Lockhart, Texas, is quietly building a reputation as a manufacturing hub, driven by food manufacturers, local business expansions, and a collaborative regional approach. In a recent episode of Is This Texas Town Quietly Winning the Manufacturing Race?, host Justin McKenzie spoke with Holly Malish, Director of Economic Development for the Lockhart Economic Development Corporation, about the projects and strategies fueling the town's economic momentum.
Malish, who assumed her role in 2024, highlighted several key projects. Ziegenfelder and RealCold, both announced before her arrival, are now in what she calls "the fleshing out of that project, the growing of the jobs." Additionally, Hill Country Foodworks expanded into a newly built building and subsequently secured a second incentive to purchase an onion slicing machine. Mill Scale, a local metalworking business, is another recent expansion victory. "Most of my most recent wins are really coming from local. They're expanding," Malish said. She noted that helping existing companies grow is an attractive story for prospective new businesses, as those local businesses are also her customers.
Beyond manufacturing, Lockhart has earned designations that broaden its economic appeal. It is a Film Friendly Texas certified community, highlighted by the Texas Film Commission as the filming location for HBO's The Leftovers, and was named a Music Friendly Texas certified community. Malish explained that the certification signals to productions that "we're willing to work with you, we're willing to assist you and make your film shoot go easy." Filming now runs through the city's new tourism department, and local restaurants are benefiting from catering work generated by productions.
Regional cooperation is a cornerstone of Lockhart's strategy. Malish described how the old siloed mindset has been replaced by a shared view across the area, recognizing that a project landing nearby still shapes Lockhart's workforce, schools, and career and technical education (CTE) programs. "A win for the region is really a win for me and the city," she said. Communities refer prospects to one another based on strengths and have teamed up on job fairs. "We don't have empty buildings, right? ... We have land though," Malish explained, so when a prospect needs land, "Jennifer from Buda" can say, "we'll call Holly."
Workforce development is another focus. McKenzie praised teachers and CTE programs that expose students to manufacturing careers in their own backyard. Malish highlighted a Tesla manufacturing development program Lockhart operates through the Boys & Girls Club, which pairs a social skills class with help removing barriers such as transportation, clothing, and resume building, then moves participants through paid training at Austin Community College and into Tesla's interview process.
Malish's path to economic development included stints at an aircraft parts manufacturer, the San Antonio Chamber, and the New Braunfels Chamber. A chance encounter with a tourism director at Target led her to view an economic development coordinator role as sales and marketing. "I know what that is," she recalled thinking.
The full conversation is available on The Building Texas Show, which publishes new episodes weekly on YouTube and major podcast platforms. For Lockhart, the combination of local expansions, regional partnerships, and workforce initiatives signals a sustainable approach to industrial growth, with implications for job creation and economic resilience in Central Texas.
