Cedar Park’s Global Rise: Mayor Jim on Growth, Talent, and Building a Future-Ready City

Cedar Park is emerging as one of the most dynamic innovation corridors in Texas, and Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin joined The Building Texas Show to share how the city is strategically preparing for a future defined by global talent, technology, and high quality of life.

In the interview, Mayor Jim emphasized that Cedar Park’s success is rooted in long-term planning and a commitment to building a community where people want to live, work, and raise their families. With companies such as Firefly Aerospace and Element USA choosing Cedar Park as a base for advanced engineering, scientific research, and lunar exploration technologies, the city is shaping a reputation as a world-class destination for talent.

“Companies are coming here because this is where their people want to live,” Mayor Jim said. “You get the smartest people in the world who could live anywhere, and they’re choosing Cedar Park because of our schools, our parks, our neighborhoods, and the sense of community we’ve built.”

A Diverse, Global Community

Mayor Jim noted the rapidly growing international population in Cedar Park, with families arriving from Israel, the Middle East, Portugal, and beyond. “You can go to one of our parks and hear five languages being spoken,” he said. “It’s a remarkable sign of what Cedar Park has become — a place where people from all over the world feel at home.”

Planning Infrastructure for the Next 20 Years

Cedar Park’s leadership has invested heavily in water security and infrastructure, learning to balance Texas’ highly variable rainfall with strategic planning. Mayor Jim pointed out that early leaders built water infrastructure for more than 100,000 residents when the city had only 18,000 — a forward-looking decision that benefits today’s growth.

But regional cooperation is essential for Cedar Park’s future.

“We succeed when our neighboring cities succeed,” the mayor said. “Growth doesn’t happen in a silo. We must plan with Leander, Liberty Hill, and Williamson County to ensure the entire region thrives.”

Attracting Corporate Headquarters & High-Value Jobs

Cedar Park’s talent pool and affordability continue to draw innovative companies and R&D investments. Element USA recently opened a facility extracting rare earth metals from industrial waste — a technology critical to national security and the clean energy supply chain. “The résumés they’re getting are extraordinary,” Mayor Jim said.

Major Developments Transforming Cedar Park

Several significant projects are reshaping the city’s economic landscape:

• Nebraska Furniture Mart is building one of its massive flagship stores in Cedar Park — only the fourth in the nation — along with a million-square-foot warehouse.

• Scheels, the large-format sporting goods retailer known for featuring a full-sized Ferris wheel inside its stores, is joining the development.

• A new hotel and convention center is under construction, supporting business travel and regional events.

• The Bell District, anchored by Cedar Park’s award-winning library, is becoming a pedestrian-friendly downtown district with public gathering spaces, retail, culture, and future connectivity via a signature bridge over US-183.

“These projects create a place that looks and feels uniquely Cedar Park,” Mayor Jim said. “We didn’t inherit a historic downtown — so we’re building one that reflects our values and our vision.”

A Leadership Philosophy Rooted in Connection

Mayor Jim described the role of mayor as both statutory and symbolic.

“You’re the chairman of the board, but you’re also the avatar of the community,” he said. “The cool thing about being mayor is that you can help be the glue — connecting people, solving problems, and building a tight-knit community even in a global city.”

A Texas City With a Global Future

As Cedar Park continues to attract innovators, entrepreneurs, and families from around the world, its leadership remains focused on fostering opportunity while preserving the community feel that defines the city.

“Cedar Park is physically in the heart of Texas, but it also represents the true heart of our state — a friendly, ambitious, welcoming place where people come to build something new,” the mayor shared.

The full interview with Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin is available now on The Building Texas Show.