A Stone's Throw Away

Located inside the Texas Triangle, Rockdale is a stone's throw away from high-paying technology jobs, world-class higher education institutions, and attainable housing. Everything you need is within reach.

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Map of the Greater Rockdale region: Rockdale sits between Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, near I-35, I-45, I-10, and I-20

Access to the Central Texas Advanced Manufacturing Cluster, Faster and at a Fraction of the Cost

Access

  • $34B+Advanced manufacturing investment within 65 miles: Samsung, Blue Origin, and Terafab
  • 900,000Labor shed within a 55-minute drive
  • 4,600+Engineering graduates a year from UT Austin and Texas A&M
  • 65 milesTo Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Sources: company and state announcements, 2024–2026; ASEE, Engineering by the Numbers.

Faster

  • 10 daysAverage time to a building permit (business days)
  • 100 acresMDD-owned industrial park
  • 750,000Gallons per day of available water capacity
  • 800,000Gallons per day of available wastewater capacity

Sources: City of Rockdale; Site Selectors Guild.

Lower Cost

  • 42%Lower new-home prices than the Austin metro median ($240K vs. $412K)
  • 32%Lower average wages than the U.S. average (Milam County, all industries)
  • AttainmentAir quality attainment area, avoiding the added permitting of nonattainment regions
  • IncentivesPerformance-based incentives approved by the MDD board. See incentives →

Sources: Unlock MLS, Aug. 2026; Rockdale new-home listings, Oct. 2026; BLS QCEW, Q1 2026.

Who Else Is in the Region?

Rockdale is part of a growing Central Texas corridor of advanced manufacturing, energy, and technology investment.

Select a logo to see the project

For Site Selectors

Rockdale sits at the heart of Central Texas along US Hwy 79, about an hour from Austin, giving businesses a place inside one of the nation's fastest-growing regions without the cost and congestion of the metro.

For more than half a century, Rockdale's Alcoa aluminum plant powered Texas industry, and when the plant closed, this community rolled up its sleeves and went to work building what's next.

Today the Rockdale Municipal Development District is preparing competitive sites, building strong partnerships, and removing the obstacles that slow projects down, so that businesses can grow with confidence and families can thrive for generations.

Rockdale Development News

RMDD Launches Digital Marketing Grant Program to Boost Local Business Online Presence

Blog

Rockdale: Ahead of the Curve in Economic Development and Technology

Blog

Rockdale Approves $9.2 Million Water Line Construction Contract to Replace 8 Miles of Lines in City

Community Updates

See all news

Where Would You Like to Start?

Rockdale has a path for you whether you're locating a facility, opening a storefront, starting or growing a business, or building homes. Choose the one that fits your project to find the sites, data, and support you need.

Site SelectionIndustrial sites, utilities, and incentives
Commercial DevelopmentRetail demand and traffic counts
Start a BusinessTraining, resources, and startup capital
Grow a BusinessSupport for Rockdale employers
Residential DevelopmentLand, infrastructure, and housing demand

New 100-Acre Rockdale Industrial Park

Owned by the MDD, zoned industrial, and ready for your project.

Explore the Park
Conceptual rendering of the 100-acre Rockdale Industrial Park showing future industrial buildingsConceptual rendering
Developed and Marketed byPartners Real Estate

How Can We Help You?

What does the Rockdale MDD do?

The Rockdale Municipal Development District is funded by a local 0.5% sales tax and invests it in projects that bring jobs, investment, and new businesses to Rockdale. We prepare sites, coordinate infrastructure, and work alongside companies from the first inquiry through opening day.

Do you offer incentives?

Yes. The MDD can offer performance-based incentives tied to the jobs and investment a project brings. Every incentive is approved by the MDD board. We also help companies connect with state and regional programs that may apply to their project.

Can you keep our project confidential?

Yes. We work with site selection consultants and companies on confidential projects every year and are used to working under project code names. Tell us what you need and we'll protect it.

I want to start or grow a small business. Where do I begin?

Start with a conversation. We can point you to training, financing, and local partners like the Rockdale Chamber, and help you understand permits, available buildings, and the market. Visit our Start a Business and Grow a Business pages or contact us directly.

Our Partners

No project in Rockdale moves forward alone. We work alongside regional, state, and national partners who help us market Rockdale, prepare sites, and deliver the power and infrastructure that projects need. For companies considering Rockdale, these relationships mean faster answers, coordinated support, and one team working your project from the first call through opening day.

Opportunity Austin
KoreaTexas Forum
Oncor
Partners Real Estate
Texas Economic Development Council
International Economic Development Council
Central Texas Council of Governments
Site Selectors Guild
Texas Advisory Services

Let's Start a Conversation

How can we help your business expand or locate in Rockdale?

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