More than 140 developers, brokers, investors, city leaders, and service providers packed Buda City Hall on Tuesday morning for the Hays (Caldwell) Commercial Real Estate Meetup, marking the largest gathering in the event's four-year history. The session featured a rare joint appearance by six economic development leaders from Hays and Caldwell Counties, who presented a unified vision for regional growth under the theme "one region, two counties, five communities."
The panel included Jennifer L. Storm of the Buda Economic Development Corporation, 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 noted the unprecedented turnout, saying, "We've run this meetup for four years, and we've never seen a response like this. 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 welcomed the sold-out audience and highlighted Buda's strategic position as "Austin access without Austin friction," citing roughly three million square feet of Class A industrial space available or under construction and a highly educated talent base. She also announced The Depot on Main, a revitalized historic train depot designed as a launchpad for makers and retail startups, with a planned grand opening in early 2027.
The panel emphasized that the corridor offers companies 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. Kyle pointed to healthcare expansion, including St. David's new emergency center and ACC's growing health sciences presence, plus new Class A industrial inventory at Kyle Commerce Center. San Marcos positioned itself as the region's education and innovation powerhouse, with 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 stressed partnership over competition, describing economic development as job creation and "dot connecting," not blank checks. 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 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 collaborative tone signals a maturing regional approach that could reshape how companies view the corridor. By presenting a coordinated front, the five communities aim to attract investment that might otherwise go to competing metros. The emphasis on workforce development and small business support also suggests a focus on sustainable growth that benefits existing residents, not just new arrivals.
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.
