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Hospital study funded as EDC sets goals
BASTROP — Bastrop leaders last month appeared ready to dip a toe into the pool of regional economic development, but discussions showed more clarity is needed before committing city resources.
City Manager Sylvia Carrillo said she believes regional collaboration could work during a Bastrop Economic Development Corporation meeting Jan. 27. The topic first came up following an Austin Business Journal Economic Summit late last year.
“I am not a person who is going to be spending money when we’re not ready to spend it,” Carrillo said. “Is it wise to go to Korea? I’m not sure. What are we going to attract? I’m going to attract a business into (an industrial park) that’s not infrastructure-ready.”
In January, council members approved $52,500 for a feasibility study on developing a regional hospital in Bastrop. According to Carrillo, also serving as interim BEDC executive director, the study will be overseen by Reality Trust Group and funded through BEDC.
“I think this is a great move for us getting healthcare right here in our community. I’m very, very happy about this,” Mayor Ishmael Harris said.
Harris and other board members generally agreed a regional development partnership is necessary to provide the amenities residents will need as the city grows. They stressed Bastrop should be self-sustaining and strategically prepared before pursuing larger-scale development.
“I’m super hyper-focused on the workforce, the education ... how we train our folks on how to get good paying jobs,” Carrillo said, adding site selectors consistently ask about labor availability, school performance and housing.
Maintaining Bastrop’s identity amid growth also remains a concern. Councilwoman Cynthia Meyer said a recent trip to downtown Austin for a conference turned into a two-hour drive.
“That is not the Austin that I knew. That is not even close to the Austin I used to know,” Meyer said. “It made me so happy to live in Bastrop.”
The city recently updated its development codes to have more control over the type of growth that occurs, looking to improve workflow between developers, BEDC and city departments. Officials said the changes aim to foster growth that benefits the residents and both small and large businesses.
For 2026, board members pointed toward goals including marketing the Bastrop Business Park and Industrial Park, improving communication with community partners and launching the One Stop Shop campaign to back new businesses.
Carrillo said long-term goals were limited due to several vacancies and recent turnover in membership.
“It’s probably better for us to take smaller bites of the apple until we get to the point where we’ve taken care of the simple things in front of us which are foundational, and then we can turn to things that are aspirational,” she said.
