The state of Texas nominated downtown Round Rock for a federal program that allows private businesses to reinvest capital gains into a designated area.

At a glance: The Round Rock Chamber announced the downtown district's selection as a potential Opportunity Zone in a Sept. 21 news release.

The Opportunity Zone 2.0 program, made permanent by the 2025 federal funding bill, allows individuals or entities that sell assets at a profit to reinvest the capital gains into a fund. Those entities can defer and potentially avoid federal capital gains taxes, the chamber's release states.

Any entity that has realized capital gains can invest into the fund created by this program. It does not require that investors live or do business within the downtown district.

Using the fund, private entities can pay for local projects, such as adaptive reuse of historic buildings and business expansions, per the release.

What's next? Once the U.S. Department of the Treasury certifies Texas' Opportunity Zone map in November, the designations will go into effect Jan. 1, per the chamber.

Ascension Seton announced it acquired three facilities from Family Health Systems. The healthcare centers are located in Round Rock, Cedar Park and near Lake Travis.

The gist: In an Oct. 1 news release, the healthcare system stated the move is planned to expand emergency care access amid growth in the greater Austin area.

Family Hospital at Lake Travis, Family Medical Center at Lakeline and Family Medical Center at Round Rock will officially come under ownership of Ascension Seton later this year once the deal closes. Patients should not expect disruptions to care during the transition, the release states.

In their own words: “Adding these neighborhood locations to Ascension Seton brings our care teams where they are needed most, ready to provide immediate support and connect patients to specialized care,” Jamie Youssef, Ministry Market CEO of Ascension Texas, said in a news release.

Central Texas is hosting several local fall events across multiple cities, including Austin, Bastrop, Bee Cave, Buda, Elgin, Cedar Park and Georgetown. These seasonal activities feature pumpkin patches, festivals and Halloween celebrations.

Key events scheduled for the holiday season include:

• Pumpkin Nights in Austin, an immersive half-mile exhibition running from Sept. 17-Oct. 31.

• The 43rd annual Viva la Vida Festival & Parade celebrating Día de los Muertos in downtown Austin on Oct. 24.

• Boo Bash, a free Halloween celebration in downtown Bastrop on Oct. 31.

• A free Haunted Trail in Bee Cave from Oct. 22-23, recommended for ages 13 and up.

• The city of Buda's annual Booda Halloween on Oct. 24, featuring trick-or-treating and a kids costume contest.

• The Evergreen Farms Pumpkin Hunt in Elgin from Sept. 26-Oct. 31.

• The Sweet Eats Adventure Farm & Petting Zoo fall festival in Georgetown, running from Sept. 19-Nov. 8.

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Austin leaders look to local preparations as air taxis take off in Texas: New mobility options like electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles are now being evaluated for uses from passenger and cargo transportation to emergency response. Local officials are now moving ahead with extensive planning and outreach before the aircraft arrive.

Georgetown to reduce rideGTX operation hours, increase base cost: RideGTX, the city of Georgetown's ride voucher service, will soon eliminate overnight hours and increase its base price to combat rising costs. Once the changes go into effect, rideGTX will operate from 6 a.m. to midnight and cost a base fee of $5.

TxDOT, Mobility Authority seek public input on 290 Toll extension into Bastrop County: The two agencies are accepting comments on proposed improvements to about 15 miles of Hwy. 290 until Oct. 30. The entities are evaluating the feasibility of extending tolled main lanes alongside existing nontolled lanes, adding signalized intersections, and enhancing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.

After COTALAND officials debuted more than 30 rides and attractions for people of all ages during events Sept. 26-27, officials are looking ahead to a planned water park and on-site resort as part of Circuit of the Americas' push to grow its year-round offerings.

Zooming in: To fund the next phase, COTA officials entered into a partnership with investment firm Carlyle, according to an Aug. 24 announcement.

The financing amount was not disclosed; however, officials noted in the release that the partnership will not change COTA’s ownership structure and the venue will remain locally owned and operated.

The background: The idea for a water park has been floated before, with COTA Chairman Bobby Epstein telling Community Impact in 2025 that the project could follow COTALAND if demand supported further expansion.

The Carlyle agreement now brings financial backing to that plan.