🏙️ Waco ranks 14th nationally

Good Morning Waco! School's back in session across Waco this week. The backpacks are packed, the alarms are set, and parents everywhere are remembering what 6:30 AM feels like. As BB King once said, “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” Let’s have a great school year, Waco.

In today's edition:
🏙️ Waco Just Cracked the Top 15 Nationally
🏐⚽ Baylor's Free Sunday Doubleheader
🧵 How a Leather Journal Became Joe Daly's Full-Time Job
💰 Waco Just Proposed a $733M Budget

Let's get to it!
— Sam Harper

Every Waco-area teacher gets a free week at HOTWORX Woodway through September 30, no cost, and an exclusive discounted rate after that for as long as you're teaching.

The workouts happen inside an infrared sauna room, 15 to 30 minutes, with a virtual instructor leading you through classes like Hot Blast, Hot Yoga, and Pilates. The studio's open 24 hours, so there's no excuse about timing, before school, during your planning period, whenever works.

They're at 13701 Woodway Dr, next to The Butcher's Cellar.

👉 Claim your free week^*

🏙️ Waco Just Cracked the Top 15

Waco ranked 14th nationally on a new list of the best U.S. cities to start a business. The study measured practical stuff like commercial rent, SBA loan sizes and LLC filing costs, not overall quality of life or how good the barbecue is.

Kayla Olvera is a good example of what that looks like in practice. She started Mila Café out of a coffee cart in 2019, opened the permanent spot on 25th Street in 2025, and has now expanded downtown to 2nd Street. What started as a small coffee cart has grown into a business with multiple locations and a group of regulars who keep coming back.

The numbers suggest Waco has some pretty good ingredients for someone thinking about starting something here. Ranked in the top spot is Augusta, Georgia. Heard there is a golf course nearby that helps.

💬 Community Corner

Over the past week, hundreds of people in our community took a small step toward making Waco a better place. More than 140 of you helped clear out local teachers’ Amazon wishlists after Chip Gaines gave us the reminder, and more than 200 of you started the process to serve on local boards and committees around Waco.

Speaking of getting together, I’ve got two events coming up that I’d love to see you at:

August 20: Social Studies at The Baylor Club. Dr. Gordon Melton is joining us to talk about how one faith became 1,500 denominations, followed by Q&A. Get a ticket.

August 26: Waco Buzz Dinner Club. Start the school year off by meeting some new people you otherwise probably wouldn’t meet. Take the short quiz. Find out which restaurant you will be having dinner at on August 26. 👉 Grab your seat here.

Waco to Europe for $700, this October.

European club soccer season kicks off soon, a good excuse to watch some of this summer's World Cup players suit up for their teams. Fly into London and return to Waco out of Madrid for $700. Check the deal here.

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🏐⚽ Baylor's Free Sunday Doubleheader

Sunday, August 16 is a two-sport day for Baylor. Volleyball hosts Texas A&M in a free exhibition at the Ferrell Center, 6 PM, autographs after. Soccer opens its home season the same day against the same team, also free, at Betty Lou Mays Field, kickoff at 7:30 PM.

Two teams. Free admission. This Sunday. My kids have made it a personal mission to get on the jumbotron as many times as possible in their childhood. So far it's happened exactly once, at a Baylor volleyball game. Cheap thrills, maybe a core memory, worth it either way.

🧵 How a Leather Journal Became Joe Daly's Full-Time Job

In May 2018, a friend of Joe Daly's was gifted a leather journal. Joe looked at it and thought, “I'll bet I could make one of those.” He had never worked with leather before.

A little over eight years later, that little idea is now his full-time job.

Joe and his family moved to Waco in 2020 to work at Harris Creek Church. Over the next four years, Daly Goods grew from a hobby into an unintentional side business. After a lot of prayer and seeking counsel, the unanimous advice was to go all-in.

And when it came time to decide where to build the company, Waco was never really a question.

Joe says he and his family absolutely love Waco. They feel like they hit the jackpot moving here, raising their family here, and now getting to run their business here.

Today, everything Daly Goods makes is still made by hand in Waco. The company employs moms who want to work while still being present for their kids. Joe and his wife also intentionally limit what they take home from the company so that as it grows, they have more opportunity to be generous.

What started with one leather journal is now a Waco-made line of leather goods being shipped around the world.

See the full lineup at dalygoods.com or find them on Instagram @dalygoodsco.

🦟 A New Pest Company From a Waco Community Leader

There’s a new pest control company in Waco, and the guy behind it is someone I’m excited to see start something new. Patrick Baldwin has been involved in the Waco community for years, so while Right Pest is new, Patrick is certainly not new around here.

If you’ve lived in Waco for more than five minutes, you already know the pests: mosquitoes with a personal vendetta, termites quietly working on their home renovation project, and cockroaches that apparently pay no rent but refuse to leave.

Right Pest treats the whole yard, with plans starting at $49/month.

And I love their 254 Promise: if something is missed or done wrong, they’ll cover your account for 2.54 services, ensuring you’re taken care of.

👉Check out Right Pest*

💰 Waco Just Proposed a $733M Budget

Waco City Manager Ryan Holt just submitted the proposed 2026-27 city budget to City Council. The big number: $733.3 million to run the city, a 3.9% decrease from last year.

Some of the bigger pieces: $213.3M for core city services like public safety, streets, parks and administration, plus $112.5M for capital projects and $8.4M more for police and fire.

Council will review the proposal over the next few weeks and vote on the final budget September 1. The new fiscal year begins October 1.

See the full proposed budget →

📚 Worth knowing…
West Waco Library closes August 30 through October 1 for a flooring renovation. The book drop out back stays open, and every other branch keeps normal hours.

Tuesday, August 11:

Wednesday, August 12:

Thursday, August 13:

Want your event featured? Reserve an upcoming Featured Event listing here.

🔥 HOTWORX Woodway is offering Waco-area teachers a free week through September 30.

🧗‍♀️ This Fall, Basin Climbing + Fitness is hosting the best birthday parties in Waco. Use code BUZZ75 to get $75 off a September or October birthday party. Reserve your spot.

🚗 Your neighbors at Chevrolet of West have been taking care of Waco drivers for years with new and pre-owned trucks, SUVs, and cars just 20 minutes up I-35 in West, TX. Stop by or browse their inventory today.

✨ Skin & Body Refinery delivers top tier injectors, advanced treatments, and natural looking results that help you look and feel your best.

💧 Need a boost? IViT Hydration & Wellness offers IV therapy and wellness treatments to help you feel better, recover faster, and boost energy. Waco Buzz readers get $35 off by clicking the link.

💪Move better. Recover Faster. Live Stronger. Waco Bodymend is a world class space built for everyday movers, athletes, and anyone who wants to feel their best.

Thanks for reading The Waco Buzz today. If you found something useful, share it with the parent who's already counting down to the first day of school being over.

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