Regionalism - A Dynamic Growth Corridor

The region's economic development authority, Opportunity Austin, serves Bastrop County through a regional economic development partnership designed to drive job creation, infrastructure investment, and business expansion.

By positioning Bastrop as part of the greater Austin metro's "dynamic growth corridor," the initiative helps the county attract high-impact industries and manage its rapid population growth. 

Opportunity Austin actively markets Bastrop's industrial parks and available land to global employers. This has helped secure major investments from companies like SpaceX, The Boring Company, X, and Acutronics which have established significant footprints in the county.

Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS): AUS is undergoing a multi-billion-dollar expansion and modernization. To get the job done, the airport coordinated Runway to Opportunities, an outreach event to encourage the hiring of more than 200 local subcontractors and construction professionals.

“If we are going to be expanding the airport, if we are effectively going to be building a new airport on top of the existing airport to meet the demand of Central Texas in our community, we want the work that goes into that to be reflective of that same community,” said Kyle Carvell, Airport Relations Officer.

Making connections between local subcontractors and the four general contractors in charge of the expansion is paying off for the airport. The $241 million West Infill Project wrapped up this month, overhauling the outbound baggage handling system and expanding Security Checkpoint 3 from two lanes to eight.

Infrastructure & Resource Planning: The initiative advocates for regional investments in transportation, water, and energy to ensure the county's infrastructure can sustain its "explosive growth". This includes support for programs like TX-PACE, which helps local commercial property owners finance energy and water efficiency upgrades.

Workforce Development: They collaborate with regional partners to align education with industry needs. For example, they support pathways for students to enter high-demand fields like healthcare and technology through partnerships with local school districts and Austin Community College.

Strategic Planning (Opportunity Bastrop County): This specific planning process, adopted by the Commissioners' Court, provides a vision for the county to maintain its "peaceful rural character" while improving essential services like public safety, health care, and environmental management.