In a rare joint appearance, six economic development leaders from Hays and Caldwell Counties gathered at Buda City Hall on Tuesday morning for the Hays (Caldwell) Commercial Real Estate Meetup, drawing over 140 developers, brokers, investors, city leaders, and service providers. The event, hosted by the Buda Economic Development Corporation, marked the largest gathering in the meetup's four-year history and underscored a unified regional approach to growth under the theme "one region, two counties, five communities."
The panel featured Jennifer L. Storm of the Buda EDC; Victoria Vargas of the City of Kyle; Helen Ramirez, AICP, of the City of San Marcos; Holly Malish, CEcD, of the Lockhart EDC; Ari Arias of the Luling EDC; and Mike Kamerlander, CEcD, of the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership. Each leader presented recent wins and priorities, emphasizing collaboration over competition. Organizer Tim Dowling of The Roundabout in Buda noted the unprecedented turnout, saying, "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."
Storm highlighted Buda's position as "Austin access without Austin friction," citing roughly three million square feet of Class A industrial space available or under construction and the revitalization of The Depot on Main, a historic train depot set to open in early 2027 as a launchpad for makers and retail startups. She also stressed the importance of partnership, stating, "I am proud to partner with my esteemed colleagues and economic development leaders across the region to collaborate and work together for the future of our connected corridor and our shared vision for growth in our communities."
The corridor's diversity was on full display. 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. San Marcos positioned itself as the region's education and innovation powerhouse, leveraging Texas State University, STAR Park, the regional airport, and an advancing aerospace and defense ecosystem. Lockhart celebrated Hill Country Foodworks' expansion from 10,000 to 62,000 square feet and new downtown redevelopment frameworks. Luling, the gateway to I-10, spotlighted X-Bow's production campus and a widening aerospace and retail footprint. Hays County's workforce growth and the H-E-B redevelopment in Buda were also touted as key assets.
Leaders repeatedly returned to the theme of partnership, describing economic development as job creation and "dot connecting" rather than blank checks. Workforce readiness, regional job fairs, career and technical education, and business retention emerged as shared priorities. Small business support, including microloan partnerships, was celebrated as essential to quality of place. Kamerlander and colleagues framed the Austin-San Antonio Innovation Corridor as Central Texas' next defining opportunity, with aerospace and dual-use defense technology accelerating alongside advanced manufacturing, retail, and hospitality.
The implications of this united front are significant. By presenting a coordinated regional strategy, the five communities—Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, Lockhart, and Luling—offer companies a range of choices while benefiting from shared infrastructure, permitting support, and a regional labor market of more than 2.7 million workers within a 60-minute drive. This collaborative approach could accelerate economic growth, attract high-value industries, and enhance the region's competitiveness on a national scale. The Hays (Caldwell) Commercial Real Estate Meetup meets the second Tuesday of each month, serving professionals shaping commercial real estate and economic growth across Hays County, Caldwell County, and the Texas Innovation Corridor.
