June News from the Hutto, TX EDC

The Austin Region's First Accredited Economic Development Organization®

June 2012

Hutto EDC

Hutto Boasts Low Cost of Living compared to National Index

Hutto ranks as one of most affordable places to live in Austin region

In the May 2012 report of the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community & Economic Research (C2ER), Hutto ranks as being more affordable than the majority of other communities throughout the United States.

Cost of Living Index - Composite Scores 1st Quarter, 2012
Community	Composite Index	Groceries	Housing	Utilities	Transportation	Healthcare	Misc. Goods
Hutto, TX	95.2	84.9	84.4	114.4	96.2	120.0	99.6
New York, NY	154.0	120.1	242.5	130.5	110.6	108.9	117.8
Los Angeles, CA	138.5	108.2	126.0	106.4	112.8	109.8	104.6
Washington D.C.	137.4	114.0	218.5	142.4	114.7	109.2	102.7
Miami, FL	112.7	111.6	165.3	103.2	110.6	127.4	135.3
Chicago, IL	109.0	101.7	113.7	108.2	105.0	102.3	108.0
Minneapolis, MN	108.1	105.3	119.5	89.6	111.1	104.4	102.9
Denver, CO	104.0	96.5	89.8	102.2	106.9	100.2	101.7
Atlanta, GA	98.3	102.6	114.8	95.8	90.8	109.8	105.7
Houston, TX	90.5	87.3	80.5	94.6	92.8	97.5	97.6
Boston, MA	139.4	118.8	220.9	109.7	107.4	102.3	96.9
Austin, TX	95.7	87.3	87.4	92.5	100.4	107.9	104.2

About the Cost of Living Index

C2ER produces the ACCRA Cost of Living Index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences among urban areas. The ACCRA Cost of Living Index measures relative price levels for consumer goods and services in participating areas. The average for all participating places, both metropolitan and non-metropolitan, equals 100, and each participant's index is read as a percentage of the average for all places.

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July Power Breakfast to Feature Entrepreneur Consulting Firm

Napkin Venture Consultants to address the Hutto Community

The Hutto community will hear from Eve Richter and Tina Cannon of Napkin Venture at the July 12, 2012 Power Breakfast. Richter and Cannon will be speaking about the top mistakes that new ventures and small businesses make, as well as touch on some of the struggles facing entrepreneurs today.

Like all Hutto Economic Development Corporation Power Breakfasts, this event is free of charge to attend, begins at 7:30am on the second Thursday of every month, is held at the Hutto Holiday Inn Express, and requires no RSVP. We hope to see you there.

About Tina Cannon

A seasoned entrepreneur, Ms. Cannon was the CEO and co-founder of PetsMD.com, the leading online pet health resource acquired by Pet360 in 2011. She is also the co-founder of Book-a-Vet.com, an online, real-time veterinary appointment application. Ms. Cannon has been a featured presenter at various technology events and has mentored numerous start-up businesses. Ms. Cannon is the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Texas State University and has been a guest blogger for CBS (BNET.com). Prior to her entrepreneur experience, she was a financial auditor and business consultant in the private sector. Cannon graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelors degree in Accounting.

About Eve Richter

Eve Richter has served as the Emerging Technologies Coordinator in the Economic Development Division at the City of Austin, helping businesses, startups, entrepreneurs and individuals in the tech (and other) sectors to grow and be successful in the Austin community. She also has worked to attract businesses in targeted industries to Austin. She maintained a consulting service for small businesses in the Sacramento region for 10 years, helping companies get control of their back office and front office operations. She refers to her experience as a combination of business consulting, matchmaking, and cheerleading. She is a marketing and social media whiz, and loves bridging the gap between a company's value offering and the consumer who will benefit from it. She has undergraduate and master's degrees in business administration, government, and public affairs/public policy, studying at both California State University Sacramento and UT Austin. She has served on the board of Austin Women in Technology and currently serves on the board of Technology Advisors Group.

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Contractor Selected and Work Begins on EWCHEC-Hutto

Bartlett Cocke General Contractors to build Higher Ed Center

In June 2012, Texas State Technical College hired Bartlett Cocke General Contractors as the lead contractor for the East Williamson County Higher Education Center - Hutto campus. Work on the college as already begun, and the facility is expected to open Fall 2013.

About Bartlett Cocke General Contractors

Established in 1959, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors is a leader in the commercial construction industry. With offices in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston, they are a regional firm that provides General Contracting, Design/Build Services, and Construction Management throughout Texas.

Bartlett Cock has worked on many higher education projects throughout Central & South Texas, including:

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Isabelle Rutherford Meyer Nursing Education Center & Baugh Center for the Visual Arts

Texas State University in San Marcos Student Recreation Center (SRC) Expansion, Harris Central Utility Plant Expansion, Bobcat Stadium Athletics Facility
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, and the Biosciences Building at
Methodist Children's Hospital
Cancer Therapy and Research Center Institute for Drug Development, Burton & Miriam Grossman Building
Texas A&M University, Veterinary Research Building & LARR Facility

For a more complete portfolio of completed work, please click here for a link to the Bartlett Cocke website.

EWCHEC-Hutto Site: June 29, 2012

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June Power Breakfast Features SH130 Concession Company

Joe Krier addresses the Hutto Community

The Hutto community heard from Joe Krier of the SH 130 Concession Company at the June 14, 2012 Power Breakfast. Krier spoke about the current and future developments of the SH 130 Tollway, the need for bolstering current infrastructure, and the economic impact of the roadway.

Hutto Economic Development Corporation June 14, 2012 Power Breakfast featuring Joseph Krier with the SH 130 Concession Company.

For pictures from the event, click here. For a video of the featured presenter, click here or on the image above.

About Joseph Krier

Joe Krier, who for 20 years served as President and CEO of The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, was elected to the SH 130 Concession Company, LLC, Board of Directors, October 2011. Well-regarded for his expertise in transportation and infrastructure issues, Krier was the Founding Chairman and a Board member of Texans for Safe Reliable Transportation, and served as the first Chairman of the San Antonio Mobility Coalition (SAMCo).

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Hutto Showcased at International Biotechnology Tradeshow

Hutto EDC Executive Director represents Hutto at BIO 2012 in Boston

Hutto Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Scott Martinez recently traveled with Oncor Electric Delivery to represent Central Texas and the Hutto Community at the Bio International Conference 2012, held in Boston, June 18-21, 2012. Over 4,000 companies were represented at this multi-day event, designed to promote the Biotech and Life Science Industries, as well as promote new technology and advances in the field.

"It is important that Hutto develops relationships in this important, growing sector. With the Texas A&M Health Science Center ten minutes away and the positive movement on a comprehensive medical school in Austin with the University of Texas, there will be some future opportunities for Hutto," said Hutto EDC Executive Director Scott Martinez.

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Hutto EDC Executive Director Speaks at International Conference

Martinez speaks about Hutto experience to international audience

Hutto Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Scott Martinez was recently asked to be a part of a elite panel at the 2012 International Economic Development Spring Conference. This multi-day conference was held June 10-12 in St. Louis, Missouri. Martinez was a part of the panel designed to speak on Transforming Your Local Economy with Existing Assets. During this session, Martinez was able to address both the triumphs and obstacles faced by the Hutto community during the last five years. "This was a great opportunity to showcase Hutto, Texas to a diverse, international audience. I welcome any opportunity to tell the Hutto story because it is so collaborative and compelling ," stated Martinez.

Martinez was joined by Alaa A. Nassif, PhD, Executive President of the Royal Commission for Yanu, Saudi Arabia and Rich Overmoyer, President & CEO of Fourth Economy Consulting located in Pittsburgh, PA.

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August Power Breakfast to Feature 3rd Annual Pigskin Preview

Coach Steve Hale to address the Hutto Community

Coach Steve Hale, Hutto Hippos Football Head Coach, addresses the Hutto community at the August 2011 Power Breakfast.

The Hutto community will hear from Coach Steve Hale, Head Coach of the Hutto Hippos football team, at the August 12, 2012 Power Breakfast. Coach Hale will be speaking about the upcoming expectations for the 2012 football season.

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Resource Corner: Information For You

Cost of Living Data

Are you interested in what consumer items cost in Hutto compared to other communities nationally? Click here or on the image below to check out the following document that rates Hutto costs to the national average using the Cost of Living Index. You can also compare individual communities using the Cost of Living Index Calculator, which will allow you to see what it cost to live here compared to hundreds of other communities across the US.

If you would like more information on this topic or have any questions about other resources that may be available for your use, please feel free to contact Seanna, Marketing Director, at sroysden@huttoedc.com.

City of Hutto

Wastewater Master Plan Discussed at Council

Over the last several months, the City of Hutto has been in the process of drafting a Wastewater Master Plan. One of the key pieces of the plan includes a study of options for expanding the City's wastewater treatment capacity to accommodate future growth. The City's current plant, located on the west side of Cottonwood Creek just south of HWY 79, has a treatment capacity of 1.5 million gallons per day (MGD). Population forecasts show that the City will need additional capacity in 2015.

Three options for expanding capacity were explored. They include expand the existing plant, construct the proposed Lower Brushy Creek Regional plant currently in the permitting process, or pump wastewater to Pflugerville for treatment. Cost estimates show that the Pflugerville option would be the most expensive, while the costs for expanding the existing plant or constructing the new plant would be approximately equal. The Pflugerville option could also cause issues in the long term if Pflugerville was unable to expand their system to keep up with Hutto's growth. Expanding the existing plant would require the City to continue pumping much of the wastewater generated using lift stations, as it is at a higher elevation than the new treatment plant site. Lift stations used to pump flows uphill require constant maintenance and monitoring and have the potential to fail, which could cause a wastewater discharge.

The recommended alternative is to construct the new Lower Brushy Creek Regional plant at the site located south of the City off of FM 1660 South. Over the next 20 years, all but one of the City's five lift stations could be taken off-line and wastewater would flow by gravity to the new plant. The construction of the new plant and the improvements necessary to convey flows to the site are included in this years Capital Improvements Plan update.

City Considers 2013-2017 Capital Improvements Plan

Hutto citizens are invited to attend a CIP Open House on July 10th from 6-7pm in the City Council Chambers to learn more about upcoming capital projects. The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a meeting immediately following the Open House to discuss the proposed plan.

The City first adopted a CIP in 2006 and has updated the document annually as part of the budget process. The CIP outlines major capital streets and drainage, water, wastewater, parks, and facilities projects.

To view the draft Capital Improvements Plan visit www.HuttoTX.gov. Please direct any questions to Matthew Bushak by phone to 759-4022 or by email at matthew.bushak@huttotx.gov.

Pedestrian Mobility Plan 2012

The 2012 Pedestrian Mobility Plan updates build on the work of the 2010 Pedestrian Mobility Plan and the 2003 Pedestrian Mobility Study. The city's walk-ability is largely determined by the presence of well-placed, appropriately-designed paths that reduce barriers to walking. Such barriers include high speed roads, vegetative and geographical obstacles, or poor connectivity that creates a walk much further than the distance "as the crow flies". As subdivisions fill in, and development occurs throughout the city, the disconnected sidewalk network will incrementally improve.

The previous Plan identified areas in need of sidewalks and prioritized each project through a ranking system. For the 2012 Plan, the City of Hutto Planning staff revisited each previously-identified area to account for any notable changes that had taken place over the past two years. While one project, the Enclave to School Connection, was addressed after the adoption of the 2010 Plan, the others have yet to be completed. These projects were therefore included in the 2012 Plan, along with three new additions.

The 2012 Pedestrian Mobility Plan Update calls for sidewalks along FM 685, along the future Live Oak/Emory Farms extension identified in the Thoroughfare Plan, and at Highway 79 & Jim Cage. For more information, please contact Erika Ragsdale, Planner for the City of Hutto, at 759-5960.

Hutto Competing for $100,000 Grant in Nationwide Challenge

that Launches Local Recycling Rewards Program

Americans recycle only one-and-a-half pounds of the more than four pounds of waste they generate daily, adding unnecessary waste to our nation's landfills. In an effort to help slow this trend and further inspire waste reduction efforts, today, the City of Hutto announced their participation in the SC Johnson Green Choices Recycling Challenge, a nationwide contest that aims to increase household recycling participation in 50 communities across the United States. The community with the highest reported recycling participation will receive a $100,000 grant from SC Johnson to put toward a local sustainability project. The Challenge kicks off a new partnership with Recyclebank®, the company that rewards people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals.

"The City of Hutto is thrilled to be representing Texas in the SC Johnson Green Choices Recycling Challenge as it is the perfect way to kick-start the new recycling rewards program and local participation," said Debbie Holland, Mayor of the City of Hutto. "We encourage everyone to get involved - residents will have the opportunity to protect the environment, invigorate the local economy and help keep Hutto clean, while earning everyday savings from Recyclebank and working toward the grant from SC Johnson."

Hutto joins more than 300 communities across the U.S. and the U.K. that have implemented Recyclebank to help increase recycling rates through incentives and reward residents with deals on everyday household and grocery items. In addition to significant environmental benefits, increased recycling also has a positive impact on municipal finances through disposal cost savings and revenues from the sale of recyclables.

To participate, Hutto residents need to sign up for a free Recyclebank account and report their recycling activity. Residents can visit www.recyclebank.com/greenchoices and follow the prompts to get started. Once a Recyclebank member, residents can report their recycling efforts each week to earn points by simply reporting their recycling efforts on the Recyclebank website. Residents can also use the Recyclebank smartphone app their iPhone and Android devices to report their recycling, check their Recyclebank Points balance and discover eligible reward offers. In order for a resident's recycling activity to count towards the Challenge, residents must report their recycling efforts at least once a month. A leader board at www.recyclebank.com/greenchoices will track progress each month, and the winning community will be announced in January 2013.

Community Demographic Information

To view the current Economic Profile for the Round Rock-Austin MSA,

click here.

To view the current economic profile for the Rural Capital Area
Workforce Development Area, click here.

Type A Economic Development Sales Tax Allocation
Fiscal Year	May	June	Cumulative Total
1997/98	$4,708.08	$2,379.65	$40,417.02
1998/99	$2,656.78	$2,028.37	$32,045.20
1999/00	$3,890.78	$2,910.75	$35,093.61
2000/01	$3,017.39	$4,071.69	$50,940.93
2001/02	$6,470.99	$4,153.68	$58,299.83
2002/03	$8,043.02	$5,970.33	$73,572.84
2003/04	$10,416.63	$7,935.77	$98,841.25
2004/05	$24,661.05	$20,642.09	$216,990.28
2005/06	$30,865.78	$29,367.63	$336,629.05
2006/07	$39,226.88	$35,149.51	$376,036.41
2007/08	$47,942.38	$38,806.92	$481,309.64
2008/09	$50,393.59	$38,574.17	$495,826.74
2009/10	$44,811.09	$38,922.38	$467,917.40
2010/11	$59,422.06	$43,879.02	$509,128.41
2011/12	$62,609.24	$46,760.67	$424,661.60*
*Cumulative Fiscal year-to-date Data Figure

Single Family Building Permit Requests by Month
Month	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009		2010	2011	2012
January	63	93	71	64	18	20		23	10
February	51	70	49	49	15	6		11	28
March	56	101	84	47	14	6		22	9
April	67	91	75	46	48	6		24	15
May	53	66	37	29	22	36		12	12
June	58	68	44	22	29	17		8	17
July	61	56	34	32	39	6		20
August	78	70	25	41	22	11		17
September	67	66	24	28	24	7		10
October	65	58	51	5	19	7		5
November	49	37	60	9	6	17		26
December	46	46	7	12	7	15		9