Amazon has selected Austin as the site of a new robotics manufacturing facility, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Aug. 19. The governor’s office described the project as a multi-billion-dollar development that will create 300 to 500 new jobs in manufacturing and engineering.
The announcement extends a relationship that already runs deep. Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $100 billion in Texas, including infrastructure and compensation for its 86,000 full- and part-time employees in the state, according to the governor’s office. The release said the new investment confirms the state’s role as a thriving innovation and logistics hub for the company.
“Texas is the new frontier for innovation,” Abbott said in the release. “With the best business climate in the nation, easy access to global markets, and a deep pipeline of skilled talent, Texas offers advanced manufacturers and technology leaders unmatched resources to innovate and expand.”
Holly Sullivan, Amazon’s vice president of worldwide economic development, pointed to the region’s workforce and institutions. “Austin’s talented workforce, world-class universities, and strong community partnerships make it the ideal home for this facility,” Sullivan said in the release. “We’re proud to deepen our commitment to this city and the state of Texas.”
What the announcement did not include is a schedule. The governor’s office did not specify a construction timeline, an opening date or a site location within Austin, and neither statement detailed how the 300 to 500 positions would be phased in. The release said the investment confirms Texas’ standing with the company, and pointed readers to additional information about Amazon.