As summer winds to a close, growth in Liberty Hill continues. Several new businesses have opened in the area with more on the way.

Parker’s Mercantile
The iconic Liberty Hill institution will now offer live music, food, drinks and Texas-made goods. Wish Kitchen + Bar owner Mike Farr is leasing the space from the city of Liberty Hill.

• Opened Sept. 4
• 1017 Main Street, Liberty Hill

United Heritage Credit Union
The new UHCU branch is located next to the future Target. The credit union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that began in Austin in 1957.

• Opening early 2027
• 135 US 183, Liberty Hill

Target
The new Target in Liberty Hill will open in October. The 148,000-square-foot store will feature a Starbucks, CVS Pharmacy and integrated Apple section. 

• Opening Oct. 11
• 351 US 183, Liberty Hill

The Leander City Council will consider a proposed $447.8 million budget. This 2026-27 budget is roughly 1.5% higher than the previous year's adopted budget.

The local impact: City officials are seeking to maintain the current property tax rate of $0.417282 per $100 of property valuation. Because median home values in Williamson County fell in 2026, the median Leander homeowner in the county would pay $1,756 in yearly municipal property taxes, which is roughly $52 less than last year.

By the numbers: The budget includes $140 million for general capital improvements projects and $104.4 million for utility capital projects. The city also plans to increase its total staff across its general, utility, and golf funds by 40 employees, bringing the total to 565.

Going forward: The public hearing and vote on the budget and tax rate will occur on Sept. 17, with the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Check out some trending stories from the Austin area Sept. 7-10.

1. Pflugerville's Springhill Restaurant to close in October

2. $82M Hwy. 79 widening prepares for next step in Round Rock

3. Scheels, sandwiches and soccer: 13 Cedar Park-area business updates to know this September

4. Snarf's Sandwiches planned for Georgetown

5. Sandy’s Southern Spice closes in Bastrop after owner’s death

6. Austin reports on new homeless encampment management program's early results

The first public air taxi test in Texas debuted in Fort Worth Sept. 10 with an audience that included U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, Sen. Ted Cruz and numerous federal, state and regional leaders.

The takeaway: The Texas Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, officially launched Project Nexus at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. The project is a pilot program for electric vertical takeoff and landing, or eVTOLs.

The initiative will bring together federal, state and regional transportation leaders with aviation manufacturers and operators to begin testing how advanced air mobility can be safely integrated into the nation’s transportation system, according to a news release.

“For those of y'all who are old enough to remember 'The Jetsons,' I remember flying cars and we’re at the verge of seeing flying cars,” Cruz said. “We’re at the verge of air taxis and drones and transportation being transformed.”