Important announcements, resources, events & recent news.



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The Governor's Texas Business Bulletin, Economic Development and Tourism

Dear Texas Economic Development Stakeholders,

We have great news to share! Thanks to strong business investments and the best workforce in America, Texas continues to dominate the nation in job creation. According to the latest job numbers [ [link removed] ], Texas reached a new high for total jobs, Texans working and labor force in August. Not to mention, Texas again outpaced in the nation in annual jobs growth—growing at 3%, while the nation as a whole grew at 2%. 

It's *Manufacturing Week in Texas [ [link removed] ]*! This is an important week for our state as manufacturing continues to drive our state's economy while upholding our status as the #1 exporter in the U.S.—for the last 21 years in a row. For more on Manufacturing Week, watch this special video message [ [link removed] ] from Governor Greg Abbott and read his official proclamation [ [link removed] ]. And check out our Manufacturing Week bulletin [ [link removed] ] for ways you can get involved!

It is also *Hispanic Heritage Month [ [link removed] ]*! I'd like to take a moment to recognize the significant contributions of Hispanic Texans across the state for their impact on our economy and culture. In fact, Texas is #1 for jobs created by Hispanic women business owners! I am especially proud to serve as the first Hispanic Executive Director of EDT and proud to serve under the first Hispanic First Lady of Texas Cecilia Abbott as we continue to focus on keeping Texas the top state for Hispanic-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.

In this issue of the Texas Business Bulletin, you'll find information on the new Texas CHIPS Office and resources on the Texas semiconductor industry, recent project announcements across the state, our economic snapshot, upcoming events and more. 

As always, please be sure to visit our website [ [link removed] ], follow us on social media or reach out to a member of our team [ [link removed] ] if we can be of any assistance! 

Thanks for all that you do to keep Texas the best place for business! 

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"-Adriana Cruz, Executive Director, Texas Economic Development & Tourism"

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*Unemployment Rate:* 4.1%

*Jobs Added in August: *16,700

*Workforce:* 15.1 million

*National Rank in Annual Job Growth:* #1

See full economic snapshot › [ [link removed] ]

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The New Texas CHIPS Office & Semiconductor Industry Resources
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Texas is focused on remaining a national and global leader in semiconductors. Already #1 for semiconductor manufacturing, Texas is committed to increasing capacity in this critical sector.

That's why our office is excited to announce the creation of a newly formed division—the *Texas CHIPS Office*—within Texas Economic Development & Tourism (EDT) in the Office of the Governor (OOG). The *Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium (TSIC)* and the *Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF)*, established by the Texas CHIPS Act (HB 5174), will be administered by EDT's Texas CHIPS Office. 

The new landing page at gov.texas.gov/semiconductors [ [link removed] ] will house information and updates on the Texas CHIPS Office programs, information on the strength of the semiconductor industry in Texas as well as updates on important incentives and initiatives and resources for download.



You'll also find publications such as the *Texas Semiconductor Industry Snapshot [ [link removed] ]* and the *Texas CHIPS Act Snapshot [ [link removed] ]*—with more to come! And for your viewing at any time is the recording and presentation slides from the recent webinar titled* Leveraging the CHIPS Act: Texas Semiconductor Industry Incentives & Initiatives [ [link removed] ]*, hosted by SEMI and featuring presentations from EDT Executive Director Adriana Cruz and Business & Community Development Director Larry McManus.

We invite you to explore these resources and share them with your network as we continue to keep Texas the premier destination for investment in the semiconductor industry. As the birthplace of the integrated circuit, Texas is ready to lead America's chip resurgence, and we look forward to continuing our work with industry partners across the state to foster innovation through collaboration and focus on building the technologies of tomorrow.

Visit the new landing page at gov.texas.gov/semiconductors [ [link removed] ] or click the button below! Please be sure to check back frequently for continued updates as new information becomes available.

More here › [ [link removed] ]

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In September 2023, Governor Greg Abbott celebrated Texas’ booming tech manufacturing sector at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Schneider Electric El Paso plant. The new facility is expected to create more than 350 new jobs and $20 million in capital investment.

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Texas' success in attracting the most corporate expansion and relocation projects in the U.S. is thanks to a unique combination of competitive business advantages that no other state can claim. For more on these business advantages, visit our Why Texas [ [link removed] ] webpages. Here are some recently announced projects in regions across the state:


* Eaton in El Paso [ [link removed] ]: Eaton will invest $80 million to significantly expand its manufacturing footprint in El Paso, creating more than 600 new skilled manufacturing jobs, opening a new facility and increasing capacity at its existing manufacturing plant.
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Exxon Mobil in Baytown [ [link removed] ]: Exxon Mobil started two new chemical production units at its Baytown refining and petrochemical complex. The $2 billion expansion is part of a long-term plan to deliver higher-value products from its U.S. Gulf Coast facilities.


* BrightFarms in Lorena [ [link removed] ]: New York-based BrightFarms will invest more than $120 million for a new hydroponic lettuce farm, with plans to hire hundreds of workers for its new greenhouse in Lorena.
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Amogy in Houston [ [link removed] ]: Amogy, a provider of ammonia power solutions, announced its expansion to Houston. The company's new manufacturing facility is expected to create $40 million in capital investment.


* Hexagon Purus in Mesquite [ [link removed] ]: Hexagon Purus, a Norway-based manufacturer of zero-emission mobility and hydrogen infrastructure solutions, will build a new 200,000-plus-square-foot facility in Mesquite and employ up to 250 skilled workers.

More recent announcements › [ [link removed] ]

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Upcoming Governor's Small Business Summits

*Governor's Small Business Summit — *San Angelo

*October 19, 2023  I  8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.  I  McNease Convention Center*

The Governor's Small Business Summit — San Angelo aims to help Texas small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs reach new heights by connecting them with the resources and information needed to start, strengthen and grow a business. This event offers a variety of sessions bringing together local, state and federal resource partners to provide key insights on critical business topics. It's also an opportunity to network with other business owners and meet experts who will share timely, relevant and actionable advice on a multitude of small business subjects.

*Panel Topics:
• *Addressing Small Business Challenges: What’s on the Horizon
*• *Essentials of Small Business Accounting
*• *Access to Finance & Funding
*• *Online & Social Media Marketing Essentials

Register now › [ [link removed] ]
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*Other Upcoming Events*

* November 9: Governor's Small Business Summit — San Antonio [ [link removed] ]
* December 7: Governor's Small Business Summit — Houston [ [link removed] ]

Be sure to check in at gov.texas.gov/events [ [link removed] ] as we continue to announce additional event details, speakers, panelists and webinars for 2023!

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2023 Chamber of Commerce Week in Texas

*Chamber of Commerce Week in Texas is approaching, October 16-20, 2023!
*Each October, we celebrate the critical work of chambers in communities across the state. From October 16 to 20, our office will spotlight the many local and regional chambers that impact our state's economy, create jobs and promote future prosperity for all Texans. Be sure to follow us on social media at "@TexasEconDev" throughout the week for content to like and share and use the hashtag "#TexasChambersWeek"!

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*"“It ain’t bragging if it's true!” Here are some of the recent accolades Texas has received:"*


* Texas is ranked the *Best Business Climate* in the U.S. by corporate executives and site selection professionals in DCI's latest survey [ [link removed] ].
* With a young, skilled, diverse and growing workforce, Texas is ranked as one of the *most diverse states* in the U.S. according to WalletHub [ [link removed] ].
* Texas is home to *29 National Blue Ribbon Schools [ [link removed] ] in 2023*. This recognition by the U.S. Department of Education is based on a schools’ overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps.
* *Harlingen* and *McAllen* were ranked among the top 10 least expensive urban areas in the U.S. for cost of living. (C2ER [ [link removed] ])

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Recent Meetings & Events

*Governor Abbott Rings Closing Bell At New York Stock Exchange*

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Governor Greg Abbott rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in celebration of Texas Capital Bank launching its new Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) & Funds Management division and flagship Texas Capital Texas Equity Index ETF (NYSE Arca: TXS) [ [link removed] ] in New York City. Texas leads the nation with the most companies on the NYSE and is the only state with its own ETF. TXS enables investments in the Texas economy by providing an opportunity to gain exposure to one of the largest, most diverse and fastest growing economies in the world. Read the Governor's press release [ [link removed] ] for more information.

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*Meeting with Hungarian President Katalin Novák*

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Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson and EDT Executive Director Adriana Cruz met with Hungarian President Katalin Novák and other Hungarian leaders in September. During the meeting, the group discussed strengthening and expanding the international economic partnership between Texas and Hungary and highlighted shared interests in growing the advanced manufacturing, automotive and aerospace industries. Read the Governor's press release [ [link removed] ] for more information.

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*Meeting with German Federal Minister Annalena Baerbock*

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Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson and EDT Executive Director Adriana Cruz held a meeting with Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Germany Annalena Baerbock and other German leaders to discuss the unique economic relationship and continued international partnership between Texas and Germany. Governor Abbott and Minister Baerbock highlighted shared interests between the Texas and German economies, including artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, auto manufacturing and semiconductors. Read the Governor's press release [ [link removed] ] for more information.

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*Meeting with Indian Consul General D.C. Manjunath*

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In September, Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson and EDT Executive Director Adriana Cruz met with Indian Consul General D.C. Manjunath. During the meeting, Governor Abbott expressed interest in continuing to work together to strengthen the partnership between Texas and India. As two of the world’s largest economies, Texas and India have shared a long and prosperous economic relationship that continues to grow.

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*Meeting with Volkswagen Group of America*

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Governor Greg Abbott and EDT Executive Director Adriana Cruz met with Volkswagen Group of America CEO Pablo Di Si and Volkswagen Autonomous Driving Mobility and Transport (ADMT) leadership to discuss the launch of Volkswagen's first autonomous vehicle test program in Austin. We are proud that Volkswagen continues to choose to grow in the Lone Star State, creating new jobs for hardworking Texans and bolstering our state's automotive sector.

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*Governor's Small Business Summit — Fredericksburg*

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The Governor's Small Business Summit — Fredericksburg honored women-owned businesses and female entrepreneurs. Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott joined this sold-out event as a special guest speaker. After a full day of informative panel sessions, the Governor's Small Business Awards were presented to three local women business owners, and the Governor's Commission for Women closed out the event with the Beacon State Fund Pitch Competition. Visit our events calendar [ [link removed] ] for more upcoming events.

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*Oil & Gas Asia Trade Show*

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EDT hosted the Texas Pavilion at [ [link removed] ] Oil & Gas Asia in September where a delegation of Texas companies showcased their products and services to potential business partners from around the world. Participating Texas companies included Apfelbaum, GR2 Engineering, NanoflowX Advanced Coatings, Single Supply Source and V3Main Technologies Inc. Visit our website [ [link removed] ] for more on Texas business export assistance opportunities.

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*Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce*

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EDT Executive Director Adriana Cruz spoke at the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce 90th Annual Membership Banquet in September. Adriana discussed economic development in Texas and highlighted the growth in the greater Killeen area. We look forward to continuing to work with our community partners in Killeen to help keep Texas the best state for business in the nation!

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*Governor's Small Business Summit — Horizon City*

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The Governor's Small Business Summit — Horizon City took place on September 7 and featured a number of panel sessions covering critical small business topics such as digital media and marketing, small business and entrepreneurship essentials and workforce development. Thank you to our event partners, Horizon City Economic Development and the Texas Workforce Commission, for support in planning and executing this successful event! Visit our events calendar [ [link removed] ] for more upcoming events.

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*beyondGREEN x Walmart Ribbon Cutting*

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Director of Business & Community Development Larry McManus attended the beyondGREEN x Walmart Ribbon Cutting along with Texas community partners and company representatives. Walmart's partnership with beyondGREEN, a manufacturer of 100% certified compostable plastic products with a location in San Antonio, will help create more than 100 new jobs over the next two years.

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*Texas CHIPS Roundtable*

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EDT Executive Director Adriana Cruz participated in the Texas CHIPS Roundtable hosted by the Austin Chamber of Commerce. The group discussed the strength of the semiconductor industry in Central Texas and across the entire Lone Star State, as well as new initiatives and incentives to help bolster this important industry.

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Join Our Team!
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Interested in working with the best state economic development team in the country and helping grow the Lone Star State's economy? Come join our team! There are multiple positions for experienced professionals in Business & Community Development, Economic Development Finance (EDF), the Texas Workforce Investment Council (TWIC) and other divisions. Here's a select sampling of open positions:


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Marketing and Communications Specialist (BCD) [ [link removed] ]


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Economic Development Finance Specialist (EDF) [ [link removed] ]


* Economic Development Finance Specialist (EDF) [ [link removed] ]
* Program Specialist (TWIC) [ [link removed] ]

For more information on available positions, visit gov.texas.gov/employment [ [link removed] ].

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*Texas Selected for Federal Biotech Research Hub [ [link removed] ]
*Dallas will serve as one of three U.S. locations for a $2.5 billion federal biotech research hub through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). This comes after months of targeted campaigning by Texas cities, universities and science advocates, cementing North Texas’ place among the nation’s major life sciences hubs.


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*Baylor Launches Central Texas Cybersecurity Center [ [link removed] ]
*Baylor University officially unveiled its new cybersecurity center, the Central Texas Cyber Range. The multi-million dollar center is intended to provide research in cybersecurity and cyber resilience. The center will partner with McLennan County Community College to specialize in applied research and education.*
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*Texas A&M's College of Engineering Receives * [ [link removed] ]*$1 Million from Samsung [ [link removed] ]*
Officials from Texas A&M and Samsung announced a new partnership between the Texas A&M College of Engineering and Samsung during an event where Samsung leaders presented a donation of $1 million for semiconductor education to help further develop the state's skilled workforce pipeline.


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The Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office markets Texas as
one of the world's premier business locations and travel destinations.
For more information on doing business in Texas, visit us online at gov.texas.gov/business [ [link removed] ].



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