Officials with the city, Williamson County and state discussed current economic development trends and the shift toward advanced manufacturing at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone Luncheon on June 25. 

The discussion: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Williamson County and the city of Georgetown have experienced a market shift from office jobs to advanced manufacturing positions amid an extended period of population growth, Williamson County Economic Development Coordinator Dave Porter said.

“There's not a market more on fire right now in terms of economic development than Georgetown and Williamson County,” he said.

This change is largely driven by corporations such as Samsung Electronics and Tesla, which have made Williamson County a home base for their manufacturing operations. Other large projects, including Pegatron and Compal, are in the works, as well.

Something to note: In addition to bringing new companies to the area, officials highlighted the career paths that already exist locally.

Porter said there are over 15,000 businesses in Williamson County, and 75%-80% of job opportunities come from existing businesses.

New businesses are coming into Georgetown west of I-35, including along Hwy. 29 near the intersections of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and US 183.

Whataburger
Marcia Rios will operate the local franchise, located in the Parmer Ranch Marketplace shopping center. The fast-food restaurant sells burgers, chicken meals, salads and milkshakes, and also offers a breakfast menu.

• Opened June 15
• 28713 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Georgetown

• Opened May 30
• 8481 W. Hwy. 29, Ste. 100, Leander

• Opening in 2027
• Northwest corner of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Hwy. 29

Check out some top trending stories from the Austin area June 22-25. 

1. Last Austin-area Hooters location closes

2. Developer of The Domain partners with legacy family on 1,200-acres

3. Universal Music partner joins White Rocks project to build hotel and private residences

4. Hays County denies agreement with 340-acre development over Edwards Aquifer recharge zone

5. Liberty Hill ISD students outperform state average on majority of 2026 STAAR exams

6. Georgetown veterans to have VA health care closer to home

The State Board of Education is nearing the finish line in its massive rewrite of what Texas public school students will learn about world and state history.

The details: The curriculum overhaul would shift the focus in social studies classes to a Texas-centered approach, deemphasizing lessons about world cultures and injecting more content about Christianity’s role in the founding of the United States.

Some educators and students have expressed concerns that the proposal lacks significant teachings about civil rights history, Japanese internment in the 1940s and people of color’s contributions to the nation. Meanwhile, Republican board members have pushed back, saying that the rewrite is necessary to teach students about American exceptionalism and Texas heritage in an attempt to undo what they called “a watering-down of American history.”

What's happening: The board has spent the bulk of its meetings this week making amendments to a 143-page social studies proposal, which includes hundreds of standards that students would be expected to learn each year. If adopted June 26, the new requirements would take effect in 2030.