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Dear Texas Economic Development Stakeholders,
The past six months have been a challenging time for our communities, residents and Texas business owners. The Governor's Economic Development & Tourism Office (EDT) would like to recognize your efforts, as you work together to help combat COVID-19. Over the past few months, we’ve seen Texas businesses stepping up to the challenge to help solve the global health crisis. One such example is highlighted in this month's Texas Business Bulletin—a Texas startup that's making headlines for a groundbreaking COVID-19 testing technology.
Continuing to help Texas businesses and communities overcome challenges is our top priority, but we're also focused on promoting what makes Texas great. That's why our office will be highlighting good news from around the state in upcoming issues. We're asking our community partners to submit recent major milestones, awards and positive updates to our team so that we can all share in the celebration. To submit your news for inclusion in our next Texas Business Bulletin, please email our Marketing Team.
As always, our staff is available to provide assistance—please don't hesitate to reach out. Be sure to check our website and connect with us on our social media for recent updates and for the latest information related to COVID-19.
-Governor's Economic Development & Tourism Office #TexasBizStrong
Staff Spotlight: Industry Specialists
This year, EDT is focused on an improved Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) program, led by an experienced team of economic developers. The BRE Industry Specialists work with existing Texas businesses on their growth, retention and expansion plans by identifying and locating resources, programs and contacts. They also work with community partners to foster growth and development in targeted industry clusters. The BRE Industry Specialists serve as subject-matter experts and provide consultation and technical assistance related to their assigned industries, serving as the liaison to industry allies, including the private sector, trade and professional organizations, and other local and regional stakeholders.
Joe Magruder is the BRE Industry Specialist covering manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, transportation, warehousing, aerospace, aviation and defense. Joe also oversees the Governor's Office of Aerospace and Aviation and supports the Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee, which works to promote and grow the aerospace and aviation industry in Texas.
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Phil Rocha is the Industry Specialist covering the health care, biotechnology and life sciences, energy, utilities, information, education, finance and other professional services. Phil also supports the Governor’s Broadband Development Council, which works to increase access to broadband connectivity in rural and unserved areas of the state.
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Texas Technology: Solving a Global Crisis
Everything’s bigger in Texas – including the tech industry. As the nation's largest tech exporter for the past seven years and home to one of the largest clusters of information technology workers in the country, Texas is making trailblazing advancements in the sector. In fact, Texas technology is at the helm of helping solve one of the world's biggest crises. The University of Texas’ Austin Technology Incubator is leading a new consortium of more than 50 health care organizations from around the state working to combat COVID-19 and prepare for future widespread disease outbreaks. Funded by the Austin-based incubator PandemicTech, the consortium is focused on the immediate need for health care innovation related to COVID-19, while also looking for technologies that will be relevant to future large-scale public health events (source).
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As home to one of the largest number of tech companies in the nation–nearly 30,000 firms–Texas businesses, both big and small, are playing a pivotal role during the public health crisis. Central Texas-based biotechnology startup, Industrial Genetics, announced the launch of its proprietary genetic testing technology to identify the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) on surfaces and in wastewater. The test, which will be available for use worldwide, uses genetic testing at the molecular level. This technology will allow organizations to assess their COVID-19 mitigation program and make more informed decisions (source). These are just a few examples of how Texas technologies are playing a part in solving global issues. As we work to combat this global pandemic, we know that our state's many innovators and tech leaders will continue to help change the world with their efforts.
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Women in Tech & Innovation Forum
Texas continues to invest in its growing tech community. The Texas Film Commission, Governor’s Commission for Women and AT&T will host the Women in Tech & Innovation Forum on September 1-4, 2020. The virtual event will feature “lunch and learn” panel discussions and presentations to inspire women in the creative and tech industries. The event is designed for female leaders, entrepreneurs and creative tech professionals interested in professional development in Texas. Hear from tech leaders from companies such as AT&T, Capital Factory, the University of Texas at Austin, as well as EDT's Executive Director, Adriana Cruz. Discussion topics will include workplace practices, business funding and more.
Recent Project Announcements
 Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing (KMM) in Kerrville: KMM announced that Kerrville would be the site for its first Texas manufacturing facility. A Texas Enterprise Fund grant of $903,000 was extended to KMM for the creation of 200 new jobs and more than $8 million in capital investment.
BAE Systems in Austin: Aerospace and defense company, BAE Systems announced a $150 million investment in its Austin operations. The project is expected to create 700 new jobs.
Amazon in Forney: Amazon announced it would open a one-million-square-foot fulfillment center in Forney. This project is expected to bring about 500 new full-time jobs and $100 million in capital investment to the region.
Robinhood in Southlake: Investing and trading app, Robinhood announced plans to expand to Texas with their first office in the state. They plan to hire new workers for their customer experience team in Southlake.
FNA Group in Mesquite: FNA Group, a manufacturer of electric and gas pressure washers, announced it would create a new Texas facility with 300 new jobs in Mesquite.
KeepRite Refrigeration in Longview: KeepRight Refrigeration announced a $4.5 million investment in their Longview plant. The expansion is expected to create 15 new jobs.
Amazon in Dallas: The existing operations already employ more than 1,500 people.
Yesway in Fort Worth: Convenience-store retailer Yesway, which acquired the Allsup’s Convenience Stores Inc. chain, is closing its Iowa headquarters and its Allsup’s corporate office in New Mexico, and opening a new headquarters in Fort Worth.
State Agency Partner Spotlight: Texas Workforce Commission
 The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas. TWC strengthens the Texas economy by providing the workforce development component of the Governor's economic development strategy. TWC and EDT work together to help promote workforce development and the talent pipeline in Texas.
During COVID-19, TWC has been pivotal in providing the latest workforce updates to employers and employees and has continued to provide direct, virtual assistance to Texas businesses through their Workforce Solutions offices around the state. TWC has also worked closely with EDT, participating as expert panelists on the Governor's Small Business Webinar Series. For more information on TWC's COVID-19 resources, visit their website.
In the News
Bell Announces New Future Vertical Lift Manufacturing Laboratory in Texas
With its designs under consideration as the U.S. Army’s next-generation rotorcraft, Bell is building a 140,000-square-foot laboratory to determine how to produce the Future Vertical Lift aircraft. Located near Fort Worth, Texas, the new facility is called the Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC). With the MTC, Bell intends to develop manufacturing methods and processes to produce aircraft at the fairly rapid rate the Army requires. The MTC is expected to be up and running in 2021. Read more here.
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A Texas Small Business Receives NOAA Award to Develop New Technology
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $3.1 million in grants to 21 small businesses from 14 states to support the development of innovative technology for aquaculture, commercial and recreational fisheries, weather prediction, earth and ocean observations and modeling. One of these businesses, Lynntech, Inc., is based in College Station and received $149,991 to produce a rapid, simple diagnostic tool for pathogens in marine aquaculture. Read more here.
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Denton to Open Startup Incubator for Women-Owned Businesses
The North Texas city of Denton will open a startup incubator exclusively for female entrepreneurs called AccelerateHER, a partnership between the Center for Women Entrepreneurs at Texas Woman’s University and coworking company, Stoke. The new initiative will even further facilitate economic development growth for women-owned businesses in Texas. Read more here.
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