A collection of entrepreneurship programs to support area small businesses advanced in September.

The breakdown: More than $2 million from the city will go toward:

• A small business interest loan buydown pilot program

• Matching revolving funds for crowdfunded small business loans

• A contract with The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business to develop a new small business pitch competition

In total, the programs are expected to assist scores of Austin small businesses over several years.

Austin City Council gave final approval Sept. 24 to rezone the former Rosedale School site, clearing one of two hurdles for a proposed 435-unit, six-story apartment complex.

AISD agreed in 2025 to sell the campus to developer OHT Partners for $26 million as the district works to close a budget shortfall, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

What happened: Council approved the rezoning on all three readings, according to the city's action notes. District 10 Council Member Marc Duchen was the lone no vote. Because neighbors filed a valid petition against the rezoning, it needed a supermajority to pass.

The zoning allows OHT's proposed 435-unit plan but does not approve a specific project. District 7 Council Member Mike Siegel said a smaller compromise development would also require the MF-6 zoning because of the city's site-area rules.

What's next: The sale still depends on AISD winning its lawsuit against Rosedale-area homeowners over a 1938 deed restriction. That case remains unresolved in Travis County District Court with no trial date set, according to the district's project website.

The Hill Country draws people to its rolling landscape, clear waterways and live music scene. But as development grows throughout the Hill Country, attempts to build large entertainment destinations have increasingly collided with concerns over traffic, noise and environmental impacts.

The overview: White Rocks, a proposed 71-acre mixed-use development located near Hwy. 71 between Bee Cave and Austin, is the latest project to face this tension.

The site would include a 10,000-seat amphitheater, residential units and a hotel with amenities including two restaurants, three bars, a spa, an onsite distillery, a 1,500-seat indoor performance venue and professional recording studios.

While developers stated in a press release that the project is designed with “environmental stewardship” in mind, opponents are raising concerns about the development’s proposed wastewater system and its potential effects on Barton Creek and the surrounding land.

Check out six trending stories in the Austin area from Sept. 21-24.

1. Event center slated for site of old pharmacy at Parmer and Whitestone

2. Nana B's Country Kitchen showcases slow-cooked family recipes near Round Rock, Hutto border

3. Texas Roadhouse to open in November in Georgetown

4. Tacodeli plans new Dripping Springs location

5. ARA Diagnostic Imaging opens Leander location

6. Fritz Park holds grand opening in Hutto

Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Transportation recently announced a 10-year transportation plan that will invest almost $140 billion in roadway improvements across the state. 

The framework: The Texas Transportation Commission approved the 2027 Unified Transportation Program at an August meeting. The funding includes $95 billion for projects across the state and $43 billion for development and routine maintenance. The investment is expected to improve safety, reduce congestion and strengthen the supply chain.

Quote of note: “This 10-year plan reflects the scale and complexity of meeting Texas’ transportation needs in one of the fastest-growing states in the nation,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said in a news release. “It is focused on practical outcomes—improving safety, preserving the system we have, and supporting reliable movement for people and goods.”

The big picture: The 2027 UTP includes over $1.5 billion for Austin-area projects, including improvements to I-35 in Travis County and SH 71 in Bastrop County.