Round Rock's luxury hub breaks ground

I’ve been getting a ton of interest from people lately wanting to learn and connect in person about AI lately. Some people who are already building products with Claude Code, and some just wanting a way to learn the basics in person.

I’m working hard on building out different opportunities for everyone to get together and find their people. This AI wave is going to be truly life changing, and learning it and building with other locals in person will be a massive benefit to everyone.

More to come in the next issue. But for now, if you’re wanting to connect with other locals about anything related to AI, please reply and let me know by responding to this email. It goes straight to me.

Opening Hype: Taylor is on the verge of landing its second-largest employer as Williamson County commissioners prep an April 4 vote on a tax abatement for Compal USA Technology Inc. The Taiwanese manufacturer will produce server racks for data centers at its Taylor facility, with up to 900 jobs tied to the deal.

Why It Matters: Compal Electronics counts Apple, Google's Alphabet, and Round Rock's Dell Technologies among its clients, putting Taylor directly inside the supply chain of the world's biggest tech companies. The Taylor Economic Development Corp. has already committed tax breaks, rebates, and grants in exchange for job creation, local hiring commitments, and workforce training partnerships.

Bigger Picture: Taylor's Samsung-anchored identity is evolving fast into a full-scale tech manufacturing corridor, and Compal's arrival deepens that story considerably. Landing a global supplier to Apple and Google signals that Williamson County's workforce and infrastructure can compete for serious advanced manufacturing investment. With the county abatement vote approaching, Taylor is stacking the kind of employer density that transforms a city's economic profile for a generation.

Opening Hype: Round Rock's most ambitious mixed-use project just crossed a major milestone as Mark IV Capital broke ground March 4 on Origin at The District, a 316-unit luxury residential community backed by $86 million in Phase 1 funding. The seven-story development at The District will stack high-end apartments directly above 23,042 square feet of ground-level retail, with delivery targeted for 2028.

Why It Matters: Greystar, one of the country's largest residential property managers with 25-plus years in Round Rock, will oversee operations, while Retail Street Advisors is curating an experience-driven tenant mix across a 40,750-square-foot food and beverage plaza. This isn't just housing supply; it's a walkable live-work-shop environment Round Rock has not had before.

Bigger Picture: Round Rock has long been defined by its retail corridor and corporate campuses, and The District signals the city is now building the kind of urban-format density that draws younger professionals and retains residents long-term. Mixed-use projects of this scale attract both talent and secondary commercial investment, strengthening Round Rock's case as a full-service city rather than a suburb. With Phase 1 alone running 316 units and six-plus food and beverage buildings, The District is positioned to reshape Round Rock's identity from the ground up.

Manages contract renewal strategies for existing Dell customers, driving retention, timely renewals, and awareness of upgrades and add-on services to protect and grow contract revenue.

A bachelor's degree with 2+ years of relationship selling experience is preferred, along with strong customer service, communication, and Microsoft Office skills. This position is fully on-site five days a week in Round Rock, TX. Total compensation includes base salary plus commissions.

Internal Auditor II at Williamson County ($73k–$81k).
Perform complex financial, operational, and compliance audits for county departments and vendors. Apply now!

Supply Chain Management Professional at Samsung Electronics ($58k–$157k).
Monitor vendor performance and manage supply chains for semiconductor repair and calibration operations. Apply now!

Inventory Analyst at Abbott Laboratories ($61k–$123k).
Monitor and optimize field inventory for cardiac rhythm management devices across the US. Apply now!

Associate Client Services Account Manager at ERCOT ($61k–$101k).
Rotate through client services departments learning Texas energy market operations and support. Apply now!

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

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

PopStroke, the tech-forward mini-golf and entertainment concept backed by Tiger Woods, is set to open its second Austin-area location in Cedar Park this April. The $5.8 million venue spans two 18-hole putting courses, a full-service scratch kitchen, three bars, an outdoor beer garden, an enclosed playground, and an ice cream parlor. Cedar Park marks the brand's continued expansion into high-growth Texas suburbs, following its existing Round Rock footprint.

Entertainment + F&B integration = higher per-visit revenue. PopStroke isn't selling mini golf — it's selling dwell time. By layering bars, a scratch kitchen, yard games, and a playground onto a single site, the concept captures food-and-beverage spend that a standalone attraction would leave on the table. Businesses that extend the reason to stay extend the register.

Celebrity equity is a marketing budget multiplier. Tiger Woods joined as an investor in 2020, and TaylorMade Golf followed in 2023. That investor roster generates earned media and brand recognition that no local ad spend can replicate. For operators in any sector, the right strategic partner can do more for customer acquisition than a marketing campaign ever will.

$5.8M in Cedar Park signals developer conviction in the corridor. A capital commitment of that size doesn't happen in a market without strong demographic tailwinds. Cedar Park sits in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, and this investment reflects what site selectors are seeing in the data. When national entertainment brands commit real capital to a suburb, adjacent businesses should treat it as a demand signal, not just a new neighbor.

Bottom line: PopStroke's Cedar Park play proves that entertainment consolidation + suburban growth corridors = a destination business model that casual competitors can't replicate on a shoestring.

Even if all these AI CEOs are off significantly on job displacement timelines, it’s still a massive deal and coming sooner than you think.

Make sure you’re upskilling yourself. Spend 30 mins a day playing with Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini, and watching youtube explainers on things you can do beyond basic chatting.

You’re going to need to learn this all at some point anyway. Might as well do it now.

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A gunite pool and spa, fire pit, outdoor dining area, four garage spaces, and a circular driveway round out a property that entertains as hard as it relaxes, all on a heavily treed cul-de-sac lot backing to greenbelt. Georgetown ISD schools and $2,499,995.

☕ Power Breakfast | EWCHEC | 3rd Floor | Hutto | 03/12 | More
Stay informed with community leaders over breakfast and meaningful connections.

👩‍💼 Women In Business Alliance | Georgetown Chamber of Commerce | Georgetown | 03/12 | More
Forge genuine connections through speed networking with local professional women.

🍽️ BXN Round Rock Networking Luncheon | The Alcove Cantina | Round Rock | 03/12 | More
Grow your business through referrals while supporting local charities.

🚌 Chamber Workshop: CapMetro Transit | Leander Chamber of Commerce | Leander | 03/13 | More
Master public transit basics and gain confidence navigating Central Texas.

🍺 BXN Cedar Park/Leander Networking Luncheon | Red Horn Brewery & Roastery | Leander | 03/17 | More
Build referral partnerships in a fun atmosphere that gives back locally.

🧠 Cedar Park Business Mastermind and Networking | Jack Allen's Kitchen | Cedar Park | 03/17 | More
Share insights and build genuine connections with fellow local entrepreneurs.

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

See you around!