ATX-PFH: Impact 10/14/2025

The Hutto Economic Development Corporation is looking for a new development partner for Cottonwood Properties after the HEDC board of directors voted on Oct. 8 to end negotiations with Houston-based company Midway.

Overview: The Hutto EDC first selected Midway as the master developer for the Cottonwood Properties in December 2023. The 240-acre property was expected to be the site of a mixed-use development—with rough plans for retail, restaurants and entertainment space—and serve as an extension of areas such as The Hutto Co-Op District.

As part of the 2023 agreement, the HEDC and Midway were meant to partner on the project rather than coordinate a land sale, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

Following a review of the project’s progress, the HEDC board “determined that pursuing alternative development options would be in the best interests of the community,” according to a news release.

Pluggerville Police Department is hosting a community meet-and-greet with the three finalists for the police chief role, Oct. 18 at the Pflugerville Justice Center.

The event gives residents the chance to learn about the candidates and their mission.

Meet the candidates: Coy Brown currently serves as commander for the city of Cedar Park. He began his career in law enforcement as a police officer in 2007, since then he has also served in various departments holding the rank of a lieutenant and sergeant, among other roles.

William Griffith serves as deputy chief and criminal investigations group commander in Dallas. He has worked in law enforcement since 1988, working in various roles over the years, including criminal investigations commander, administrative bureau commander and more. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs from Oklahoma State University.

Battery-powered home energy service Base Power has acquired funds to expand its operations with a Texas factory in the heart of Austin.

What to know: The company has raised $1 billion alongside 20 investors which will help build its first Texas factory in the space previously occupied by the Austin-American Statesman printing press in downtown Austin.

"Base Power is an Austin-born company, and we're excited about deepening our investment in the city with the goal of bringing affordable, reliable power to Texans," Co-founder and CEO Zach Dell said.

The energy storage and power electronics factory will help meet the company’s current and future demands with its plans to expand services nationwide.

A pro bono clinic in Southwest Austin is teaching children and youth with neuromotor disabilities how to walk and regain movement while training the next generation of physical therapists.

Since 2016, the Pro Bono Neuroplasticity Clinic at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences' Austin campus has provided free physical therapy to under- or uninsured families of children with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and other central nervous system conditions.

The pediatric clinic provides hands-on experience for physical therapy students while offering high-demand care for a growing number of families in the Austin area, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences staff said.

The overview: A handful of children and teenage patients visit the clinic multiple times a week to receive physical therapy services provided by students and faculty. The clinic helps patients foster independence by learning how to walk and improving their motor skills, said Sheila Brose, a physical therapy faculty lab instructor.

The impact: The clinic is an important resource for families who couldn’t otherwise afford physical therapy services, Brose said.