More than 140 developers, brokers, investors, and city leaders packed Buda City Hall on Tuesday 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.
Hosted by the Buda Economic Development Corporation, the event was the largest in the meetup’s four-year history, according to organizer Tim Dowling of The Roundabout in Buda. “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, is a rare opportunity.”
The panel included Jennifer L. Storm of the Buda EDC; Victoria Vargas of the City of Kyle; Helen Ramirez of the City of San Marcos; Holly Malish of the Lockhart EDC; Ari Arias of the Luling EDC; and Mike Kamerlander of the Hays Caldwell Economic Development Partnership. Their message: one region, two counties, five communities, competing not against each other but against other metros for jobs and investment.
Storm framed Buda as “Austin access without Austin friction,” highlighting roughly three million square feet of Class A industrial space available or under construction and The Depot on Main, a revitalized historic train depot set to open in early 2027 as a launchpad for makers and retail startups. “I am proud to partner with my esteemed colleagues… to collaborate and work together for the future of our connected corridor,” Storm said.
Each community showcased complementary strengths. 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, citing 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.
Leaders repeatedly emphasized partnership over competition, describing economic development as job creation and “dot connecting,” not blank checks. Shared priorities included workforce readiness, regional job fairs, career and technical education, business retention, and small business support through microloan partnerships. They noted that companies gain choice across five distinct communities while still accessing shared infrastructure, permitting support, and a regional labor market of more than 2.7 million workers within a 60-minute drive.
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 unified front could reshape how site selectors view the corridor, offering a diversified, strategically located alternative to increasingly expensive Austin real estate. For businesses and residents, the collaboration promises more coordinated infrastructure, a broader talent pipeline, and sustainable growth that preserves local character.
The Hays (Caldwell) Commercial Real Estate Meetup meets the second Tuesday of each month, serving professionals shaping commercial real estate and economic growth across the Texas Innovation Corridor.
