ATX-BAS: Impact 10/29/2025

The Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry is racing to meet a surge in demand from residents who need a helping hand, as policy shifts ripple through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and a prolonged government shutdown tightens household budgets. 

SNAP is a government food assistance program primarily for low-income individuals who receive a monthly stipend for food items and is scheduled to stop sending money to qualifying Texans in response to insufficient funding.

The details: There are approximately 11,496 Bastrop County residents expected to lose SNAP assistance Nov. 1, according to BCEFP. 

“Rising grocery costs and other household expenses are already making it difficult for many neighbors to afford groceries,” said Kelly Manfredini, director of marketing and communications for BCEFP, in a news release. “This will hit hard families who rely on this assistance to put food on the table."

Circuit of the Americas is shifting into high gear to provide more entertainment—a move that will make the facility more than a motorsports mecca.

Bobby Epstein, chairman of COTA, shared plans with Community Impact to open a full-scale amusement park next summer at its sprawling complex.

“I think what we’re trying to do is build a destination,” he said. “We want Central Texas residents’ first thought to be, ‘There’s a lot to do out at COTA.’”

The details: The amusement park, dubbed COTALAND, will span approximately 30 acres with 33 attractions by opening day, including:

• Two high-thrill roller coasters
• Two family-friendly roller coasters
• One roller coaster for children ages 3-6

As the Austin metro area continues to see expansion in the technology sector, industry leaders are highlighting key critical area of interest: power delivery. 

What you need to know: In an Oct. 22 meeting of Opportunity Austin's Economic Development Council, panelists representing a variety of arms of the local technology industry shared insights regarding technology industry expansion in the area. 

What they're saying: The technology sector in Austin has experienced rapid growth, panelists said, and one of the first questions being asked by companies seeking to locate here are about power supply. 

"So much of our current project was defined by how much power we could bring into the building," said Eric Van Hensbergen, a fellow and member of the leadership team of the architecture and technology group at semiconductor and software design company Arm. "In speaking with a lot of our partners, that's the No. 1 thing that they're looking for in regions that they're expanding into."

These considerations are especially relevant for data centers, he said.

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 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.”