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EXPERT ARTICLE

EXPENSIVE, AVOIDABLE

LEGAL MISTAKES

BUSINESSES MAKE

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION

SMALL

BUSINESS

CREDIT SURVEY

REGIONAL CHAMBER FORUM EVENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1-2 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

RIBBON CUTTINGS

3-5 UPCOMING EVENTS

WE BELIEVE IN BISD

ARTICLE: 12 6-7 EXPERT CHRIS KIRBY, JD – BASTROP LAW GROUP

NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS

B.E.S.T. LEADERSHIP INTRODUCTION SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT SURVEY

CHAMBER SCHEDULE

REGIONAL CHAMBER FORUM EVENT

KRAGH’S JEWELRY RETAIL AND REPAIR

CHAMBER STAFF BECKI WOMBLE, CCE, IOM, ACM PRESIDENT/CEO JAMI HANEY VICE PRESIDENT JACKI GABRYSHAK, ACM MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR KORNYAN BAILEY COMMUNICATION & MEDIA MANAGER MOLLY McCORMACK ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

SARA RUTHERFORD DAWN REYNOLDS MASON MOTE

CHASE ANDERSON ERIC FARLEY SKY PINKSTON

MEAGAN WEBB LISA HOLCOMB BRITTANY ROGERS

LINDSAY KANA PAUL HIGHTOWER JOSH THOMAS

C. DOMINICA MCGINNIS TIM KIMBRO LORI TUGGLE

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

BECKI WOMBLE, CCE, IOM, ACM PRESIDENT / CEO BASTROP REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

s Bastrop County continues to grow, one of the most important conversations we need to continue to have is about our workforce.

Growth brings opportunity. New businesses, expanding industries, and investment in our region are all exciting, but none of it matters if we are not preparing the people who will fill those jobs and lead our economy into the future. The good news is that this work is already happening, and it is happening collaboratively. One of the things that gives me the most confidence about the future of Bastrop County is seeing organizations come together around a shared goal: building a strong workforce for our region. The Bastrop Regional Chamber is proud to be part of those conversations alongside Bastrop County, the Bastrop EDC, Career Tracks, Goodwill Central Texas, Workforce Solutions, our schools, employers, and many other community partners. Each organization brings something different to the table. But together, we are working to connect people with opportunities. That is what workforce development is really about. It starts with our young people. We must help students and young adults understand the opportunities available to them and the many paths they can take toward a successful career. Not every student

PRESIDENT’S REPORT CONTINUED

needs or wants the same path. College is one option, but so are technical training, certifications, apprenticeships, internships, and entering the workforce directly. Programs like Career Tracks are helping expose students to careers they may not otherwise know exist. And our business community has an important role to play. When employers open their doors, participate in career fairs, offer internships, or simply share their story with a student, they can change the trajectory of a young person’s future. But workforce development is not just about students. It is also about adults looking for new opportunities, individuals needing additional training, and people facing barriers to employment. Organizations like Goodwill Central Texas and Workforce Solutions are doing important work to connect people with resources, training, and meaningful employment opportunities. At the same time, our employers are telling us what they need. They know where the workforce gaps are. They know which skills are becoming more important. And they understand how quickly the workplace is changing. That is why the Chamber’s role is so important. We can bring the business voice into these conversations and help connect employers with the organizations and resources that can make a difference. Economic development and workforce development are inseparable. When a company is considering expanding or relocating, one of the first questions they ask is whether they can find the workforce they need. The Bastrop EDC understands this. Bastrop County understands this. And so does every employer trying to grow their business. We must be preparing now for the opportunities of tomorrow. Technology is changing nearly every industry. The jobs our children will hold may not even exist today. That means we cannot simply prepare people for yesterday’s workforce. We must think ahead, listen to our employers, and be willing to adapt. And we cannot do it alone.

The collaboration happening across Bastrop County and the region is encouraging because everyone recognizes that workforce is bigger than one organization or one program. It requires all of us. Sometimes the answer is a new program. Sometimes it is better communication. Sometimes it is simply getting the right people in the same room. That is where I believe we are making progress. The conversations are happening. The partnerships are growing. And organizations throughout our region are beginning to connect the dots in new and meaningful ways. At the end of the day, our greatest asset is our people. I want our young people to know they can build a successful life and career right here in Bastrop County. I want adults looking for a new opportunity to know there are resources available to help them take that next step. And I want our businesses to have confidence that this community is serious about building the workforce they need to grow. We do not have all the answers. But we have something equally important: people who care deeply about this community and are willing to work together. The Bastrop Regional Chamber will continue bringing the business community to the table and working alongside our partners to create connections, identify opportunities, and help build a stronger workforce for the future. Because workforce development is not someone else’s responsibility. It belongs to all of us! And when we invest in our people and work together across organizations, industries, and communities, there is no limit to what Bastrop County can accomplish. Our future is growing and we need to make sure our people are growing with it. In your service, Becki Womble, CCE, IOM, ACM President/CEO Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce

State of the City Speaker: The Bastrop Regional Chamber of Commerce invites business leaders, community partners, residents, and local stakeholders to join us for the 2026 State of the City Dinner on Monday, September 14. This annual event provides an opportunity to hear directly from City leadership about where Bastrop stands today, what is happening behind the scenes, and what is on the horizon for our growing community. Last year’s State of the City showed just how valuable it can be to be in the room for these conversations. It was at this event that many attendees first heard about plans for a new hospital coming to Bastrop and learned about new additions and improvements planned for Bastrop’s parks. These announcements offered an early look at projects that have the potential to significantly impact the quality of life, economic development, and future growth of our community. That is what makes State of the City more than simply another community event. It is an opportunity to hear important information directly from City leadership and gain a better understanding of the projects, priorities, challenges, and opportunities that are shaping Bastrop. This year, attendees will once again have the opportunity to hear updates on what has happened since last year’s address, learn more about current initiatives, and get a glimpse of what may be coming next. For business owners, community leaders, and residents alike, this information can provide valuable context for understanding how Bastrop is growing and where our community is headed. As Bastrop continues to experience change and development, staying informed is increasingly important. State of the City brings the community together to hear the same information, understand the bigger picture, and stay connected to the decisions and projects influencing our future.

UPCOMING EVENTS

TOPIC of

Discussion ‘THE RIPPLE EFFECT’ Presented by W. E. O’NEIL CONSTRUCTION

What decision was made early or avoided? How might that decision affect: Cost, Schedule, Risk, or Relationships?

Bastrop’s Blueprint & Breakfast is a quarterly morning networking

group bringing together AEC - contractors, engineers, trades, suppliers, and construction-adjacent professionals who are shaping Bastrop’s growth. This peer-driven breakfast provides a forum to share upcoming projects, discuss local development and infrastructure, exchange workforce and jobsite insights, and build meaningful relationships across the construction industry— all before the workday begins.

1. Understand that most construction problems start early 2. Recognize decision points they influence, even if they’re not “builders” 3. Leave with better questions to ask on future projects

Chamber Connections is a relaxed, quarterly meet &

greet designed to welcome new members into the Bastrop Regional Chamber community, offering a friendly, informal environment to connect with fellow members, the Chamber’s Ambassador Committee, and welcoming team. With no presentations or speeches, the event is all about conversation, introductions, asking questions, and beginning to build meaningful business relationships within the Chamber community.

UPCOMING EVENTS

VOTE

NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY IS SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 The day builds on a longer history How National Voter of expanding access to voter regisRegistration Day Began tration. One major milestone was

the National Voter Registration Act National Voter Registration Day began of 1993, also known as the “Motor Voter Act,” which established voter in 2012 as a coordinated, nonpartisan effort to help eligible Americans registration opportunities through register to vote or update their regis- motor vehicle agencies, by mail, and tration. Since then, it has grown into at certain public assistance and disability offices for federal elections. the nation’s largest single-day voter registration effort, bringing together thousands of libraries, colleges, busi- Today, National Voter Registration Day continues as a nationwide, nonnesses, nonprofits, election offices, partisan effort focused on helping eliand community organizations each gible voters understand and complete year. the registration process.

National Voter Registration Day

Tuesday, September 15th

Last Day to Register to Vote

Monday, October 5th Early Voting

Monday, October 19th Election Day

Tuesday, November 3rd

EXPERT ARTICLE

Chris Kirby, JD Managing Partner Bastrop Law Group, PLLC

The

Most Expensive (Avoidable)

Legal Mistakes Chamber Members Make

ost business and property owners don’t skip important legal work because they don’t care. They skip it because the cost feels uncertain, the conversation feels uncomfortable, and the consequences feel far away — until they aren’t. We’ve represented enough Bastrop County families and business owners to know that the mistakes below are rarely about carelessness. They’re about good intentions that never actually get accomplished. Here are the ones that cost our neighbors the most.

Wills & Trusts

too: families who get trusts they don’t need. In general, you only need a trust in Texas if you have children with different parents, a special needs family member, aren’t a U.S. citizen, are worth millions of dollars, or own property outside the state.

Probate Probate in Texas is easy but it’s only half the job. It then needs to be distributed. We regularly meet families who probated a loved one’s estate but never legally transferred the property to the heirs or dealt with the loved one’s debts. Years later problems arise— turning a simple closing into a tangled mess, often at the worst possible moment. Texas only gives you a four-year window to probate a will after death; miss it, and it’s as if your loved one died with no will at all.

First, let’s clarify a common misconception. In Texas, your property doesn’t just “go” to your spouse. Whether there is a will or not, the property must be transferred. If you have children from outside your current marriage, the state’s default inheritance rules potentially leave your spouse co-owning your business & home with your kids — Medicaid Planning a truly unwelcome surprise at a horrible time for grieving families. A will lets you decide how your estate is divided – Assisted living and nursing homes are expensive. If you without one, the government decides for you. Your chilwant to leave anything to your kids, plans really need to dren will not simply “figure it out” on their own. be in place five years before you apply for Medicaid. Waiting too long severely limits your options. We also see families who did the right thing and formed a trust — then never moved any property or accounts into Powers of Attorney it. An empty trust provides no benefit, protects nothing, and doesn’t avoid probate. We see the reverse mistake This oversight catches even careful families off guard. A

EXPERT ARTICLE

will transfers property at your death, but a durable and medical power of attorney protects you and your family before then if you’re temporarily or permanently unable to make decisions for yourself – whether you “don’t own anything” or not. Without them, your family will have to spend a lot more money to go to court to get Guardianship over you. One more thing: once your child turns 18, you lose the legal right to make decisions for them if something happens while they’re away at school or off starting their career. Get powers of attorney on them so you can still help if needed.

Business Documents & Contracts

You Don’t Have to Solve It All at Once

If you don’t have an operating agreement, you’re operating under the rules of Texas Business Organizations Code, not your own. Do you want the government dictating how things go? Add in contracts signed without attorney review, and small avoidable issues can turn into huge problems down the road. In short, if you own a company, your estate plan and your business documents need to work together, not separately, or things will likely not turn out the way you’d hoped.

None of this requires a dramatic overhaul. Most of our clients identify what’s needed in a single, straightforward conversation, and fixing things now (before problems arise) is usually far less costly, in time and money, than they feared. As a Chamber member, you’re likely a business owner, a property owner, or both, which means you probably have more at stake here than the average household, not less. The families and business owners who come out ahead aren’t the ones who never worry about this. They’re the ones who finally make the call. When you’re ready to talk through where your plan may have gaps, we’re here to help.

*The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or establish an attorney-client relationship.

About the Author: Bastrop Law Group helps property and business owners in the Bastrop regional area to preserve and protect your family, your wishes, your property, and your legacy. Real Estate, Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship, & Small Business Services

B.E.S.T. LEADERSHIP INTRODUCTION | SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT SURVEY

Introducing the 2026-27 B.E.S.T. Leadership Class

SPONSORS:

YOUR INPUT DRIVES CHANGE: Take the Small Business Credit Survey

The Federal Reserve’s 2026 Small Business Credit Survey is now open, and we are a partner in this effort. Owners and key financial decisionmakers of for-profit businesses, share your recent experiences about what financial conditions you face, whether and how you use debt, and more. Your perspective matters. Answers to these questions contribute to data that directly inform the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others—a public good ultimately benefiting your business and others like yours.

Take the 12-minute survey now. Survey closes November 13, 2026.

REGIONAL CHAMBER FORUM EVENT

Register for the Regional Chamber Forum The Austin Club | September 17, 2026 | 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Our President/CEO, Becki Womble will be joining fellow Chamber leaders from across Central Texas for the Regional Chamber Forum on September 17. Together, they’ll discuss the regional issues shaping our economy, including growth, infrastructure, workforce, and opportunities for greater collaboration across our communities. We hope you’ll join them for this important conversation as they explore how we can work together to strengthen our region’s long-term success. This event serves as a call to action, gathering top-tier CEOs and regional stakeholders to align on a shared, long-term vision for economic competitiveness. Learn more and register at: https://tinyurl.com/regionalchamberforum

RIBBON CUTTINGS

MCDONALD’S - KINNEY RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT INC. | 917 W. Hwy 71, Bastrop, TX 78602

SCOOTER’S COFFEE | 821 W. Hwy 71, Bastrop, TX 78602

PRIME BITE | 316 Schaefer Blvd., Bastrop, TX 78602

BASTROP ISD’S P-TECH PHARMACY LAB | 1602 Hill Street Bastrop, 78602

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