Rivian’s $9.5M spark in Round Rock

Hey everyone, TJ here:

I'm hosting a FREE AI training in the next few weeks for business owners and professionals in the Leander and Round Rock areas. If you've been hearing about ChatGPT, Claude, AI agents (or OpenClaw if you’re really in the know), or any of this stuff and don't know where to start, this is for you.

I did this last year and about 40 people showed up, it was awesome. But AI has moved so fast since then that I want to do it again with all the latest tools and trends.

No experience needed. Just bring your laptop if you have one, and I'll walk you through everything live. Space is limited based on the venue, and this will probably be one of the last free ones I do, so if you're interested, grab a spot now.

Also, you can see that it’s branded to WilCo Guide. That’s our new overarching brand for everything we’re doing in Williamson County: Leander Scoop, Round Rock Scoop and of course WilCo Grind. But we’ve got some other great media brands coming soon, so WilCo Guide will be where it all lives online.

No changes to the newsletters, but a lot will be changing on the site in the near future. All good stuff, as we want to bring as much value to the community as we can, and this will be a great way for us to do it.

RSVP by clicking the button below:

Luma requires a date in order to create the signup link, but that date is subject to change based on the venue. If you register, you’ll be notified of the finalized date, time, and location once everything is confirmed.

If it sounds interesting, feel free to register. You can always cancel later if the time or location doesn’t work for you. This just helps us get a general headcount for the venue.

Opening Hype: Round Rock is landing a major piece of the electric vehicle revolution as Rivian Automotive selects the city for its newest Texas facility. The California-based EV maker filed plans for a 46,000-square-foot sales and service center at 140 Crossroads Drive, representing a $9.5 million investment with construction launching in March 2026.

Why It Matters: Rivian, widely considered Tesla's primary competitor, is expanding beyond its Austin locations in Crestview and South Congress to Round Rock. The 4.6-acre facility will provide vehicle maintenance, sales operations, and customer support, adding to Rivian's network of over 60 U.S. service centers. This investment signals Round Rock's strategic I-35 positioning makes it attractive for next-generation automotive companies.

Bigger Picture: Round Rock's capture of Rivian reflects the broader shift of EV manufacturers establishing Texas infrastructure as the state emerges as critical for electric vehicle adoption. Landing high-profile brands like Rivian strengthens Round Rock's reputation beyond traditional retail development. The city benefits from its location between Austin's innovation economy and northern suburbs' expanding consumer base, positioning it as a hub for cutting-edge automotive industries.

Coordinate business relationships, serve as technology advisor on governance councils, and align technology solutions with organizational goals. Partner with ministry leadership to develop roadmaps, manage project intake and delivery, and facilitate resolution of critical technical issues.

High school diploma with 2 years of experience or Associate's/Bachelor's degree required, healthcare technology experience required, and hybrid schedule with rotating on-call required for this position.

Learning & Development Professional at Samsung Electronics ($57k–$127k). Design EHS training programs and lead performance initiatives. Apply now!

Sr. Benefits Analyst/Specialist at Samsung Electronics ($69k–$156k). Administer employee benefits, and manage leave programs. Apply now!

Business Operations Program Manager at Google ($126k–$181k).
Lead headcount planning and manage workforce operations. Apply now!

IT Internal Auditor at ERCOT ($84k–$143k). Evaluate IT controls, conduct risk-based audit processes, and support enterprise compliance. Apply now!

Project Manager at Tata Consultancy Services ($85k–$100k).
Manage telecom projects and deliver presentations. Apply now!

Business Operations Manager at City of Round Rock ($88k–$110k). Oversee recreation facilities and manage budgets and operations. Apply now!

Want your job featured? Reply to this email and give us the info and link!

Austin Regional Clinic opened its third Round Rock location this January, bringing centralized specialty care under one roof. The 22,000-square-foot ARC Greenlawn Specialty houses 15 physicians and advanced practice clinicians offering ENT, Podiatry, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, and Audiology.

Specialty consolidation = patient retention. Six specialties under one roof keep patients in-network and build loyalty. Multiple touchpoints per visit mean higher lifetime value and cross-referral opportunities.

Adjacent surgery center amplifies value. Co-locating with ARC Surgery Center North creates a seamless care continuum from consultation to recovery. The vertical integration is a revenue multiplier independent specialists can't replicate.

Growth follows the rooftops. Round Rock is one of the fastest-growing cities in America. As Williamson County adds 1.5 million residents by 2060, expect similar specialty hubs to anchor high-growth corridors county-wide.

Bottom line: ARC Greenlawn Specialty proves that healthcare consolidation + geographic targeting = defensible market position. Businesses that centralize services and reduce patient friction will capture the growth.

Claude Opus 4.6 just came out this week, and it’s incredible! I cannot stress enough how much you need to play with it to see how it all works.

The key to understand is that it can build things for you, and not just code for software. It can build workflows, website designs, and take over your machine. You’ll be stunned at what it’s capable once you start playing with it.

This is exactly why I’m going to do another in-person AI training, to show you how all this works.

If you’re interested, sign up at the RSVP link at the top of the email!

Local business growth continues accelerating with Perky Beans Coffee and owners Ron and Angie Diaz pushing for new locations, positioning 2026 as a pivotal delivery year. Perky Beans opened in 2019 and has confirmed Georgetown expansion, reflecting continued suburban market growth across Williamson County.

Confirmed projects include Georgetown at 2651 E. University Avenue, a 4,608-square-foot build-out opening April 2026. Investment is estimated at $575,000, with the dual-concept model (coffeehouse + restaurant) proven in Leander.

What this business activity shows:

These openings point to Williamson County transitioning to retail-driven economies where local businesses anchor growth. New cafés bring permanent jobs and community connections while strengthening commercial fundamentals. As communities sprawl, neighborhood gathering spaces indicate where rooftops and spending power head next.

Custom Hill Country estate on 25.7 oak-studded acres with resort-style pool, 800 sq. ft. guest quarters, and tech you'll actually use (Savant automation, geothermal HVAC). $2.999M for 5,437 sq. ft. of pure Texas charm.

👩‍💼 Women In Business Alliance (WIB) Chamber of Commerce | Georgetown | 02/12 | More
Roundtable networking and support for women sharing business challenges and successes.

🤝 BXN Round Rock Networking Luncheon | The Alcove Cantina | Round Rock | 02/12 | More
Referral-focused networking with local professionals committed to growth and community impact.

🏛️ CCAT: Tax Abatements | Sheraton | Georgetown | 02/17 | More
Practical, policy-focused deep dive into tax abatements as smart economic development tools.

💼 Job Fair: Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area | Chamber of Commerce | Georgetown | 02/17 | More
Meet local employers in person and explore new career opportunities for free.

🤝 Cedar Park Business Mastermind and Networking | Jack Allen's Kitchen | Cedar Park | 02/17 | More
Collaborative networking for entrepreneurs to share ideas and build lasting partnerships.

🤝 BXN Cedar Park / Leander Networking Luncheon | Red Horn Brewery | Leander | 02/17 | More
Referral-driven networking with local professionals in a relaxed, community-minded setting.

Thanks for reading our newsletter! We’ll have more updates for you next week!

See you around!