The Hays (Caldwell) Commercial Real Estate Meetup drew more than 140 developers, brokers, investors, city leaders, and service providers to Buda City Hall on Tuesday morning, marking the largest gathering in its four-year history. The event featured a rare joint appearance by six economic development leaders from Hays and Caldwell Counties, who presented a unified regional vision 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.” Jennifer Storm added, “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.”
Storm highlighted Buda’s strategic advantages, describing it as “Austin access without Austin friction” – a smaller, responsive business climate on I-35 with a highly educated talent base and roughly three million square feet of Class A industrial space available or under construction. She also pointed to The Depot on Main, a revitalized historic train depot reimagined as a launchpad for makers and retail startups, with a planned grand opening in early 2027.
The panel painted a picture of a diversified, strategically located, and deliberately collaborative corridor. Hays County’s workforce growth, Texas State University’s innovation ecosystem, and site successes such as the H-E-B redevelopment in Buda were cited alongside Caldwell County’s cost-competitive land, SH 130 and I-10 connectivity, and emerging high-value industry. Speakers emphasized that companies gain choice across five distinct communities while still benefiting from shared infrastructure, permitting support, and a regional labor market of more than 2.7 million workers within a 60-minute drive.
Community highlights underscored how complementary the corridor has become. 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 described 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’ leap from 10,000 to 62,000 square feet and new downtown redevelopment frameworks. Luling, gateway to I-10, spotlighted X-Bow’s production campus and a widening aerospace and retail footprint putting the community on the map.
Leaders returned throughout to partnership over competition, describing economic development as job creation, honest deal-making, and “dot connecting,” not blank checks. Workforce readiness, regional job fairs, career and technical education, and business retention emerged as shared priorities. Small business support to microloan partnerships was celebrated as essential to the quality of place that draws and keeps talent.
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 tone was confident and collegial: leaders, backed by regional partnership, presenting 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. For site visits or further discussion, contact economic development representatives in Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, Lockhart, or Luling.
