Williamson County commissioners reviewed the 2026 Capital Improvement Plan at the Sept. 9 meeting, allocating $25.5 million out of $41 million for new construction, expansions and technology.
What happened: In the first discussion of the CIP budget following the approval of the county budget, commissioners moved forward on projects associated with the Jail and Justice Center, a 911 training center, and the first phase of the Junior Justice Center expansion.
The commissioners allocated $1 million to purchase a building at 600 Forest Street, Georgetown to potentially house Jail and Justice Center offices. Commissioners voted 4-1 to fund the purchase, which was originally approved at an Aug. 26 meeting.
What else? Commissioners also allocated almost $4 million for contractors associated with the new justice center project. Other purchases include $4.6 million for a 911 training center in the Lake Creek annex.
What’s next: Commissioners will continue discussion on the CIP budget at the Sept. 16 meeting.
Bike & Grow now offering bike leases for children in Georgetown
Petra and Tibor Radulay opened Bike & Grow, a subscription-based bike business, at the end of August.
The why: The inspiration for Bike & Grow came from the couple's son, who at four-and-a-half years old made them realize that kids' bikes need to be replaced frequently as they grow, Tibor Radulay said
“We want to make it easy for our parents to pick the right size of a bike,” Tibor Radulay said.
What they offer: Bike & Grow currently offers five different size options for children ages 18 months to 11 years old. If parents are unsure what bike to lease for their child, they can take a short quiz, which takes into consideration age, inseam, skill, terrain and more.
The bike business also sells accessories online, including helmets, lights, bells, stickers and bike locks. All bikes are available for pick up in Georgetown or for delivery.
New Worlds Conference returns to Austin, taking attendees through the future of space
Austin locals and visitors alike can venture to space with EarthLight Foundation’s annual New Worlds Conference, combining all things science, exploration, technology, art, music and literature and their connection with space exploration.
What to know: From Oct. 23-25, community members can engage with a variety of interactive activities, speakers and more while learning about space exploration and connecting with like-minded individuals.
The three-day event will feature a mix of TED-style sessions showcasing topics from national space policy and space biomedicine to private space stations, cloud cities on Venus, farming on the moon and the ethics of artificial intelligence-human partnerships.
What else?: In addition to the conference’s presentations, attendees will have the chance to get to know 10 early-stage NewSpace startups as well as visionary university students competing in Space Tank, a showcase for emerging ventures to gain visibility, mentorship and community.
The finale: After two days of learning and building community, participants will enjoy an evening of ceremony, costume party, concert and fundraising at the conference’s Space Cowboy Ball.
FOODIE FRIDAY Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Austin area.
Persian pop-up Roya is set to open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in North Austin this fall.
Roya is owned and operated by chef Amir Hajimaleki, who also owns Austin restaurants District Kitchen + Cocktails, Oasthouse Kitchen + Bar, Keepers Coastal Kitchen and Daisy Lounge.
Hajimaleki has served Roya's Persian cuisine at exclusive pop-up dinners across the Austin area since 2018, and the new restaurant will take over the former Shortie's Pizza + Grinders space, located above Hajimaleki's District restaurant.
