Taking Flight in Georgetown

Taking Flight in Georgetown

As Georgetown continues to grow at a rapid pace, new businesses are taking advantage of unique opportunities. One Georgetown industry that has noticeably grown in recent years is aviation. Cutter Aviation, based in Arizona, has seen potential in our city and in January 2022 they finalized the acquisition of GTU Jet and AeroJet to become the sole FBO at Georgetown Executive Airport.

Cutter Aviation began in New Mexico in 1928 and is the oldest family owned and operated FBO in the world. An FBO, or fixed-base operator, is essentially a terminal for private aircraft. Cutter prides themselves on providing excellent customer service to everyone who steps in the building. It’s important to the company that all their staff, pilots, and customers feel like a part of the family. They hope to make each facility feel like a home away from home. Additionally, they deal with aircraft sales, services, and charters. With locations in Albuquerque, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Deer Valley AZ, Prescott AZ, Colorado Springs, Addison TX, and San Antonio, they’ve become one of the most well-respected aviation companies in the southwest and beyond.

While Cutter has maintenance operations in San Antonio and Addison, which is just north of Dallas, they saw the need for a Georgetown FBO facility as Austin continues its rapid growth. Will D. Cutter is the Regional Manager of Texas and says that the proximity to Austin is a great benefit, especially for business transportation, tech industries, and events like South by Southwest and Formula 1. They also work with flight schools, military aviation, construction, and partner with local restaurants and hotels to provide accommodations for their travelers.

In the future, Cutter Aviation is focused on growing the brand in Georgetown. They’ll be building bigger hangars to keep up with growth and improving operations with a new sustainability committee. Cutter’s charter department at Georgetown Executive Airport will start operations on August 1st and will be the only charter service in Georgetown. Will Cutter says that they can’t be stagnant in this industry and are always searching for ways to improve.
We were also able to meet with the team at Southwest Aerospace Technologies for a Business Retention & Expansion visit earlier this year and learned about their unique niche in the aviation industry.

S.W.A.T. was founded by Kurt Encinias, who serves as President and CEO. Kurt opened a brick & mortar in Georgetown in 2019 and has grown into an international company with a Service Center in Dorval, Quebec, Canada (CYUL) and a second Service Center through a lease with Cutter Aviation at the Georgetown Municipal Airport (KGTU). They have three locations at 3879 E. University Avenue for Repair Station, Warehouse Facility and Administrative Offices. S.W.A.T. provides comprehensive servicing, repair, and parts warehousing for Bombardier, Northrop Grumman, Textron, Airbus, Boeing, Falcon, Gulfstream, Embraer, Rolls Royce, and ICON. In fact, Kurt and his team are uniquely certified to service the ICON amphibious sport airplane which positions S.W.A.T. as the largest ICON service location in Central Texas.

Most recently, S.W.A.T. has entered the industry of maintenance for BR700 series engines. In addition to recruiting some of the best avionics technicians in the industry, a key part of their growth strategy is contributing to training of this workforce through partnerships with Texas State Technical College and Georgetown ISD aviation curriculum.

Aviation has become increasingly important to the local economy, and we are glad to host such diverse industries here. The City of Georgetown is grateful that Cutter Aviation and Southwest Aerospace Technologies have found a home in Georgetown and are enthusiastic about their continued growth.

Business Spotlight: August Beverage Company

Located at 1204 Williams Drive

Georgetown locals, Elizabeth and John Huennekens have been in full brew since October 2021.  They are a welcomed addition on Williams Dr. with a drive-thru and offer a unique menu of beverages with their special touch: The August Method.

The August Method is a multistage brewing process with long steeped coffee that is then filtered to create the base for hot and cold coffee drinks that is smoother and more caffeinated than traditional coffee brewing methods.

Their most popular drink is the August Macchiato (white chocolate and vanilla). Customers also enjoy their seasonal drinks with house made syrups.

Learn more at augustbeveragecompany.com or on their Instagram profile and Facebook page.

Skills Development Fund

Gain access to grants through the Skills Development Fund for worker training in Georgetown

1. Covid19 Skills Development Fund grant

XYCarb received approximately $16,500 and trained 11 employees through the Covid19 Skills Development Fund grant awarded through Austin Regional Manufacturing Association (ARMA)/Capital Area Workforce Board in 2020.

2. Manufacturing Consortium grant

AirBorn participated in the Manufacturing Consortium grant in 2020. Austin Community College (ACC) provided 2,620 hours of training valued at $77,500 to train assemblers and industrial engineering technicians at no cost to AirBorn. Some of the classes included Blueprint Reading, Electromechanical Systems, Fundamentals of Pneumatics & Schematics, Microsoft Excel/PowerPoint/Word, and Safety in the Manufacturing Environment.

3. Pursuit of Advanced Training in High-Demand Skills (PATHS) For Texas

PATHS is a statewide initiative currently available at no cost to businesses to train employees.  It is funded by the Walmart Foundation and is aimed at upskilling job seekers and workers in frontline retail and other customer-facing positions to achieve advancement and promotional success, enhance career progressions, and provide greater economic mobility. PATHS provides industry recognized training opportunities throughout Williamson County designed to meet the needs of businesses who want to provide training opportunities for employees and to job seekers who want to create and enhance career pathways for advancement opportunities.

Training opportunities include:

  • Retail Industry Fundamentals
  • Customer Conflict Prevention
  • Customer Sales & Service
  • Healthcare Careers
  • Information Technology Tracks
  • Industry Credentials

For more information, please contact:
Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area
Craig Henry, Business Solutions Consultant
(512) 244-2207 ext 1049
craig.henry@ruralcapital.net

Georgetown Small Business Week

The annual Georgetown Small Business week celebrations were held the first week in May in conjunction with National Small Business Week. The week-long celebrations included educational workshops, held daily, designed to help business owners and managers with a variety of different topics relevant to small businesses. Workshop offerings included Employee Training & Retention, 5 Ways to Grow Your Business, Digital Marketing, Innovate and Reallocate, and concluded with 7 Steps to Fiscal Fitness. Workshops were offered in a hybrid format of in-person or online depending on the business’s preference. The week concluded with an ice cream social and networking with other small businesses in Georgetown.

Business Climate Survey Results

Economic Development Business Climate Survey 2021

Thank you to all who responded to the first Economic Development Business Climate Survey.  The survey was conducted from January 14, 2021 to February 12, 2021 to gather feedback from Georgetown businesses.  There was a total of 96 responses.  Congratulations to the winners of the raffle for respondents: Bert Brady, John Galaviz, Michael Valencia.  Your prize will be mailed to you.

The general industry representation of respondents was spread among Retail trade 21%; Other services 13.7%; Financial & Insurance 12.6% ; Manufacturing 10.5%;  Healthcare 10.5%,  Restaurant 7%; Construction 6%, Professional & Scientific 4%, and the combination of Agriculture/Educational Services/Hospitality/Arts & Entertainment/Real Estate/Wholesale comprising 14.7%.

Overall, most businesses indicated that they are open as usual (71%), with another 24% indicating they are open on a limited basis.  While supply chain disruptions did not apply to or did not affect most respondents, 32% indicated that they did have supply chain disruptions but have recovered.  The impact on workforce  decisions over the last 6 months related to COVID was balanced between 52% saying they had no additional cuts to employee hours or wages compared to 40% saying there were cuts to hours or wages.  Most said there were no additional layoffs over the last 6 months due to COVID at 69% compared to 23%  indicating there were additional layoffs.  The majority (58%) of businesses reported revenue declines.  Interestingly, a large majority of business are planning to hire new part time or temporary employees 43%, or new fulltime employees 42% over the next 6 months.  Some employers are concerned about the ability to hire workers back 31%, but the majority are not concerned 45%.  When asked about 6 categories of concern in the upcoming year:

(Maintaining adequate cash flow: Incurring excessive debt: Collecting payables from customers: Getting adequate credit from suppliers: Maintaining solvency: Paying back loans / forgiveness of PPP loan), overall respondents were not overly concerned about these issues with the larger percentage of responses in the Not concerned at all.  The category where there was a larger proportion being somewhat concerned was in maintaining adequate cash flow 39%.

We appreciate your sharing what else you would like the City and Eco Dev to know that would help you continue to operate and grow your business in Georgetown.  While the comments were diverse in nature there were some clusters including Downtown/The Square related and Ease/eliminate COVID restrictions.  We will reach out to businesses indicating that it was okay to do so to.

Business Spotlight

KJ Scientific is a woman-owned company and one of the original jewels of the Texas Life Science Collaboration Center (TLCC) located in Georgetown.  Headed by CEO, Dr. Karla Johanning the company is internationally recognized for their work in Advanced Environmental Testing in toxicology for risk assessment of chemicals.  They are the preferred testing lab of some of the largest fragrance materials  companies as well as household products industry. Most recently they established a subsidiary company- KJ Scientific Independent Testing Labs (KJ SCI-ITL), an ISO 17025 certified testing lab dedicated to HEMP & CBD testing.   Congratulations on this great accomplishment of being one of the few ISO certified testing labs in Texas so far!  KJ Scientific -ITL will be dedicated to HEMP & CBD testing for regulatory purposes here in Texas and are able to do business with other states that legalized Hemp. 

KJ SCI-ITL will be testing for the following primarily in HEMP but also in the oil extracted for CBD and final products for the consumers (tinctures, lotions, edibles etc…):

  • potency (CBD concentration, THC to make sure is below the allowable 0.3%)
  • metals
  • pesticides
  • terpenes (what gives odor and taste in plants)
  • residual solvents (alcohols used for extracting the CBD oil)
  • and eventually several types of mold and bacteria

a service fast, reliable, analysis of drinking water for lead and copper under the Texas Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). Using an EPA approved drinking water method, ION supports community water systems, non-transient non-community water systems, including public buildings, public and charter schools, homeowners, restaurants, food trucks, or any one who just wants to know if their water is safe to drink”. ION was established by chemist, Xavier Escobar in Georgetown in 2020 as a NELAP accredited Drinking Water certified lab co-located at the TLCC.

KJ Scientific has participated in the Business Retention & Expansion program for several years and we are excited by their growth potential and wish them continued success in Georgetown.

In the News

In the News

Q3 2022

Taking Flight in Georgetown

Cutter Aviation is a renowned FBO and aviation service company that recently established a new branch at the Georgetown Municipal Airport. Cutter, along with Southwest Aerospace Technologies, have brought a unique industry to Georgetown and shown that Georgetown is perfect for all kinds of businesses.

View →

GAF energy to Build 2nd U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Georgetown

GAF Energy, an innovative solar roofing company, has signed a lease and begun construction on a 450,000 square-foot manufacturing facility. The company is the first to create nailable solar shingles.

View →

CelLink Opening Facility at Gateway35 Commerce Center

CelLink Corporation is opening a manufacturing facility at the Gateway35 Commerce Center. The company produces flexible circuits used in electric vehicles and battery storage units.

View →

Labor Day Weekend Sidewalk Sales

Enjoy specials and deals from downtown businesses the entire Labor Day weekend! Sales will begin Friday, September 2nd and continue through Monday, September 5th. Stay up to date with participating merchants through the Downtown Georgetown Facebook page.

View →

Georgetown ISD Manufacturing Day

The City of Georgetown and Georgetown ISD will be celebrating Manufacturing Day on October 4th! High school students in the Career and Technical Education program will have the opportunity to tour local manufacturing facilities and learn about modern manufacturing.

View →

October Month of the Arts

Join us in celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Georgetown Main Street Program from Oct 20-22nd! Festivities will include the Georgetown Autumn Art Stroll and the inaugural South Main Arts Festival.

View →

Small Business Saturday

Shoppers are invited to Shop Small, Shop Local at Georgetown businesses on November 26th. Participating merchants will have specials and unique items that are perfect for holiday gifts.

View →

Q1 2022

Ubiquity to build open-access fiber-optic infrastructure across Georgetown

The company plans to invest $75 million to construct an open-access fiber network that will serve 95% of the City’s businesses and 80% of its residents within three years.

View →

Georgetown approves economic agreements to fund improvements, multiuse development

This development will feature 388 units of multifamily housing, 1.7 million square feet of industrial development and 392,000 square feet of commercial space.

View →

Business Spotlight: August Beverage Company

August Beverage Company is a welcomed addition on Williams Dr. with a drive thru offer a unique menu of beverages…

View →

Enroll Your Business to Participate in the Virtual Veterans Job Fair

Please join us for this veterans-only virtual job fair where you can meet local employer and learn more about their job openings!

View →

Honoring The Past & Innovating The Future Mural Project Expansion

“Traditions to the Future” mural by Mila Sketch is newest installment in downtown Georgetown.

View →

Downtown Georgetown Annual Report

Download the 2021 Downtown Annual Report from the Georgetown Economic Development department…

View →

Economic Indicators | January 2022

Download the January 2022 Economic Indicators from the Georgetown Economic Development department…

View →

Q2 2021

Loram Technologies to build rail R&D center in Georgetown

A global rail maintenance and rail services company plans to start construction later this year in Georgetown…

View →

Georgetown Small Business Week

The week-long celebrations included educational workshops, held daily, designed to help business owners and managers with a variety of different topics relevant to small businesses…

View →

Skills Development Fund

PATHS (Pursuit of Advanced Training in High-Demand Skills) for Texas, is a statewide initiative funded by the Walmart Foundation aimed at upskilling…

View →

Georgetown High School Mural Collaboration in Downtown

Students at Georgetown High School plan to install a mural on the downtown building at 101 E. Seventh St. Now home to Tejas Meat Supply, the building formerly housed Georgetown Municipal Court…

View →


Q1 2021

NorthPark35 Breaks Ground

Titan Development Real Estate and the City of Georgetown broke ground on the first phase of the 146-acre NorthPark35 Class A industrial development at I-35 and SH 130 today…

View →

Artist Selected for Georgetown Animal Shelter Mural

Artist and muralist Jason Tetlak was selected to design and install the upcoming mural at the shelter…

View →

Hydrate opens in Downtown Georgetown

Hydrate will open a second location in Georgetown, at 711 S. Main Street later this month. When Chad Sitzmann started Hydrate in 2012, it had humble beginnings as a water store…

View →

Business Spotlight: KJ Scientific

KJ Scientific is a woman led company and one of the original jewels of the Texas Life Science Collaboration Center (TLCC) located in Georgetown. Headed by CEO, Karla Johanning…

View →

Business Climate Survey Results

Thank you to all who responded to the first Economic Development Business Climate Survey. The survey was conducted from January 14, 2021 to February 12, 2021 to gather feedback from Georgetown businesses…

View →

Hydrate opens in Downtown Georgetown

Hydrate will open a second location in Georgetown, at 711 S. Main Street later this month. When Chad Sitzmann started Hydrate in 2012, it had humble beginnings as a water store, formerly named H2O To Go, which opened in Georgetown in the 1980s. Chad recognized the need for more healthy options for the community and grew the business offerings to include smoothies, juices, kombucha, deli sandwiches and retail items. With his chiropractic office next door to the original Hydrate store, located at 2502 Williams Drive, the opportunity to help his clients and the greater community lead a healthy lifestyle helped drive the growth of Hydrate to have a diverse selection of health-focused items.

Not only does Hydrate still offer the same great-tasting healthy water they always have, but they also offer high pH water. Their smoothies are incredibly nourishing, and all of the fruits and vegetables used in the smoothies are washed in the same great high pH water to ensure they are free of any harmful residues. Many customers love the fresh juices and opt for a Hydrate juice plan to reboot and refresh. Hydrate is a great spot for a quick healthy bite too with their delicious sandwiches made to suit any dietary choices and lifestyle.

Stop into Hydrate’s original location now or visit the new location on the square soon!