More than 140 developers, brokers, investors, and city leaders packed Buda City Hall on Tuesday morning for the Hays (Caldwell) Commercial Real Estate Meetup, where six economic development officials from Hays and Caldwell Counties made a rare joint appearance to outline a shared vision for regional growth through 2027.
The event, hosted by the Buda Economic Development Corporation, underscored a message of collaboration over competition. Panelists included 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.
Organizer Tim Dowling of The Roundabout in Buda said the turnout 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, emphasized Buda’s position as “Austin access without Austin friction,” citing roughly three million square feet of Class A industrial space available or under construction, a highly educated talent base, and the redevelopment of The Depot on Main—a historic train depot slated for a grand opening in early 2027 as a launchpad for makers and retail startups.
Each community showcased distinct strengths. Kyle highlighted healthcare expansion with 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, anchored by 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.
The panel stressed that companies gain choice across five distinct communities while benefiting from shared infrastructure, permitting support, and a regional labor market of more than 2.7 million workers within a 60-minute drive. Workforce readiness, regional job fairs, career and technical education, and business retention emerged as shared priorities, along with small business support through microloan partnerships.
Kamerlander 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 tone was confident and collegial: leaders presented not as rivals but as a coordinated front.
The Hays (Caldwell) Commercial Real Estate Meetup meets the second Tuesday of each month and serves professionals shaping commercial real estate and economic growth across Hays County, Caldwell County, and the Texas Innovation Corridor.
