Howdy, Hutto. Hope you made it out to Olde Tyme Days this past weekend. We had a great time meeting some of y’all and seeing so many local vendors and businesses come together. There’s a lot to be excited about around town.

That includes another stretch of East WilCo Highway opening, a big step forward for getting around the area. And, of course, there’s Blue Origin’s announcement that it’s coming to Hutto. That’s a major development, and this week we’re digging into what the company will make here, what it could mean for jobs and growth, and what we still don’t know. We’ll keep following it as more details emerge.

Thanks for spending part of your Tuesday with us. Let’s get into it.

Quick local updates from around town.

East WilCo Segment Opens | East WilCo Highway’s new segment from CR 137 to CR 404 is now open, connecting SH 130 to Chandler Road.

Creekside Steel Signing | Leave your mark on Hutto ISD’s newest high school by signing a piece of steel for Creekside at a community ceremony Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. at the Ninth Grade Center.

Heritage Bloom Opens | The Heritage Bloom Fiber Co. celebrated its soft opening at 115 East Street, Unit B, with more inventory expected this week.

Lee Martinez Earns Recognition | Lee Martinez Elementary received a statewide Star of Distinction for Planning for its flexible, inclusive learning spaces, marking Hutto ISD’s second consecutive year of school-design recognition.

Residence Inn Moves Forward | A new state filing outlines an $11 million, four-story Residence Inn at 328 Ed Schmidt Boulevard, with construction tentatively scheduled from December 2026 through September 2028.

BrewLAB Joins the Market | BrewLAB Coffee Co. is now serving coffee at the Hutto Farmers Market every Wednesday from 3–7 PM at 350 Ed Schmidt Boulevard.

Things to do around town from Tuesday through Sunday.

Fiber Friends
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Tuesday, October 13 • 5:30–6:30 PM
Bring your knitting, crochet, embroidery, or another portable craft for a relaxed evening of stitching and sharing tips; free to attend, with all ages and skill levels welcome.

Hutto Farmers Market
350 Ed Schmidt Blvd.
Wednesday, October 14 • 3:00–7:00 PM
Local farmers, ranchers, artisans, food vendors, coffee, handmade goods, and more.

Sip & Paint: Your Beloved Pet in a Pumpkin Patch
The Curious Hippo
Wednesday, October 14 • 6:00–9:00 PM
Paint your pet in a pumpkin patch on a canvas pre-sketched by Jami; all supplies are provided. One pet per canvas, and upstairs access is by stairs only.

Trivia Night
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Wednesday, October 14 • 7:00 PM
Put your random knowledge to the test with Cottonwood Creek Brewery’s weekly general trivia night.

Broom Making with Jacqueline
The Curious Hippo
Wednesday, October 14 • 7:00–8:30 PM
Create and decorate your own broom for $33; bring a broom handle, and all decorating supplies are provided. No experience needed; ages 8+ welcome with a parent, advance tickets encouraged, and upstairs access is by stairs only.

Spooky Sidewalk Sprawl & Trick or Drink
Historic Downtown Hutto
Thursday, Oct. 15 • 4:30–6:30 PM & 7:00–9:00 PM
Third Thursday gets a Halloween twist! Bring the kiddos in costume for free trick-or-treating at participating downtown businesses from 4:30–6:30 PM. Then it’s the grown-ups’ turn with Trick or Drink, a free adults-only trick-or-treat experience from 7–9 PM.

Spooky Sip & Scribble
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Thursday, October 15 • 6:30 PM–close
Enjoy a pint and some Halloween-themed coloring at this spooky edition of the brewery’s adult coloring night.

Suga Suga Pastry & Wine Pairing
Hutto Wine Bar
Friday, October 16 • 6:00–7:30 PM
Join Toi and Meg for four fall-inspired pastry and wine pairings, from sweet to savory; $35 per person, with tickets available by emailing [email protected].

Coffee & Critters
Mini Mischief Ranch
Friday, October 16 • 8:30–10:00 AM
Ease into Friday with coffee, animal visits, and a relaxed stroll around the ranch at this adults-only gathering; $10 per person.

Painting Class with Bill: The Pumpkin Patch
Cumberland Road Art Studio
Friday, October 16 • 6:00–8:30 PM
Paint a pumpkin patch with step-by-step acrylic instruction from Bill Hanson; $40 includes all materials. All skill levels welcome, ages 16+; bring your favorite snacks and beverage.

Hutto Market Days
The Gin at the Hutto Co-Op
Saturday, October 17 • 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Shop local makers, artisans, and small businesses for handmade goods, unique finds, and treats, with a kids’ craft corner and selfie booth adding to the fun.

Hutto Lake Park Playground Ribbon Cutting
Hutto Lake Park Pavilion
Saturday, October 17 • 9:00–11:00 AM
Celebrate the upgraded playground with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, then bring the kids over to try out the new equipment.

150 Years of Hutto History
Hutto Public Library
Saturday, October 17 • 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
Explore Hutto’s past in the first of four history sessions celebrating the city’s 150th anniversary, with additional sessions October 24, October 31, and November 7.

Harper Ray Book Signing
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Saturday, October 17 • 12:00–3:00 PM
Meet Harper Ray and get your copy of The Broken Queen signed; books will also be available for purchase. The dark mafia/royalty romance contains explicit content intended for readers 18+.

Pumpkins & Pints
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Saturday, October 17 • 1:00–3:00 PM
Create a festive pumpkin decoration to take home; tickets start at $30 and include all supplies plus a beer. Spots are limited, so book ahead.

Dungeons & Dragons One-Shot Adventure
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Saturday, October 17 • 3:00–7:30 PM
Join a guided, self-contained adventure for beginners and experienced players; $25 includes dice, materials, a level-three character sheet, and snacks. Bring your own level-three character if you prefer; seats are limited, so reserve ahead.

Junk Journal 101
Cumberland Road Art Studio
Saturday, October 17 • 5:00–7:00 PM
Learn to turn everyday paper scraps, receipts, stickers, and photos into creative journal pages at this beginner-friendly class; $35 per person.

Sip & Snuggle
Mini Mischief Ranch
Saturday, October 17 • 6:00–8:00 PM
Unwind with a drink, animal snuggles, and a relaxed evening at the ranch at this adults-only gathering; suggested donation is $25 per person.

Mini Mischief Ranch Volunteer Day
Mini Mischief Ranch
Sunday, October 18 • 10:30–11:30 AM
Lend a hand around the ranch and meet the animals while helping out or earning community service hours; volunteers under 14 need a parent onsite, and those under 10 must work alongside a parent.

Blind Date With a Book Swap
The Story Emporium & Bookshop
Sunday, October 18 • 12:00–1:00 PM
Bring a gently used book wrapped in paper with a few clues about its genre or mood—but no title or author—and choose a mystery read to take home; all ages welcome.

Plant Bingo
Cottonwood Creek Brewery
Sunday, October 18 • 4:00–6:00 PM
Play bingo for rare and exotic plant prizes; $30 includes a 10-sheet bingo booklet, and every guest goes home with a plant. Food and drinks available for purchase.

More than 2,000 jobs planned over the next decade, new opportunities for local students, and big questions about how Hutto grows.

For a lot of Hutto families, the most exciting part of Blue Origin’s announcement is the possibility of more career opportunities close to home.

The space company founded by Jeff Bezos announced Oct. 8 that it has chosen Hutto for Constellation Park, a 1.3-million-square-foot manufacturing campus along Highway 79, between Innovation Boulevard and Alliance Boulevard.

Blue Origin plans to create more than 2,000 manufacturing and related jobs over the next 10 years, with an investment exceeding half a billion dollars. That’s a major opportunity, though hiring will happen over time.

The work here will focus on equipment that helps spacecraft generate power, operate, and communicate, including solar arrays, onboard electronics, and telecommunications hardware.

The campus will support TeraWave, Blue Origin’s planned satellite communications network for businesses, data centers, and government customers, and Quartz, its ground communications network connecting satellites with equipment on Earth.

For us living here, that could mean a shorter commute, an opportunity to change careers, or a reason to build a better future here. Williamson County’s August announcement estimated average annual pay at approximately $88,000. That’s a projected average, not a guaranteed starting salary. Individual pay will vary, and the announcements don’t provide a detailed breakdown of positions or qualifications.

The student opportunities deserve attention, too. Blue Origin has committed to supporting Hutto ISD’s career and technical education programs and developing paid high school internships. The county’s earlier proposal outlined 15 paid summer internships for students across Williamson County, plus workforce partnerships with Texas State Technical College and Temple College. Application details and participation timelines are still something to watch.

Hutto being chosen is a meaningful win. The Texas Enterprise Fund program requires a Texas site to compete with at least one viable out-of-state option. That supports calling this a competitive selection, although the announcements don’t identify the other locations or explain precisely why Hutto won.

The benefits could reach beyond Blue Origin’s employees. Suppliers and contractors could gain work, while restaurants, shops, and hotels could gain customers. A larger industrial tax base could also help fund city services.

But we are right to ask what comes with that growth.

More workers and deliveries could add traffic to Highway 79 and nearby intersections. Housing demand could increase, and roads, utilities, and public services will need to keep pace. Those are potential pressures; the announcements don’t provide estimates of their size. And 2,000 jobs won’t necessarily mean 2,000 new Hutto households. Some employees may already live here, while others could commute.

Public incentives deserve scrutiny, too. The state has offered an $18.17 million performance-based grant, and Williamson County approved an incentive agreement in August. The state program requires companies to meet job and wage targets before payments and permits repayment demands if contract requirements aren’t met.

Those safeguards provide accountability. Still, any promise about the benefit to residents should account for the full local incentive package and the cost of serving the campus.

We’re also waiting for a firm operating date, a detailed hiring schedule, and more information about infrastructure needs. Official investment estimates differ, so we’ll keep watching for clarification there, too.

I see plenty of reason to be hopeful. This could bring good careers, stronger training opportunities, and more business to Hutto. The real measure of success will be the follow-through: jobs that materialize, opportunities local people can access, and growth our roads and services can support.

Sports news and updates from Hippo Nation.

A tough finish at Gupton | Our Hippos came within 48 seconds of handing Cedar Park its first loss, falling 37–35 after a late touchdown Friday night. Hutto led 21–9 at halftime and 35–23 in the fourth quarter, but the Timberwolves rallied and stopped the Hippos’ final possession.

Micah Antoun threw four touchdown passes, including two to Jaiden Fields and an 85-yard strike to Dylan Owens. Brayden Childs scored both rushing and receiving touchdowns. The loss ends Hutto’s five-game winning streak and puts the Hippos at 5–2 overall and 2–1 in district.

Next up: a chance to respond | Hutto returns to Hutto Memorial Stadium on Friday, October 16, at 7 PM to face Leander. The Lions enter at 1–5 overall and 0–2 in district after a 31–3 loss to Rouse. For the Hippos, it’s a chance to regroup at home and move to 3–1 in district. It’s also Pink Out Night, so wear pink and help give our team a loud welcome home.

Varsity Volleyball | Hosts Vandegrift on Tuesday, October 13, and Leander on Friday, October 16, both at 6:30 PM in the Hutto High School gym.

Varsity Cross Country | Competes in the district meet on Thursday, October 15, at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.

Get schedules, scores, and more at huttoathletics.com

New businesses, expansions, and development plans we’re following. Timelines can change, and proposed projects still have steps ahead.

Food & Drink | Buffalo Wild Wings • 7 Brew Coffee • El Pollo Rico • Antioch Pizza Shop • HTeaO • Munch Munch Waffles & More • Jason’s Deli • LongHorn Steakhouse • Pepper Lunch • Olive Garden

Shops & Services | Petco • Dollar Tree at Townwest Commons • Bitewise Orthodontics • Glam Nails & Head Spa • Toyota of Hutto • Sprouts Farmers Market • Advanced Dental Care office buildout

Fitness & Hotels | Crunch Fitness • Everhome Suites • Residence Inn by Marriott

Major Projects & Employers | Blue Origin / Constellation Park (announced) • Colovore (planned) • Skybox/Prologis Building 4 (planned) • TSTC manufacturing center (under construction; expected 2027) • Titan Innovation Business Park Phase III (planned) • New Hutto Area Chamber headquarters (planned)

Commercial Developments & Proposals | Hutto Shopping Center • Cottonwood Marketplace • Limmer Square • Knowles retail development • West Live Oak Retail (proposed) • Hutto Tech & Trade Center (planned) • The Gateway at Hutto (proposed)

Public Projects | Proposed Hutto Justice Center (subject to November bond election)

Mostly accurate forecast until Texas decides otherwise.

Summer hangs on through Thursday, with highs in the 90s and a 45% chance of afternoon thunderstorms Wednesday. Friday brings a sharp cooldown and brisk north winds. The weekend looks much more comfortable for getting outside, with highs in the 70s and overnight lows dipping into the upper 40s.

🌤️ Tue: Morning clouds, afternoon sun, 94°F
⛈️ Wed: Chance of afternoon thunderstorms, 92°F
🌤️ Thu: Partly cloudy, 90°F
💨 Fri: Partly cloudy and windy, 74°F
☀️ Weekend: Partly cloudy Saturday, mostly sunny Sunday, 71–75°F

👉 TL;DR: Hot start, cool finish

That’s it for this week, neighbor.
See you next Tuesday.

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