The Kerr Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced today that its “KerrEDGE Entrepreneurial Center” is now open. The one-stop-shop for current and prospective business owners offers support, education and mentorship from national and regional experts. It is the first of its kind in the Texas Hill Country region – an area along the growing San Antonio – Austin business corridor, home to 4.5 million people.

The KerrEDGE Entrepreneurial Center, which plans to open a brick-and-mortar facility in 2022, aims to diversify the area’s economy, making it a cross-sector “hotbed” for innovation and investment. The region’s growing industries include aviation and avionics, health care, craft agriculture and advanced manufacturing.

“About half of the U.S. private workforce is employed in the small business sector, and 99% of Kerrville’s businesses are considered ‘small,’” said Kerr EDC Executive Director Gil Salinas. “Because these companies have a significant economic impact, it remains vital to the Texas economy to encourage entrepreneurship and support local businesses. That is exactly what we aim to do with the area’s first-ever Entrepreneurial Center.”

Kerr County, Texas, remains a prime destination for new business relocation and remote work and has seen 15 new businesses launch in the past 18 months. The region remains particularly attractive to agriculture, technology and manufacturing entrepreneurs, as well as companies in aerospace and avionics.

“Kerrville provides the best of both worlds: It’s a county of some 53,000 residents and so a desirable, tight-knit community, though it offers the rural retreat that many seek in the Hill Country,” said Austin Brown, who recently expanded his business, Prime Metal Buildings & Components, to Kerr County. “I expect the county’s growth to continue at a rapid pace and look forward to being a part of its collective future.”

KerrEDGE programs include a monthly roundtable series that began streaming in late May. Upcoming sessions will cover topics such as finance, leadership, marketing, real estate, business law, strategy, insurance, and more. The training is designed to help entrepreneurs succeed throughout multiple business cycles – from inception to start-up and scaling for growth.