Cedar Park board approves three-year deal with Plug and Play to expand innovation hub

The Cedar Park board voted to authorize a three-year performance-based agreement with Plug and Play LLC to sustain the city's innovation hub and establish an aerospace and defense vertical in Cedar Park.

Arthur, economic development staff, told the board the agreement builds on an existing multi-year partnership. He said Plug and Play's continued presence has driven local technology adoption and recent company relocations and that commitments in the updated agreement include mentorship, workshops, access to funding and connections to corporate partners.

The agreement was described in staff materials as providing two program components: continuation of the advanced manufacturing accelerator (an annual payment the presentation identified as $500,000) and a new aerospace and defense vertical that staff said would receive $1,000,000 in the first year. Arthur described the combined annual incentive as $1,500,000. Board members asked for and received clarification on schedule and term: Arthur said it is a three-year agreement with payments made annually and explained that the first-year payment is structured to bring the aerospace and defense vertical online, followed by additional annual payments for the manufacturing work.

Board members pressed staff on program governance and exclusivity. Arthur said the Cedar Park location will serve as the hub for the aerospace and defense vertical and that the agreement contains language intended to prevent Plug and Play from establishing another aerospace and defense vertical elsewhere in Texas for the duration of the contract; he cited coordination with the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation and referenced Project Zeus, which was discussed in executive session.

The motion to authorize Arthur and staff to execute the agreement was moved and seconded and the board voiced assent; the chair declared the motion passed. The meeting transcript records vocal approval but does not provide a full roll-call tally in every case.

The agreement packet presented to the board lists additional milestones and deliverables in the backup materials. Staff said the program's goals include positioning Cedar Park as a Texas hub for aerospace and defense and continuing the advanced manufacturing accelerator that supports startups and corporate partners.

The board also approved routine minutes before taking the Plug and Play vote and returned to other agenda business after the action.