Waco Area of Economic Development

Waco Region for Business

The Waco metro area’s rich diversity and abundant natural resources offer the perfect landscape for business development.

Centrally located in the Lone Star State, Waco serves as the county seat of McLennan County. Waco’s well-developed infrastructure is the foundation that supports a successful and effective business environment. As this metro area constantly evolves to support the needs of local businesses, it continues to grow and attract talent in addition to new investments. Waco is often rated as an appealing place to live and do business thanks to its rich diversity, abundant natural resources, convenient location and numerous amenities. Waco is home to three industrial parks with thousands of acres of development potential, including Texas Central Park, Waco International Aviation Park and Waco Regional Airport Industrial Park. Waco also has a thriving downtown area and riverfront properties with excellent development opportunities.

Rankings

People sit outside to eat at tables at Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas.

#2 Most Affordable City in the Nation to Buy Groceries (Waco)

ApartmentGuide.com 2022
Aerial view of the highway and forests in Waco, Texas.

#4 Best Places to Visit in Texas (Waco)

Roaming the USA 2022
A green lawn with colorful flowers in front of Pat Neff Hall at Baylor University in Waco, Texas

#8 Best Christian Colleges in America (Baylor University)

Niche 2022

Waco Economic Strengths

Learn more about the economic strengths and business advantages that this metro area offers.

Exterior view of the DuPuy Oxygen & Supply facility in Waco, Texas.
A green lawn with colorful flowers in front of Pat Neff Hall at Baylor University in Waco, Texas
The Waco Suspension Bridge crosses the Brazos River in Waco, Texas.
  • Business Climate
  • Talent
  • Infrastructure
Business Climate
Exterior view of the DuPuy Oxygen & Supply facility in Waco, Texas.

A Healthy Business Climate Supported By Diverse Companies

The Waco metro area’s strong economy is supported by companies across a range of business sectors, from manufacturing to food and beverage production.

Major business clusters in the Waco area include manufacturing and food and beverage production. Major employers in Waco include Alco Fastening Systems, Allergan, Cargill Foods, H.E.B. Stores, L-3 Integrated Systems, Mars Chocolate North America, Pilgrim’s Pride and Sanderson Farms.

Talent
A green lawn with colorful flowers in front of Pat Neff Hall at Baylor University in Waco, Texas

Three Waco Schools Produce Top Talent

With a network of highly rated colleges and universities, Waco offers the skilled talent that companies in this area are seeking.

Waco’s higher education institutions include Baylor University, McLennan Community College and Texas State Technical College.

Infrastructure
The Waco Suspension Bridge crosses the Brazos River in Waco, Texas.

Innovative Infrastructure In An Ideal Location

In the heart of Texas, the Waco metro area continues to thrive thanks to a supportive infrastructure that makes distribution, logistics and travel easy.

The I-35 highway supports transportation by car in Waco, while the Waco Regional Airport offers efficient domestic air travel. There are major Class I railroad carrier services that offer reliable transportation by rail. Waco is also home to a Foreign Trade Zone.