ATX-RRK: Impact 10/28/2025

A second Tesla Supercharger is coming soon to Round Rock, between the Round Rock Premium Outlets and University Commons retail centers, and behind the H-E-B.

What you need to know: Round Rock city staff confirmed the project is in the works in October, but it is unclear when it may come online.

The Tesla Supercharger site also lists the location as "coming soon," with no targeted opening date.

Per project information from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which lists details of potential projects like renovations and construction, the charging station has an estimated construction cost of $230,000.

The $19 million expansion of the Round Rock Sports Center is nearly complete, with city officials preparing for a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 17.

What you need to know: Chad McKenzie, Round Rock director of sports management and tourism, said the project remains on time. He said crews are finishing final “punch list” items this week, which include small touch-ups and equipment testing before staff training begins in early November.

One remaining component—the new retractable bleacher system—is expected to arrive and be installed by mid-December.

The expansion began July 2024 and adds additional court space and features an upgraded touchless Amazon retail store inside the facility, allowing guests to purchase snacks and drinks without a cashier.

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.”