Georgetown News 

Georgetown Ranked # 2 by Fortune Small Business Magazine as Best places to live and launch a Business:
#2 out of 100 *Georgetown, Texas*
Population: 37,963
Pros: Business friendly tax structure, entrepreneurial camaraderie, scenic suburb of Austin
Con: Higher housing costs
Austin's entrepreneurial community may be among the strongest in the country, but its heavy traffic and urbanization have driven some experienced business folks to look elsewhere. Enter Georgetown. This suburb of Austin has transformed from a sleepy bedroom community into a city with its own identity and a rapidly growing business climate.  

Located 26 miles north of the state's capital, Georgetown has welcomed 270 new businesses over the past two years. The state's lack of individual and corporate income taxes is just one reason Texas is considered business-friendly. On a local level, Georgetown charges relatively low water and electricity rates, and its property taxes are among the lowest in the region. As part of the Greater Austin area, Georgetown entrepreneurs in the city's growth industries - healthcare, life sciences, and technology - can seek out additional support from the region's business-development efforts. A convention center slated to open next year should help further build Georgetown's up-and-coming business scene.  

Georgetown is considered one of the prettiest cities in Williamson County, especially during the spring and summer months when poppies and wild flowers are in full bloom. Housing costs tend to be higher than in many of Austin's other suburbs, but residents who settle into one of the city's restored Victorian homes or new Tuscan villas can enjoy a walk along the bank of the San Gabriel River or play a round of golf on one of the five local courses. Mountain biking trails around Lake Georgetown lead riders to the edge of Texas Hill Country. As the self-proclaimed "Live Music Capital of the World," Austin still offers the best selection of performing arts in the region. However, Georgetown's annual food and arts festivals, independently-owned restaurants, rodeo, and nearby wineries are enough to keep residents close to home most of the time. -Brandi Stewart 

NEW DEVELOPMENTS:
2 New Developments in Georgetown with a similar feel. Waterstone Development has submitted a zoning request to the city for a planned unit development called Three Forks near the intersections of IH 35, Toll 130 and Airport Road. The 355 acres are currently zoned agriculture, but the PUD request would accommodate new urbanist development and will include mixed-use space with an emphasis on walkability. Conceptual plans include a business park, elementary school site, commercial, retail and residential. The proposed development would feature 600-1,000 residential units, including single family, multi-family and townhomes. 

A 600-acre mixed-use project called Goodwater is being planned on the northwest corner of Shell Road and Hwy. 195. The large development will have a small-town feel fashioned after old town Georgetown. The development will be centered around a 40-acre series of lakes and a greenbelt. Goodwater will have an 80-acre central park, tree-lined streets and will be designed with a focus on walkability. Other defining features are native trees and a town center with mixed vertical-use spaces. The first phase will be 135 acres with about 350 housing units. There will be a wide variety of housing types to include garage apartments, townhomes, bungalows and large luxury homes. 

Below are some interesting facts and statistics about Georgetown, Texas from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce: 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS:  

1. Georgetown has grown by more than 60% since the 2000 Census.  

2. As of 2006, Georgetown was the 55th fastest growing community over 10,000 in population in the nation. (Forbes)  

3. Georgetown has added more than 3 million square feet of retail, commercial, industrial, and office space in Georgetown since 2002.  

4. We added 5,279 new jobs in Georgetown between 2002 and 2007, with an average hourly wage of $17.25.  

5. Our primary Zip Code, 78628 has an average household income of $100,000.  

6. Williamson County Schools are ranked 9th in the entire nation in quality of education per dollar of spending per student (Forbes).  

7. We have added more miles of new roads (and invested more in their construction) in Williamson County since 2000 than any other county in the United States.  

8. The growth in our Healthcare Sector in Williamson County leads the nation. (Five new or expanded hospitals).  

9. We are on the verge of building a new medical school that will generate 50,000 new jobs in our economy.  

10. We recruited the first Tier II Toyota supplier to locate in Georgetown. (Tasa Corporation)  

11. We landed the national data center for the number one company on the Fortune 100.  

12. We were successful in retaining Airborn, Inc., and that will result not only in saving 350 jobs, but creating 500 new jobs over three years.  

13. We have continued to see very strong growth in the residential building sector, with almost 1,100 new homes in 2006, and many more this year and planned for the future.  

14. We are currently working on 17 site selection opportunities that all have the potential to close within 12 months.  

15. We are about to open the Texas Life Sciences Commercialization Center (with more than $250,000 being committed by the city).  

16. Southwestern University is ranked near the top of every Liberal Arts listing, including the Princeton Review, and is contemplating building a new conference center and hotel.  

17. Three major projects are moving forward in our Downtown Overlay District.  

18. The Chamber will soon have 1,100 members, and with the approval of our requested lease extension, will be able to expand our facilities and be guaranteed sustainability for the next 38 years.  

19. We have the finest movie theater and will soon have the finest bowling center in Central Texas. There are actually things for young people and families to do in Georgetown.  

20. We have grown the city's tax base to more than $3.5 billion and have been able to achieve the highest possible bond rating for cities of less than 300,000 in population.  

21. We continue to have one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.  

22. We now have a majority on our City Council that supports economic development and understands the importance of a strong business community.  

23. We are blessed with good and caring leaders who are committed to caring for those less fortunate, and are doing so more effectively than in any community of which I am aware.  

24. Our community of faith continues to grow, with new or expanded houses of worship everywhere you look.  

25. We have great people like you who will never be satisfied until we truly become a community of excellence.
Below are some interesting facts and statistics about Georgetown, Texas from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce: