Development News for Waco, Texas

Waco City Academy Graduates Recognized for Civic Engagement Program Completion

The City of Waco recognized the graduates of the Waco City Academy's 10-week program, which aims to educate residents on city operations and encourage civic engagement. All 20 participants completed the program, which is an exceptional attendance rate not seen before. The academy provided insights into city departments and operations, encouraging volunteerism and leadership development within the community. Applications for the next session, starting March 2027, will be available in January 2027.

Residents Express Significant Concerns Regarding Data Center Development and Developer Transparency

During the Hearing of Visitors, residents voiced concerns about the development of data centers. Shauna Fen, representing the 'stop the data center' committee, highlighted the growing public opposition and the national/international attention on Waco's situation. She invited council members to a community meeting. Sarah Manaric Leonard used the fable 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' to express skepticism about Infra's water usage claims, citing discrepancies in reported water demand figures and questioning the company's transparency. Carla Garcia presented financial analysis, noting that Infra's parent company borrowed $8 million from Cororeweave, pledging 526 acres as collateral, which she argued is not typical for large-scale data center projects and indicates potential financial instability or a lack of confidence from lenders. She pointed to a lack of audited financials and a 'fully funded' checkbox not being checked in Infy's application as reasons for concern.