With all eyes focused on the future of Hutto, the Hutto EDC (Economic Development Corporation) recently hosted a much-anticipated forum with economic development experts to discuss Hutto’s strategic growth and wealth of opportunities, both on a local and regional scale. Dozens of regional leaders, developers, brokers, and business owners came out to be part of this crucial conversation, held in Downtown Hutto on Dec. 10 at a historic venue called One Eleven East.
The event kicked off with a focus on historic Downtown Hutto ,including valuable and constructive dialogue with downtown business leaders and landowners. It was followed by enlightening updates on the Hutto EDC’s current prospects. The EDC's theme is "Advancing Growth and Opportunity," which these exciting stats reveal isn't just a slogan:
- Unsolicited calls to the Hutto EDC from out-of-town/state developers have increased 60% this year (2021)
- The average size of the City’s most active prospects is greater than $1 billion in new capital and over 2k jobs—an all-time high for Hutto
- About 15% of the prospects looking at Greater Austin are actively considering Hutto – another all-time high for Hutto
- Hutto ranks 7th in the Austin metro area for new home starts, with nearly 1,800 home permits issued since January 2021
- The Hutto population has soared from 1,250 in the 2000 Census to current estimates over 40,000 residents
Click here to see photos from the forum, which was covered by multiple TV stations and newspapers, with Hutto seen as prime for strategic development in light of its available land, thriving community, and excellent access to transportation corridors. Bob Farley, Hutto executive director of economic development, served as moderator for the inspiring panel conversation. Farley noted the City has been actively in talks for a few months with large and mid-sized applied technology companies--hinting at exciting news to come in 2022 for the City of Hutto.
"Hutto is hot, hot, hot," Farley told the crowd. "Companies from all over are finding Hutto’s costs, workforce, and traditions very compelling."
The panel of experts included:
- Callie Taylor, Senior Director of Economic Development for Austin Chamber of Commerce, also known as Opportunity Austin, which represents the five county Central Texas region.
- Cory Brymer, Founder/CEO of BryComm, which has boomed to nearly 300 employees (and growing!) since moving to Hutto with EDC support. Brymer was recently featured in the Austin Business Journal’s "Inspiring Leaders" article and spoke about his Hutto experience in this video.
- Travis James, Vice President of TXP. As the lead at TXP for land-use planning, economic impact analysis, and tax revenue forecasting, James has conducted over 200 economic and tax revenue impact studies for projects throughout the U.S.
- Mike Arismendez, Hutto EDC Board Chair. Arismendez has significant experience in city and state government, including formerly serving as mayor and city manager for other Texas cities in addition to his extensive work in Texas state government.
