The Central Texas "Megaregion" in Context
Uniting Amid Unprecedented Growth
The Austin-San Antonio corridor represents one of the most significant economic development opportunities in the United States.
Regional economists project these two metro areas will effectively merge by 2040 into a 6+ million person "Megaregion".*
San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, New Braunfels, Wimberley, and surrounding communities sit at the geographic center of this transformation.
Unlike Dallas-Fort Worth, which has developed sophisticated regional economic development infrastructure over 35+ years,
Central Texas' explosive growth left a former region of small rural communities lagging in the formation of holistic governance and development coordination spanning the corridor.
While community leaders have recognized and addressed critical needs for many decades, and have assembled many cross-sector organizations to address distinct economic and environmental concerns, the opportunity now is for a regional body to bring them all together to envision the future of Central Texas and codify its priorities and protections.
* "Megaregion" was coined by Henry Cisneros, Robert Rivard, and David Hendricks in a book by that name to descibe the entire corridor of explosive growth in central Texas including Austin from Georgetown, through Hill Country to the west of I-35 and the flatlands east, down to south of San Antonio, Floresville ("Pflugerville to Floresville" they say).
Challenge Area #1 - Shared Natural Resources
Finite Natural Resources
Water Crisis: San Marcos projects running out of water by 2047 without new sources. Population projections far exceeded planning estimates.
Environmental Constraints: Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP) governs development near water resources.
Challenge Area #2 - The Human-Made Physical Context
Growth Outpaced Infrastructure
Explosive Growth: Hays County doubled in population since 2010; among fastest-growing counties nationally.
Infrastructure Strain: $440M transportation bond passed November 2024 to address mobility gaps.
Regional Development Governance Missing
Challenge Area #3 - Human Expertise and Effort
Partnering with Employers to Benefit from and Reward a Highly-Educated Regional Workforce
Systematically Engaging Academic Institutions in Economic Development Planning & Activities
Systematically Engaging Academic Institutions in Economic Development Planning & Activities
University Partnerships: Texas State (40K+ students) pursuing R1 research status; major workforce and economic development partner.
200+ Colleges & Universities in Texas -- 30+ in Central Texas -- generate one of the most well-educated workforces in the United States.
Anchored by Austin and San Antonio, the Central Texas "knowledge hub" population includes roughly 65% of adults (25+) in the area with at least some college-level education.
Meanwhile, a youthful and diverse population serves multiple employment constituencies.
Systematically Engaging Academic Institutions in Economic Development Planning & Activities
Systematically Engaging Academic Institutions in Economic Development Planning & Activities
Systematically Engaging Academic Institutions in Economic Development Planning & Activities
Economic Development Visioning and Planning shouldn''t be left to only students with majors in those areas.
Established City and Regional plans draw in every discipline for which colleges and universities prepare their students.
E.g.,
Texas State (40K+ students) pursuing R1 research status; major workforce and economic development partner.
Other academic institutions are well-integrated into commercial, nonprofit, services, and civics sectors of local Texas economies: