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THE CHALLENGE
Buda, Texas, a highly desirable Central Texas destination with approximately 17,000 residents, attracted skilled professionals and investment with its access to metropolitan amenities and world-class educational institutions. However, despite significant assets including proximity to Austin, an international airport, and a highly-skilled workforce, the city faced the challenge of leveraging its small-town charm and unique character to create sustainable economic opportunities. The city needed a strategy that would preserve its distinctive downtown identity while positioning itself for growth and innovation in the competitive Central Texas market.
THE CIVIC SOLUTION
In partnership with the Buda Economic Development Corporation, CivicSol developed a comprehensive 5-year Economic Development Strategic Plan to guide the city's future growth. Our process included comprehensive benchmarking analysis of Buda and its peer communities, evaluation of best practices from other economic development corporations, and assessment of the economic impact of destination hospitality development.
The strategy development involved extensive stakeholder engagement including roundtable discussions, one-on-one interviews, and workshops with BEDC Board members and City Council members. The resulting strategy emphasized workforce development, creation of an innovation hub that fosters entrepreneurship and supports the small businesses central to Buda's identity, and marketing initiatives that position Buda as a unique Central Texas experience for both residents and visitors.
THE IMPACT
Buda's comprehensive economic development strategy provides a clear pathway for sustainable growth that preserves the community's unique character while building economic resilience. The strategy successfully balances economic development goals with community values, creating frameworks for innovation and entrepreneurship that support local businesses while attracting targeted investment. This approach demonstrates how smaller communities can develop sophisticated economic strategies that leverage their proximity to major metropolitan areas while maintaining their distinctive identity and small-town appeal.
"They understood that our size is our strength, not our limitation. The strategy shows how small towns can punch above their weight."
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