Technology Leadership Award Spotlight:
Buda, TX Economic Development Corporation

The Buda Economic Development Corporation (Buda EDC), led by Jennifer Storm, has emerged as a technology leader in economic development through its innovative use of GIS WebTech’s GURU platform. By embedding GURU into the core of its strategy for local business operations, 5-year strategic plan, and recruitment & development outreach, Buda EDC is elevating how the organization markets properties, recruits, and attracts investment, and delivers value to stakeholders.

Working closely with GIS WebTech staff and resources, Buda EDC is reimagining the integration of GURU as a dynamic platform for advancing its target industries, marketing engagements to guide strategic partnerships, and enhancing website traffic and event communications. The organization has applied the tool in unique and forward-looking ways that include:

• Developing custom layers aligned with Buda’s target industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Retail & Restaurant, Knowledge-Intensive Business Services, and Entrepreneurism, ensuring data directly supports recruitment and expansion goals.
• Leveraging GURU as a key element for data to share at the Retail LIVE event, integrating the tool into landing pages, marketing materials, and outreach to prospective retailers.
• Creating custom infographics to present regional data with clarity and impact for businesses and investors as they look to international targets.
• Aligning international recruitment by uploading Excel-based datasets into GURU to support Buda’s advanced manufacturing focus, including targeted efforts with Korean delegates.
• Leveraging GURU with added layer support for airbase and defense mapping, positioning Buda in critical conversations tied to aerospace and defense investment, including highlighting transferable skills that support the local workforce and business entities.
• Integrating GURU with Google Analytics to capture property click tracking insights, enabling staff to understand which sites attract the most interest and prioritize the community’s most competitive assets. This new integrated capability helps the Buda EDC refine and adapt its properties based on data-informed planning and decision-making.

These initiatives demonstrate how the Buda EDC is leveraging GIS WebTech’s GURU platform to advance their business growth and development. Under Jennifer Storm’s guidance, the organization has partnered with GIS WebTech’s services team scheduling strategic planning sessions under the guidance of John Costilla, Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications and Brian Dyer, Assistant Director of Recruitment and Development to innovate and lead with technology as a catalyst for smarter decision-making, more effective marketing, and measurable impact on the region’s economic development success.

Congratulations to the entire Buda economic development team on your selection as the winner of GIS WebTech’s 2025 Technology Leadership Award!