A former landfill site that has been vacant for decades will be the location of a major supermarket in Buda. Multiple city and Hays County entities have finalized a partnership with H-E-B to develop a new store on the southbound access road of I-35, north of Main Street.

The new retail destination is expected to create at least 50 full-time equivalent jobs within a year of opening. Construction on the project is expected to begin this year.

The big picture: H-E-B will develop the site to be safe and accessible through environmental repair and roadway improvements, including upgrades to the Old San Antonio Road connector.

H-E-B will repurpose at least 60% of the existing Buda store, located at 15300 S. I-35, Buda, for businesses that will generate retail sales tax within 18 months of the new supermarket.

From new openings to celebrating milestones and more, here are the latest updates on San Marcos businesses.

Cuadra: Cuadra is the latest retailer to open its brick-and-mortar location at the San Marcos Premium Outlets. The store sells boots, shoes, apparel and accessories made from exotic leather for both men and women.

• Opened Feb. 17

• Opens April 6

• San Marcos Premium Outlets, 3939 N. I-35, San Marcos

Austin Community College announced a new partnership with the Round Rock-based Trellis Foundation to create an AI-driven system connecting students to support services, personalizing interventions and preparing students for an economy more prominently featuring AI technologies in day-to-day life. 

What you need to know: ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart said March 11 that this initiative, spearheaded by the community college and Trellis Foundation, will "lean in" to the AI-driven changes in the economy, seeking to meet the moment similar to that of previous large-scale changes, such as the Industrial Revolution or the introduction of computers. 

The initiative is supported by a $3 million federal grant to the ACC Center for Digital Innovation and eEntrepreneurship, which U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett said will be secured by a direct federal appropriation. 

What they're saying: "The question isn't whether AI will shape our future," Lowery-Hart said. "The question is whether higher education will lead in shaping how it's used. We can shape how it's used ethically with humans at the center of it, not in replacement of it."