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The city has celebrated some wins in recent years. Operators of the popular Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival moved the fall event to Uhland and rebranded it as the Uhland Fall Fest — with owners aiming to turn the site into a 97-acre "Old Town Uhland" mixed-use attraction. Whataburger opened a location in the city, while Denver-based Tract has bought land on its outskirts that it's aiming to turn into one of the largest data center projects in the region.

The ABJ spoke with Ron Merrill, president of the Uhland Economic Development Corp., about the needs of the growing city. His answers, edited for length and clarity, are below.

What priorities do you have for your city that business leaders can help with?

Uhland has just completed a major professionalization of its municipal staff, systems, and planning frameworks. With that foundation in place, we're turning our attention to the next phase of our growth strategy — attracting major employers and quality retail to serve our rapidly expanding population. Over the last few years, we've seen thousands of new rooftops added in and around Uhland, and our demographics are shifting toward a younger, working-age population with solid incomes and commuting access to the broader Austin-San Marcos corridor. We're now looking to partner with business leaders who can bring employment centers, services, and destination retail to match that growth. Our message is clear: Uhland is ready for serious investment, and we’re prepared to support it.

Differentiators can be important. How do you think your city, economically or socially, differs from others in the region?

Uhland is in a unique position regionally. We sit at the intersection of two rapidly growing counties (Hays and Caldwell), offering proximity to Austin, San Marcos, and Lockhart, yet we still have the land, flexibility, and leadership focus of an emerging city. One of our most compelling differentiators is the availability of large-scale development-ready sites, including our designated megasite, which offers a rare opportunity for clean manufacturing investment. We're actively targeting industries such as grid infrastructure, battery assembly, semiconductor supply chain components, and clean fuels — sectors that align with our infrastructure goals and long-term sustainability vision. Few communities our size can offer the same combination of shovel-ready land, regional connectivity, and civic partnership.

What kinds of businesses or sectors are you courting?

We’re pursuing a dual-track strategy that targets both advanced manufacturing and retail development. On the industrial side, we’re especially focused on recruiting clean and tech-adjacent manufacturing — including energy systems, transportation technologies and component supply chains. These are industries where we believe Uhland can offer logistical, workforce and permitting advantages. On the commercial side, we’re actively working to overcome a historic gap in retail by courting grocery, dining, service providers and neighborhood-scale retail that meets the needs of our growing residential population. Every new neighborhood adds demand, and we’re looking for retail partners to grow with us.

Can you give us an example of how local leaders there have helped businesses thrive or expand?

A great example is our work with (Denver-based) Tract on their technology campus project. Uhland leadership collaborated closely with Tract from the initial planning stages through infrastructure coordination and strategic visioning. That partnership not only helped accelerate the project but also sent a clear message to other potential employers: Uhland is open for business and ready to be a hands-on partner in success. Our Economic Development Corporation and City Council have shown that we’re willing to align incentives, streamline processes, and deliver on our side of the table when it comes to major investments.

What are some of the barriers to economic development that the city is working through?

Like many fast-growing communities, Uhland is experiencing the growing pains that come with success. We've grown from a population of about 350 to more than 5,000 in just a few years — and that number could triple again in the near future based on approved developments. With that rapid growth has come a lag in commercial and retail development, creating a mismatch between residential rooftops and nearby services. We’re actively working to close that gap by updating zoning, engaging directly with developers, and using our EDC tools to support targeted recruitment. At the same time, we’re scaling up infrastructure, public safety, and staff capacity to ensure that Uhland remains both attractive and sustainable for future employers."

Source: Austin Business Journal 

Written by: Justin Sayers

Published: October 16, 2025