event, hosted by the Buda Economic Development Corporation, underscored a growing reality: the Austin-San Antonio corridor is no longer a collection of competing towns but a coordinated economic force. With the theme “one region, two counties, five communities,” the panel made clear that regional cooperation is now central to how these communities attract investment and manage growth.
The significance lies in the scale and unity on display. Organizer Tim Dowling of The Roundabout in Buda said the turnout confirmed how hungry the market is for direct conversation with decision-makers. “We’ve run this meetup for four years, and we’ve never seen a response like this,” Dowling said. “Getting six regional economic development leaders in the same room, all sharing their real priorities for where their communities are headed, is a rare opportunity.” That demand reflects a broader shift: as the corridor between Austin and San Antonio emerges as a major innovation hub, investors and companies need a clear picture of available sites, incentives, and workforce assets across multiple jurisdictions.
Each leader highlighted distinct strengths that together form a diversified offer. Jennifer L. Storm of the Buda EDC framed her city as “Austin access without Austin friction,” noting roughly three million square feet of Class A industrial space available or under construction and the upcoming Depot on Main redevelopment, a historic train depot turned startup launchpad set to open in early 2027. Victoria Vargas of the City of Kyle pointed to healthcare expansion, including St. David’s new emergency center and ACC’s growing health sciences presence, plus new industrial inventory at Kyle Commerce Center. Helen Ramirez of the City of San Marcos positioned her city as the region’s education and innovation powerhouse, citing Texas State University, STAR Park, the regional airport, and an advancing aerospace and defense ecosystem.
Caldwell County communities showcased complementary assets. Holly Malish of the Lockhart EDC celebrated Hill Country Foodworks’ leap from 10,000 to 62,000 square feet and new downtown redevelopment frameworks. Ari Arias of the Luling EDC spotlighted X-Bow’s production campus and a widening aerospace and retail footprint. Mike Kamerlander of the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership tied it together, framing the Austin-San Antonio Innovation Corridor as Central Texas’ next defining opportunity, with aerospace, dual-use defense technology, advanced manufacturing, and hospitality accelerating.
The implications are substantial. Companies now gain choice across five distinct communities while still benefiting from shared infrastructure, permitting support, and a regional labor market of more than 2.7 million workers within a 60-minute drive. Leaders stressed partnership over competition, describing economic development as job creation and “dot connecting,” not blank checks. Shared priorities include workforce readiness, regional job fairs, career and technical education, and business retention. Small business support, from microloans to technical assistance, was celebrated as essential to the quality of place that draws and keeps talent.
For the commercial real estate market, the message is clear: the corridor is open for business as a coordinated front. The Hays (Caldwell) Commercial Real Estate Meetup meets the second Tuesday of each month, serving professionals shaping growth across Hays County, Caldwell County, and the Texas Innovation Corridor. As these communities align their strategies, the region is positioning itself not just to accommodate growth but to direct it toward a more resilient and inclusive economic future.
