< Previous98 TE X A S E C ONOMI C D E V E L OP ME NT G U I D E 2020: AUSTIN’S CAPITAL YEAR R E G IO N P R O F ILE — C A P IT A L by SAVANNAH KING Austin, the birthplace of Dell Technologies, is the economic hub of Texas’ Capital Region. The 10-county Capital region in central Texas stretches from Llano to San Marcos, La Grange to Georgetown. Home to approximately 2.4 million people, almost 95% of the region’s population lives in the Austin- Round Rock MSA. The Capital region is a key hub for innovation with some of the biggest names in technology including Apple, 3M, Amazon, Google, IBM, Oracle, Intel, Texas Instruments and many more. Courtesy of Travel TexasTE X A S E C ONOMI C D E V E L OP ME NT G U I D E 99 SECTOR PROJECTS MACHINERY, EQUIP. & CONST. 21 BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES 20 IT & COMM. 16 LIFE SCIENCES 10 FOOD & BEVERAGE 5 2020 AUSTIN, ROUND ROCK’S TOP PROJECT SECTORS Austin’s nickname of Silicon Hills signals to the region’s strong tech base and innovative startup culture. 2020 was a banner year for the city which saw several relocations and expansions from the likes of Oracle, Amazon and BAE Systems. According to the Austin Chamber, these investments resulted in a record-breaking 22,114 jobs being announced. This was no small feat in a year so full of challenges. A large piece of the city’s success in 2020, came as the result of the Tesla Gigafactory announcement. Set to be located in eastern Travis County, the Gigafactory will be one of the largest and most advanced automotive plants in the world. Tesla expects to generate up to 5,000 jobs and will bring $1 billion in capital investment to the region. The region’s deep talent pool is bolstered by the presence of several institutions of higher education including, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, Austin Community College, and The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. Source: Conway Data100 TE X A S E C ONOMI C D E V E L OP ME NT G U I D E by SAVANNAH KING I N V E S TME NT P R OF I L E : ROUND ROCK, TEXAS Round Rock: Where quality of life and opportunity meet. In Round Rock, opportunities are found around every corner. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Austin, Round Rock is a diverse and growing community in Central Texas. Home to approximately 133,000 people and major tech organizations like Dell Technologies Inc. and Emerson Automation Solutions, Round Rock is ideal for families and corporations alike. In recent years, Round Rock has attracted national attention for its affordability, lifestyle, and pro-business climate, earning a cadre of accolades and ranking among the country’s best locations. Last year, the Milken Institute named Round Rock the No. 3 “Best- Performing City” in America. Recognitions like Milken’s are nothing new in Round Rock. In 2019 alone, Austin-Round Rock was ranked the No.1 “Best Place to Live” by U.S. News and World Report, Round Rock was named one of “the Coolest Suburbs in America” by Apartment Therapy, ranked the No. 2 “Best Places to Live” by Money Magazine, and it was ranked among the top cities for living the American Dream by Smart Asset. With attractions like Dell Diamond, where you can catch a Round Rock Express game (the AAA affiliate to the Texas Rangers), the newly opened Kalahari Resort & Conventions (which boasts a 200,000-sq.-ft. convention center and is home to America’s largest indoor waterpark), a thriving downtown with unique shops and restaurants, and more than 34 park and trail corridors throughout the city, there’s always fun to be had in Round Rock. Additionally, the city boasts one of the state’s best K-12 school districts and three higher education institutions — Austin Community College, Texas State University and Texas A&M Health Science Center. The city’s diverse industry clusters provide economic stability and job opportunities, while its nearby colleges and universities, including the University of Texas at Austin, provide a steady pipeline of talented employees. Combine the region’s workforce and affordable quality of life with its business-friendly attitude, fast-tracked permits and economic incentives, and you’ve found the region’s recipe for continued economic growth. “We’ve always been very pro-business,” explains Mayor Craig Morgan. “We have one of the lowest tax rates for a city of our size in the state of Texas. We’ve been able to keep it at a minimal level with minimal regulations. Of course, we do have regulations, but they’re not burdensome. You can get in here and get started on a project quickly. The process happens much faster than it does in a lot of cities across the country, and even in Texas.” With its legacy as a hub for innovation, the city has built a rock-solid reputation for helping businesses of all sizes scale up and grow quickly. For instance, Dell Technologies first moved to Round Rock in 1994 after outgrowing its space in nearby Austin. Today, Dell’s worldwide headquarters in Round Rock employs over 13,000 people. When Emerson Automation Solutions moved its headquarters to Round Rock in 2014, the company found Round Rock’s Old Settlers Park is a 640-acre recreation and sports area. All photos courtesy of Round Rock ChamberTE X A S E C ONOMI C D E V E L OP ME NT G U I D E 101 the city’s willingness to assist its growth refreshing. “The City of Round Rock was outstanding to work with,” said Jim Nyquist, president of Systems and Solutions at Emerson Automation Solutions. “We had a very tight schedule for finishing the buildings and moving our 750 employees. Their attitude of collaboration between business and the city helped us meet all of our construction deadlines. They are ready to serve business and put every other city I’ve ever worked with to shame.” Companies run to Round Rock from other locations across the country. While travel and other restrictions in 2020 delayed investments across the country, Round Rock continued to experience unprecedented growth, announcing 1,115 new direct jobs and $46 million in capital investment. That forward momentum continued into the new year with several companies announcing their decision to move to the city from other states. In January, Ametrine, Inc. selected the city to relocate its U.S. headquarters and innovative manufacturing operations. Founded in 2011 in Rockville, Maryland, the company manufactures unique, advanced multispectral camouflage systems and patented nano- technology materials for clients, including the U.S. Department of Defense. The relocation will create 140 new jobs earning an average wage of roughly $75,000 with production, engineering, management and administration components. Round Rock’s proximity to Army Futures Command headquartered in Austin and the U.S. Army Fort Hood military instillation makes it an ideal location for defense innovation and technology firms, like Ametrine. “We started the search for our new U.S. headquarters almost a year ago and came to the conclusion that Round Rock would be the best fit for the future of our business,” said Brandon Cates, Ametrine’s CEO. “Round Rock has been very forward-thinking when it comes to supporting the defense industry, and we anticipate future collaboration with the city, the chamber and the other innovative companies that Round Rock attracts.” After exploring several locations, Californiabased Amazing Magnets also announced in January plans to move its headquarters, design and manufacturing operations to Round Rock, citing the city’s entrepreneurial spirit, access to worldclass talent and aff ordable cost of living as key decision factors. It joins Saleen Performance Parts, which relocated from California and plans to hire 150 employees in Round Rock. Both companies are among the hundreds of other California businesses choosing to move to the Lone Star State. “After visiting Round Rock and witnessing its economic growth, diversifi cation and meeting its people, we felt like we had found our home away from home. Everyone was so welcoming, kind and supportive,” said Amazing Magnets founder and CEO Tim Boettcher “We started the search for our new U.S. headquarters almost a year ago and came to the conclusion that Round Rock would be the best fit for the future of our business. ” — Brandon Cates, CEO, Ametrine This Investment Profile was prepared under the auspices of the Round Rock Chamber. For more information call 512-255-5805 or email jrobinson@ roundrock chamber.org. Dallas Fort Worth ROUND ROCK Houston San Antonio AustinThe Alamo, made famous in 1836 for its part in the Texas Revolution, is a central part of the Lone Star State’s history. Every year, tourists stroll through the Spanish mission-turned-fortress to better appreciate the unique spirit of liberty found in Texas. Named for its most important historical site, the Alamo Region is still a pivotal piece of the state’s story. The 19-county region covers about 18,000 square miles in central Texas and includes the cities of San Antonio - New Braunfels and Victoria, which are major population centers and economic drivers for the region. The region is home to a diverse population of approximately 2.9 million people. San Antonio- New Braunfels MSA is home to 89% of the region’s population. With 30 universities and community colleges in the region, employers and employees alike have easy access to a variety of educational programs and training options. A cluster of three military bases support the region’s growing defense sectors, as well as the health care, biomedical and life science sectors. San Antonio’s strong cybersecurity ecosystem is anchored by the presence of several military instillations including the Texas branch of the National Security Agency, the FBI Cyber Division, the Air Force’s cyber warfare operations. The city is home to the most certified cyber professionals outside of Washington D.C. and has the No. 1 ranked cybersecurity university program at the University of Texas -San Antonio. Several large corporations also operate cybersecurity operations in San Antonio including USAA and Lockheed Martin. Additionally, national and international companies like Tyson Foods, Toyota and Valero Energy have continued to expand their operations in the regions. Recently, Amazon announced plans to open two new fulfilment centers and a new delivery station in San Antonio, creating between 1,500 new full-time jobs. CONSIDER THE ALAMO 102 TE X A S E C ONOMI C D E V E L OP ME NT G U I D E RE G I ON P R OF I L E — A L A MO by SAVANNAH KING SECTOR PROJECTS MACHINERY, EQUIP. & CONST. 12 BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES 8 FOOD & BEVERAGE 7 TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS 7 IT & COMM. 6 2020 SAN ANTONIO, NEW BRAUNFELS’ TOP PROJECT SECTORS The Alamo, San Antonio Photo: Getty Images Source: Conway Data104 TE X A S E C ONOMI C D E V E L OP ME NT G U I D E by RON STARNER A PORT, A BORDER AND A COAST: SOUTH TEXAS HAS IT ALL R E G IO N P R O F ILE — S O U T H Everything from a relaxing beach vacation to a shopping excursion to Mexico can be enjoyed from the South Texas region that spans 37,800 square miles and stretches from the Mexican border up the Gulf Coast to some of the most important North American ports near Corpus Christi. Covering 28 counties, South Texas is home to 2.4 million people, or roughly 8.4% of the state’s population. Two large metropolitan areas anchor the regional economy: Corpus Christi and Laredo. Two smaller metros — Brownsville-Harlingen and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission — also play a sizable role in the cross- border economy. South Texas is notable for its coastal and border characteristics. Tourism, hunting, fishing and other outdoor leisure activities form a major part of the regional economy, as do trade and other cross-border activity between South Texas and Northern Mexico. The dominant industries in the region include leather and allied product manufacturing; mining; petroleum and coal products manufacturing; fishing, hunting and trapping; pipeline transportation; law enforcement; transportation services; health care; oil and gas extraction; and Port of Corpus Christi Photo: Getty Imagesmuseums and historical sites. In 2020, the region benefited from several significant capital investments. The largest of these was a $48 million investment by Mission Produce in Webb County, creating 75 jobs. Other notable deals included a $12 million investment by Sicar Farms in Hidalgo County, creating 250 jobs; and a $7.5 million investment by JM Steel Corp. in San Patricio County, generating 50 jobs. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is the largest 4-year school in the region, serving 12,000 students, while another campus of Texas A&M in Laredo educates 7,500 students. The region continues to experience robust growth. Its population has risen by 7.4% (about 169,000 residents) since 2010. The Port of Corpus Christi, meanwhile, was recently ranked by Site Selection magazine as the No. 1 Free Trade Zone in the country. The port is also the No. 1 port in Texas for generating new industry and new jobs. SECTOR PROJECTS TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS 5 FOOD & BEVERAGE 4 BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES 2 2020 LAREDO’S TOP PROJECT SECTORS Source: Conway Data106 TE X A S E C ONOMI C D E V E L OP ME NT G U I D E by RON STARNER THERE’S BLACK GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS R E G I O N P R O F I L E — W E S T T E X A S Downtown Midland Texas Photo: Getty ImagesTE X A S E C ONOMI C D E V E L OP ME NT G U I D E 107 When it comes to minerals gleaned from the earth, there is perhaps no place in America more important to the national and global economy than West Texas. Home to the Permian Basin, West Texas contains the Mid-Continent Oil Field province and serves as one of the largest sources of oil and natural gas in the world. As a result, the economies of Midland and Odessa tend to reflect the boom-and-bust nature of the oil business. West Texas is a 30-county region that stretches from the towns of Mason and Brady in the east to the Rio Grande just south of Dryden and just north of Seminole. The three main metro areas of West Texas are Midland, Odessa and San Angelo. Total population of West Texas in 2019 was 660,000, accounting for 2.3% of the state’s population. Since 2010, the region has experienced a 16% increase in population. Approximately 52% of the region’s full-time residents live in either Midland or Odessa. Major industries in the 40,000-square-mile area are mining; oil and gas extraction; pipeline transportation; heavy and civil engineering construction; support activities for mining; rental and leasing services; truck transportation; gas stations; fishing, hunting and trapping; and lessors of non-financial intangible assets. In 2020, the region landed a series of high-profile capital investments. The largest was a $5 million deal by ONCOR Electric Delivery Holdings Company in Stanton in Martin County. Other notable projects included a $4.5 million investment by Purvis Industries in Odessa in Ector County and a $3 million deal by Endeavor Energy Resources in Midland. Odessa College, Midland College and the University of Texas Permian Basin educate thousands of workers every year throughout the region, as does a network of community colleges. Interstate 20 and Texas State Highway 191 form the main thoroughfares through the region and connect West Texas to key markets in Texas, New Mexico and beyond. Two major east-west railroads connect the region to Mexico, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, El Paso and other key markets in two countries. SECTOR PROJECTS MACHINERY, EQUIP. & CONST. 5 ELECTRONICS 1 BUSINESS & FINANCIAL SERVICES 1 SECTOR PROJECTS ENERGY 3 MACHINERY, EQUIP. & CONST. 1 AEROSPACE 1 IT & COMM. 1 LIFE SCIENCES 1 2020 ODESSA’S TOP PROJECT SECTORS 2020 MIDLAND’S TOP PROJECT SECTORS West Texas has grown by 15.8% since 2010, adding 90,000 people. Source: Conway Data Source: Texas ComptrollerNext >