Game-changer! Touchdown! Big win!
Sure, these phrases are synonymous with football, but here in Round Rock, they’re also heard on a pretty regular basis when folks get to talking about our economic development strategy. And at Austin Business Journal’s recent Williamson County Growth Summit, that’s just the topic that had attendees buzzing.
Mayor Craig Morgan, along with Round Rock’s City Manager Laurie Hadley and Councilmembers Writ Baese, Frank Leffingwell and Rene Flores, joined other leaders from across the region in attending a sold-out event focused on the incredible economic growth opportunities being seen across Round Rock and Williamson County as a whole.
Two of the seven panelists were connected to dynamic, new projects recently unveiled as huge economic development successes for the Round Rock community:
Kalahari Resorts & Convention Center
Bill Otto, Executive Vice President at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
Kalahari Resorts has chosen Round Rock as the location of its fourth family resort and convention center. Its proximity to Old Settlers Park and Dell Diamond – two well-established venues that together draw more than a million visitors annually – bodes well for a successful, tourism-oriented development. This is essentially a new industry for Round Rock that will provide substantial property tax revenues and diversify available employment opportunities.
A family-owned business, Kalahari Resorts delivers a “world-away” waterpark resort and conference experience beyond expectations. The authentically African-themed Kalahari Resorts feature well-appointed guest rooms, full-service amenities, fully equipped fitness centers, on-site restaurants, unique retail shops and state-of-the-art conference centers.
The District
Paul Marshall Cate, CEO and President of Mark IV Capital
Mark IV oversaw development of Round Rock’s first Class-A office building, The Summit at La Frontera, in 2015, and now has plans to further expand its footprint in Round Rock with a $200 million, 1 million-square-foot mixed-use development. The District is planned for 65 acres east of the Round Rock Crossing shopping center at Texas 45 and North Greenlawn Boulevard.
With projects like these queued up for Round Rock, that not only diversify our tax base (and keep residential property tax rate among the lowest in the state) but also positively impact the quality of life for residents, we’re feeling pretty darn good about the future.
Interested in learning more about the strategy behind some of these projects? Check out the Chamber of Commerce website – the City partners with this organization to find, recruit and help make economic development touchdowns a reality for Round Rock: https://roundrockchamber.org/economic-development/
