October 09, 2024

Round Rock Chamber Completes First-Ever InterCity Visit to Williamson County, TN

Inaugural Visit Hosted Over Chamber’s 75th Anniversary, Oct. 3 

The Round Rock Chamber recently conducted its inaugural InterCity Visit, traveling to Williamson County, Tennessee, with a focus on learning from the successful economic strategies of the City of Franklin and surrounding areas.  

This milestone event gathered Round Rock city officials, educational leaders, and regional community and business influencers, offering an invaluable opportunity to observe and gain insights from their peers on various key issues that parallel those faced by our community in Round Rock, Texas. 

Key Takeaways from the InterCity Visit 

The delegation explored a wide range of topics with their Tennessee counterparts, including: 

Workforce Development & Career Education:

  • Tennessee’s innovative approach to College, Career, and Technical Education (CCTE) programs has been a cornerstone of their workforce development strategy to prepare students for high-demand industries. The Round Rock delegation gained a deeper understanding of how Williamson County’s education system collaborates with local businesses to provide students with real-world career and entrepreneurial skills, which could serve as a model for Round Rock ISD and local employers.

Economic Development Drivers:

  • The team also explored how Williamson County, just outside of Nashville, has positioned itself as a hub for economic growth. From attracting major corporate headquarters to fostering small business growth, the county’s strategy highlighted the importance of strong public-private partnerships—valuable lessons that can support Round Rock’s own economic ambitions. 

Growth, Housing, and Affordability:

  • Franklin, TN, much like Round Rock, is experiencing rapid population growth. Discussions with local leaders offered insights into managing housing affordability, balancing residential growth, and keeping infrastructure demands on pace with the increasing population—critical considerations for the future of Round Rock. 

 

Downtown Development & Tourism Attraction:

Downtown Franklin – also known as “America’s Favorite Main Street District” – is a major driver of tourism and local economic vitality. The delegation explored how a historic, yet vibrant downtown can significantly boost tourism, create jobs, and promote local culture—concepts that Round Rock could further leverage to enhance its own downtown development and tourism strategy.

Why Peer City Visits Matter 

The InterCity Visit underscores the importance of peer learning between growing cities. By visiting a community like Franklin, which shares many of the same economic and developmental challenges, Round Rock officials were able to gain practical, firsthand insights that can be adapted and applied locally.

  

Learning from the successes (and challenges) of other regions is vital for keeping Round Rock at the forefront of innovation and allows for the cross-pollination of ideas that can help improve the quality of life, economic resilience, and long-term development of both regions. 

A Heartfelt Thank You to Visionary Leaders 

The success of this inaugural trip would not have been possible without the commitment and contributions of our sponsors, visionary business leaders, and community leaders who took time out of their active schedules to participate. Their dedication to making Round Rock and Williamson County, TX the best place to live, work, and raise a family is inspiring. This visit has sparked new ideas and strategies that will benefit our community for years to come. 

A Special Thanks to Our InterCity Visit Sponsors: 

  • Presenting Sponsor: Republic Services
  • Hotel & Hospitality Sponsor: Aloft + Element 
  • Dinner Sponsor: AppleOne 
  • Community Partner: Bartlett Cocke 
  • Welcome Reception Sponsor: The Bingham Group 
  • Dinner Sponsor: Desk 138 – Larry Gonzales 
  • Lunch Sponsor: Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority 
  • Breakfast Sponsor: Google Fiber 
  • Lunch Sponsor: Halff Associates 
  • Transportation Sponsor: Henderson Professional Engineers 
  • Mobile App Sponsor: Hill Country Payroll 
  • Luggage Tag & Tote Bag Sponsor: Hot Dog Marketing 
  • Breakfast Sponsor: RRISD PIE Foundation 

Looking Forward 

As the Round Rock Chamber celebrates its 75 years of leadership in this community, this InterCity Visit has laid the foundation for new and innovative ideas that will help Round Rock continue its upward trajectory. We are excited to take these lessons learned from Franklin and put them into action as we work toward making our community even stronger for the next 75 years. Together, we will continue to build on the strong foundation that makes our region a dynamic hub of economic growth and opportunity. 

Stay tuned for future updates on how the Chamber plans to implement these innovative ideas in Round Rock, and how they will shape our community’s future!

📸: For more captured moments of the InterCity Visit, click here

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