Heart of Texas Economic Development District Information
Home for Entrepreneurs!
Your idea, your new product or service, is something we want in the Heart of Texas. Contact Heart of Texas staff, regional communities, or partners to learn more about making your idea a reality.
Be Part of the Phenomenal Growth of the Heart of Texas!
Low construction and land prices make the Heart of Texas a great place to build. Visit available commercial and industrial sites, tour residential properties, and learn about our communities - there are programs, incentives, and opportunities to help make your dreams a reality!
Diverse Industries
The Heart of Texas Region has historically been a heavily agricultural community. The Waco MSA has developed into a strong industrial and commercial center, with smaller such centers in Hillsboro and Mexia. Access to health care is generally good throughout the region, with two major health centers in McLennan County and rural health centers in each of the other counties.
New Projects
The Heart of Texas is a vibrant, growing community of economic entrepreneurs and leaders across numerous business sectors. Please clink on the links below to read about the latest developments!
- Cottonwood Creek Market, a 143-acre mixed commercial development in Waco is currently under construction. The site will be anchored by a Cinemark Theater and a Topgolf weatherproof driving range and restaurant.
- New Fairfield Industrial Park South with 125 shovel-ready acres ready for development in Freestone County.
- Hello Bello chose Waco for its first wholly-owned diaper distribution and manufacturing center and expected to create 100 jobs.
- Amazon plans to open its first robotics fulfillment center in Waco in 2021, a 700,000 square-foot facility expected to create 1,000 full-time jobs.
Renewable energy is a rapidly expanding industrial sector in the Heart of Texas region. Companies are currently involved in a number of investments in the area, including:
- OCI’s Solar Power project to build a $104 million solar farm to be operational in Falls County in 2022.
- Engie is close to bringing a 300-megawatt wind farm operational in McLennan and Limestone counties.
Reliable & Skilled Workforce
The labor force in the Heart of Texas region is quite diverse. The historical agriculture industry has resulted in a knowledgeable, dedicated workforce. The area has a robust training environment, covering all employee needs, from community college and Workforce Solution of the Heart of Texas, to unmatched education at Baylor University.
Heart of Texas Economic Development District's Economic Development Strategy
- Increase Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Brand and Market the Region
- Increase Businesses' Access to Capital
- Increase Economic Development Readiness among Local Jurisdictions
- Foster Key Economic Development Catalyst Projects
About HOTEDD & Our Region
The Heart of Texas was formerly part of the Central Texas Economic Development District (CTEDD). Read about our history and organization here. For demographic and regional data, click here.
Contact: Dorthy Jackson, Manager, Community & Economic Development – (254) 292-1874
