The latest episode of The Building Texas Show, titled "The Aerospace & Defense Companies Picking Buda Over Austin," highlights how Buda, Texas, is emerging as a magnet for aerospace and defense firms, challenging the narrative that growth in Central Texas is an Austin story. Host Justin McKenzie sits down with Jennifer Storm, CEO of the Buda Economic Development Corporation, and Monica Davidson, CEO of the Greater Buda Chamber of Commerce and a Buda City Council member, to explore the factors driving this shift.
According to Storm, aerospace and defense companies are increasingly choosing Buda over larger cities like Austin, Round Rock, and Pflugerville. These firms often seek spaces of 10,000 to 20,000 square feet rather than large greenfield sites, and Buda offers right-sized space, workforce access, and lower rent. "People are saying aerospace and defense is coming to Austin, but that's not true. It's coming to Buda and Bastrop and Lockhart and Kyle and San Marcos," Storm recounts a recent caller telling her. This sentiment underscores a broader trend of growth along the I-35 corridor in smaller cities.
Buda has built significant momentum in under a year. The Hive incubator, a key initiative, moved 60 entrepreneurs through four cohorts in its first year, spanning industries from salons to AI apps to drones. A new retail incubator is opening in Buda's restored 1884 train depot on Main Street, further diversifying the local economy. Additionally, the Hays CISD teacher externship program placed 17 educators inside local businesses this summer, strengthening the workforce pipeline.
Storm discusses the Buda EDC's incentive model, which uses rebates rather than abatements. Incentives are paid only after jobs are delivered, framing it as a low-risk taxpayer investment tied to a single mandate: economic prosperity. Davidson, who has doubled Chamber membership in two years, describes her role as "I want to be where business begins in Buda." The Greater Buda Chamber rebrand widened its tent to include South Austin, Mustang Ridge, Luling, and Lockhart businesses, partnering with anchors like US Foods, Texas Lehigh, and Jardine's.
The episode also touches on Buda's unique identity as the Wiener Dog Capital of Texas, a Lions Club idea from the 1980s that has become the city's largest annual event. This branding, along with strategic economic development, positions Buda as a competitive alternative to Austin for aerospace and defense firms. For more insights, the full episode is available on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
