More than 140 developers, brokers, investors and city leaders gathered Tuesday morning at Buda City Hall for the Hays (Caldwell) Commercial Real Estate Meetup. Six economic development officials from Hays and Caldwell counties made a rare joint appearance to present a shared vision for regional growth through 2027.

Hosted by the Buda Economic Development Corporation, the event emphasized collaboration rather than competition. 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.

Tim Dowling, organizer of the event and a representative of The Roundabout in Buda, said attendance was unprecedented in the meetup’s four-year history.

“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,” Dowling said.

Storm, who welcomed the sold-out audience, described Buda as offering “Austin access without Austin friction.” She cited roughly three million square feet of available or under-construction Class A industrial space, a highly educated talent base and the redevelopment of The Depot on Main. The historic train depot is scheduled for a grand opening in early 2027 and is intended to serve as a launchpad for makers and retail startups.

Each community highlighted different economic strengths. Kyle pointed to healthcare expansion involving St. David’s new emergency center and Austin Community College’s growing health sciences presence, as well as additional industrial inventory at Kyle Commerce Center.

San Marcos presented itself as the region’s education and innovation hub, supported by Texas State University, STAR Park, the regional airport and an advancing aerospace and defense ecosystem. Lockhart highlighted Hill Country Foodworks’ expansion from 10,000 to 62,000 square feet, along with new frameworks for downtown redevelopment. Luling, described as the gateway to I-10, spotlighted X-Bow’s production campus and a growing aerospace and retail footprint.

Together, those examples show how the regional pitch combines specialized local assets with a broader network for companies considering Central Texas locations. The communities are not presenting a single development model; they are pairing different industry, education, retail and redevelopment opportunities with shared support for businesses operating across the region.

Panelists said companies can choose among five distinct communities while accessing shared infrastructure, permitting assistance and a regional labor pool of more than 2.7 million workers within a 60-minute drive. Workforce readiness, regional job fairs, career and technical education, and business retention were identified as common priorities. Leaders also cited support for small businesses through microloan partnerships.

Kamerlander described the Austin-San Antonio Innovation Corridor as Central Texas’ next defining opportunity. He pointed to growth in aerospace and dual-use defense technology alongside advanced manufacturing, retail and hospitality. Throughout the discussion, the officials presented their communities as coordinated partners rather than competitors. The priorities outlined at the meetup—workforce preparation, business retention, small-business financing and planned projects such as The Depot—are the initiatives leaders identified as shaping the region’s development through 2027.

The Hays (Caldwell) Commercial Real Estate Meetup is held on the second Tuesday of each month for professionals involved in commercial real estate and economic growth across Hays County, Caldwell County and the Texas Innovation Corridor.

Source: Citybuzz.