Gov. Greg Abbott announced Oct. 8 that Blue Origin Manufacturing LLC is constructing an advanced manufacturing and operations campus in Hutto, with a $554,780,000 capital investment that will create more than 2,000 new jobs, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
The release said a Texas Enterprise Fund grant of $18,171,000 and a Veteran Created Job Bonus of $10,000 have been extended to the company.
“Texas is the launchpad to a future of possibilities,” Abbott said. “Blue Origin’s sizeable expansion of their investment in Texas in support of their satellite communications network is testament to the state’s leadership in the advanced manufacturing and space industries. Texas offers innovative technology leaders the space, speed, and talent needed to rapidly scale operations.”
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said the company is glad to grow in the state. “We’re proud to grow our footprint here in Texas, tap into the world-class talent this state has to offer, and help ensure America remains the leader in space innovation,” Limp said.
State and local officials also weighed in. Sen. Charles Schwertner called the decision “a strong vote of confidence in Williamson County and the pro-business climate that makes Texas a destination for leading companies.” Rep. Caroline Harris Davila said the project “will also create new opportunities for Williamson County businesses, contractors, and suppliers.”
Hutto Mayor Mike Snyder said the investment, along with recent expansions by other industry leaders, is making Hutto “an anchor point on the Highway 79 tech corridor.” Williamson County Judge Steve Snell said the project will create “thousands of high-paying jobs while making a significant investment in our students, schools, and future workforce.”
Cheney Gamboa, the City of Hutto’s director of economic development, said the project aligns with residents’ priorities. “Blue Origin aligns with those priorities by bringing quality jobs, diversifying our tax base, and creating an opportunity for sustainable growth that supports the quality of life we want for Hutto today and well into the future,” Gamboa said.
According to the release, the Texas Enterprise Fund is a performance-based grant administered by the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office within the Office of the Governor. It may be awarded to a business relocation or expansion project for which one Texas site is in competition with out-of-state locations to create new jobs and attract significant new capital investment to the state.