Three companies, in Austin and Round Rock, could receive state sales tax rebates to help pay for expansion projects that could mean new jobs at a time when the Central Texas job market is recovering from the economic downturn.
The projects are a $72 million expansion at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center ; a $5 million expansion at Bazaarvoice Inc. , which develops e-commerce software; and a proposed $5 million expansion and plant improvement for the Sears Customer Care call center in Round Rock.
The Austin and Round Rock city councils have given preliminary approval to all three projects for designation as Texas Enterprise Zones. Final approval comes from the state comptroller’s office.