Business Services & Support

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57.1%
Job Growth
Over The Last 10 years
69%
More Businesses
Since 2010
213,000
Employed
Within 60 Miles

Business Services & Support

In the last ten years, companies and business operations have been flocking to Texas Innovation Corridor, as well as the businesses that support those operations. In fact, JobsEQ data indicates a 69% increase in new business establishments from 2010 to 2020. This represents a tremendous opportunity for Business Services & Support industry sector. The region has been growing in three major sub-categories of business services and support employment: namely, customer care operations, professional, scientific, and technical services, and data centers.

Considering the affordable talent pool of 2.2 million within 60 miles and the low cost of land and facility space, expanding in Hays County or Caldwell County is less costly than Austin and San Antonio proper.

Workforce
Exponential Growth

Employment growth has been significant over the last 10 years. While business services and support sub-sectors experienced national job growth of 17%, employment in the two-county region has grown at almost 41%. This is a positive sign that the region has the ingredients for a stronger presence of these firms. 

Source: JobsEQ 2020 Annual

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Education
Consistent Pipeline

Austin Community College’s Hays County Campus offers associate’s and bachelor’s programs in several relevant fields, and Texas State offers several related bachelor’s and graduate degrees to the industry.

In addition to local institutions, the Texas Innovation Corridor benefits from its proximity to the many colleges and universities in Austin and San Antonio. There are 18 public and private, non-profit colleges and universities that grant four-year and/or graduate degrees and three public two-year colleges within a 50-mile radius of the City of San Marcos, where students can receive training in an array of related fields. There are also two law schools within the radius: the School of Law at UT-Austin and St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio.

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Austin Community College
Key Business Services Advantages
Fiber & Broadband

Broadband access is vital to the viability of the Business Services and Support target. The region has access to 16 broadband providers, including mobile providers. According to Broadband Now, 90% of Hays County and 76% of Caldwell County has access to speeds of approximately 1000 mbps.

Competitive Electrical Rates

When compared to other states, commercial and industrial electricity costs in Texas are competitive. As of 2019, the commercial electricity costs in Texas were $8.06 per kilowatt-hour, tied for 3rd nationally and below the average for the United States ($10.58).

Low Cost & Available Properties

There is ample developable land in the region appropriately zoned for commercial and office uses. This includes sites for data centers. There is more flexibility relative to space for small businesses as they can locate in Class-B and -C properties if necessary and can also launch operations from home, a storefront, or some other type of more readily available space. Land and rental costs are also lower in Hays and Caldwell Counties than in the Austin and San Antonio core counties.

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Destination Attraction