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Cedar Park approves $2M deal with construction materials company

Cedar Park City Council approved an economic development deal June 25 with construction materials company Texas Materials centered around a $2 million grant and a rebate of sales tax revenue generated by the company.

The framework: Under the agreement, the company will establish a new regional headquarters at the Town Center Office Park, located northeast of the intersection of Bell Boulevard and Whitestone Boulevard, Chief Economic Development Officer Arthur Jackson said. The company will receive the grant from the city in exchange for establishing and occupying its new headquarters by May 21, 2028.

The agreement provides the company a sales tax revenue rebate of 100% for the first two years, and an amount gradually decreasing to 75% over the first 10 years. Provided Texas Materials meets the requirements laid out in the agreement for the first 10 years, the sales tax rebate will be extended another 10 years.

 
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Williamson County Coverage
What you need to know about firework restrictions in Williamson County ahead of July 4th

Fireworks are prohibited in much of Williamson County, including inside each city’s city limits, in county parks and near schools, according to a county news release.

Residents can safely use fireworks in unincorporated areas of the county.

What you need to know: Before using fireworks, a county map shows the firework-free areas throughout Williamson County. There is also a 5,000-foot buffer zone surrounding each area where fireworks are banned.

Those using fireworks should be mindful of safety precautions, as misusing fireworks can cause serious injuries, the release states.

Best practices include:

  • Buying from reputable sources
  • Reading labels and warnings
  • Storing and disposing of fireworks properly
  • Using fireworks a safe distance from homes, buildings and combustible materials
  • Ensuring adult supervision
  • Protecting pets, animals and wildlife

Used fireworks should be soaked in water and placed in a metal trash can away from structures and combustible materials.

Williamson County Fire Marshal’s Office personnel will be available on the July 4 holiday to ensure safety and respond to any complaints, the news release states.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Plein Air Exhibition

Center Stage Cinema: The Sandlot

June 27-Aug. 6
Buda

July 3, 8 p.m.
Austin

More info

More info

 

The Morning Spin

Georgetown Sertoma July 4th Celebration and Fireworks

July 4, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Austin

July 4, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Georgetown

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

travis county coverage
Travis County struggles to meet public defense obligations amid attorney shortage

The problem: Travis County must provide attorneys to residents who can't afford one by the end of the first business day after a request, but its primary contractor, the Capital Area Private Defender Service, has lost half its attorney roster over the past decade, dropping from roughly 250 attorneys to about 125.

Because 80% of county public defense cases flow through CAPDS, the shortage has real consequences for case quality and client outcomes.

What's being done: Travis County Community Legal Services Executive Geoff Burkhart presented nine potential solutions to Commissioners Court on June 24, ranging from $50,000 to more than $4 million, including expanding the Public Defender's Office, raising attorney fees, offering loan forgiveness and creating a pipeline through internships.

Preliminary budget investments are expected in late July, though officials warned the fix will span multiple budget cycles.
 
Latest Education News
Biblical readings, Texas-centered history lessons to be required in K-12 schools in 2030

Texas' Republican-led State Board of Education approved a sweeping rewrite of the state's social studies curriculum standards and a list of dozens of books that students will be required to read each school year, both of which are infused with biblical references. The new requirements will begin rolling out to public school classrooms in the 2030-31 school year.

The details: As many as 25 texts will be read each year in early elementary school grades, with about 10 books required in later grades. The reading list was created under a 2023 state law requiring “at least one literary work” per grade.

The new social studies curriculum standards will expand lessons about Texas and American history, deemphasizing some teachings about world cultures and people of color. The standards also expand the amount of content students will be expected to learn each year.

The debate: Proponents of the new standards and reading list said they will teach students to love their state and country, while critics said the policies do not include diverse perspectives.
 

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