Talk of a shaky economy is not stopping progress on several commercial projects in Waco and its suburbs, including everything from a $16.5 million diaper plant to a Collin Street Bakery location.

The city of Waco inspection department reports it has issued seven permits for commercial/office projects valued at $29.4 million for the first three months of this year, including $20 million for a new Midway intermediate school on Speegleville Road in Waco’s city limits.

That’s way up from the three projects valued at $2.2 million Waco issued through March of last year.

In fact, a drive around Waco and its neighbors reveals a variety of projects showing progress — and that’s not counting the Heritage Square venture continuing near Waco City Hall.

In Bellmead, a stately Southern-style plantation building with columns and lots of glass soon will be home to Collin Street Bakery, a branch of the 113-year-old fruitcake factory in Corsicana.

“We have high hopes, probably absurdly high, of opening on the 29th,” said public relations director Hayden Crawford.

The bakery, located at Highway 31 and Interstate 35, will sell a full line of baked goods prepared in ovens for the public to see. It also will serve sandwiches, soups and salads for those wanting a meal.

Collin Street Bakery operated in downtown Corsicana for years before opening a second location on busy Interstate 45 on the outskirts of the city. It has performed so well that the company decided to expand to another highway location within an hour’s drive of Corsicana, and Waco/Bellmead seemed the logical choice.

When up and running, the bakery will employ about 30.

In Lacy-Lakeview, the old shopping center at Loop 340 and Interstate 35 is finally showing signs of life many had predicted.

Wooden framing for a new Taco Bell is in place on the center’s parking lot, “and it should be opening on or around June 1,” said Dwayne Kostiha, a spokesman for Austin-based Austaco. Austaco owns and operates 76 Taco Bell locations in Central Texas.

The new Taco Bell in Lacy-Lakeview will employ about 40.

In Waco’s Legends Crossing, near the new Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center at Highway 6 and I-35, framing has begun on an extended-stay hotel called Homewood Suites by Hilton. It will have 88 suites, all equipped with full kitchens, spokesman Kary Lalani said.

“We’re shooting for a September opening and hope to start staffing the property in July. We will have about 55 employees,” said Lalani, whose operation is based in Wichita Falls.

Owner Munir Lalani, Kary’s father, said his two sons graduated from Baylor University and a daughter attends Baylor. He wanted to develop a property in Waco and could not resist Legends Crossing, which has a small lake, easy access to I-35 and potential business generated by HBMC.

A permit was issued last week for construction of a $16.5 million tilt-up-wall building at 2101 Texas Central Parkway in Waco.

Associated Hygienic Products will make diapers there and hopes to complete construction later this year.

AHP is a leading maker of private-label diapers and training pants for retailers that want to sell them under their own names.

It will employ 115 in Waco initially and more within two years.

Work is wrapping up on the 750,000-square-foot distribution center Caterpillar is erecting at 2901 Gateway Blvd.

“Now comes the stocking. We’re ramping up now and should be at full capacity by mid-June,” Caterpillar spokeswoman Linda Fairbanks said.

The plant already has hired about 80 people, Fairbanks said, adding that full employment should reach 200 by the middle of the year.

Those wanting to apply for work at the center can go online at jointeamcaterpillar.com, Fairbanks said.

Interstate Batteries is building an 8,000-square-foot store on Hewitt Drive, “and we’re shooting to open on May 25,” said Dean Hill, who manages a smaller Interstate Batteries nearby.

The leased location will be closed when the new store opens. The new store will employ eight people, Hill said.

A brick-veneer building is taking shape at Herring Avenue and North 25th Street. It has attracted attention because that area of town is predominantly residential, and the land has been vacant for years.

Architect Jane Kittner designed the building and said it will provide about 1,800 square feet for offices.