ATX-GEO: Impact 10/28/2025

Pegatron Corporation, a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturing company, plans to locate its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Georgetown, according to an Oct. 27 city news release.

The company acquired a 168,784-square-foot industrial building in the Blue Springs development near SE Inner Loop and Blue Springs Boulevard.

The details: Pegatron will start construction on the Georgetown facility before the end of the year, the news release states. The company will invest a minimum of $35 million in capital in the city, and will hire at least 100 employees within the first three years of opening.

About the company: Pegatron works on design and manufacturing for a wide range of electronics, such as laptops, smartphones, game consoles and smart home devices. The company is also involved with hardware needed for data centers.

What’s next: Both Georgetown City Council and Williamson County commissioners court will consider economic development agreements based on Pegatron's capital investments and job opportunities.

Veneto Hospitality announced that the Juliet Italian Kitchen in Georgetown will reopen as Juliet Social on Oct. 29. The space is transitioning from an Italian restaurant to a cafe and event space, according to a news release from Pennington PR. 

The update: Dining services at the restaurant paused earlier this month to make space for renovations and additions to the building, according to previous Community Impact reporting. Juliet Social will soon be open for lunch Wednesday-Monday with a cafe-style menu and familiar dishes. 

On the menu: Menu items include Juliet’s Lasagna, seasonal ravioli, salads, cheesecake, tiramisu and affogatos. The spot will also serve coffee, wine, beer and cocktails. 

The grand opening: As a new event space, the building will now accommodate up to 180 people for private events, including small celebrations, business meetings and large gatherings. 

The Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor, which hosts the Williamson County Fair and Rodeo, completed its West Arena project Oct. 24.

About the project: The expo center received a 175-by-450-foot covered arena, name the Friendship Pavilion. The project also included construction of two 28-by-28-foot covered picnic and a paved parking area.

Totaling $10.7 million, project funds came from the 2023 voter-approved county parks bond. Williamson County officials celebrated the completion of the West Arena project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The history: The Friendship Pavilion is named after the community of Friendship, which established itself in Williamson County in the 1880s. Friendship experienced several destructive floods from the San Gabriel River in the 1900s, and the site of the former community is now located beneath Granger Lake.

• 5350 Bill Pickett Trail, Taylor

Texas is home to about 3.5 million small businesses, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Estimates show that the average Texas small-business owner could save about $2,500 per year if voters approve an expanded business tax exemption on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The details: State Proposition 9 would exempt up to $125,000 of a business’s personal property, such as equipment, furniture and vehicles, from taxation. Texas business owners currently receive a tax exemption on property worth $2,500 or less.

“At $2,500, virtually everyone's paying this tax,” NFIB Texas Director Jeff Burdett said in an Oct. 24 interview. “If you have a desk, a computer and a chair, you're probably over $2,500 [in inventory]. … It makes no difference for almost any business.”

At the polls: Early voting in the Nov. 4 election began Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. For more information about the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

The overview: As Community Impact enters its third decade, it’s returning to its roots of growth and deeper reader connections. The “Patron” program, which began in 2020 by reader demand, has relaunched as the InCIder.

“This relaunch represents our renewed commitment to readers who support our local news,” CEO John Garrett said. “Beyond funding great journalism, we also want to reward our InCIders and build deeper connections with them, creating a true sense of community around the work we do.”

Event details: As part of the relaunch, Community Impact will host its first-ever InCIder Hour, a new event aimed at celebrating and engaging the company’s supporters.

The event, open to InCIders only, will take place Nov. 12 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Community Impact Headquarters, 16225 Impact Way, Pflugerville.

Guests will have the opportunity to network with fellow InCIders, meet Community Impact staff and attend a featured conversation with legislative reporter Hannah Norton, moderated by CEO John Garrett.

“Our first event needed to start where all the hard work is put together,” Garrett said. “People are blown away when they see our operation. To be able to sit and chat with the best legislative reporter in Texas, Hannah Norton, makes it an event our InCIder friends deserve and hopefully will enjoy.”