Just 29 years old, Cedar Park has grown to more than 30,000 residents, most coming to the city in the past decade. Most of them work in Austin or other Central Texas communities. Now, in order to build a stronger, more diverse tax base and to provide a stronger sense of place, the city is embarking on a full-scale economic development effort.
Leading the effort are the Cedar Park Development Corporations. Kirk Clennan is the executive director of both. One of the entities focuses on business recruitment, retention and expansion and the other on community projects such as parks and infrastructure.
"Our intent is to sell Cedar Park as a place to do business in," Clennan tells GlobeSt.com. "We've got an abundant labor force, good accessibility. We're making commitments to improve our road infrastructure, our water, wastewater infrastructure, everything."
Cedar Park has been building up for the economic development effort for the past five years. The economic development entities were founded in May 1999 and Clennan came on board in September 2000. Much of the groundwork–building databases, developing marketing materials and lining up lists of allies such as real estate and engineering firms–has been done. The next step is to broaden its efforts, Clennan says.
One company has already been lured to Cedar Park. ETS Lindgren, which develops testing for telecommunications equipment, moved from a small facility in North Austin to a new 70,000-sf office, research and development and manufacturing building in Cedar Park late last year.
The biggest development is the 400-acre town center project, which calls for commercial, retail, multifamily and residential construction as well as park areas. The city council approved zoning for the site and its tax increment district in late December.
Cedar Park joins the economic development fray as several other Central Texas cities are recharging their development engines. Round Rock is in the midst of implementing a plan developed with the help of Angelou Economic Advisors. The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce promises to lob stronger efforts in 2002.
Cedar Park targets the same industries as other Central Texas communities: semiconductor and related companies, biotechnology firms, software and multimedia businesses and entertainment companies. Clennan says Cedar Park wants to create an environment amenable and capable of supporting "any business that would locate to Austin, TX. We have more than 3,000 acres of land available for that.
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