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Dear Texas Economic Development Stakeholders,
May is an exciting month for the State of Texas! The first week of May is not only Small Business Week, but also Travel & Tourism Week and Export Week, followed by Economic Development Week. EDT’s Travel Texas division is also promoting May as BBQ Month in Texas! We hope you will be sure to follow us on social media throughout the coming weeks as we celebrate our state's small businesses, highlight the importance of Texas' tourism industry, discuss the Lone Star State's leadership in exports and bring awareness to the local, regional and state efforts that create new economic opportunities for Texans across the Lone Star State!
I am also proud to announce that Texas was once again named the Best State for Business by Chief Executive Magazine for the 18th time in a row! Check out Governor Greg Abbott's press release for more information.
In the May Texas Business Bulletin, you will find a spotlight on the Governor's Small Business Assistance Team, a focus on the Texas chemical manufacturing industry, our economic snapshot, recent project announcements, and much more!
As always, please visit our website, follow us on social media, or reach out to a member of our team if we can be of any assistance. Thanks for all you do for our great state!
 -Adriana Cruz, Executive Director, Texas Economic Development & Tourism
  Unemployment Rate: 4.4%
Jobs Added in March: 30,100
Job Recovery Rate: 115%
Workforce: 14.4 million
Meet the Governor's Small Business Assistance Team!
 (Left to Right: Eric Schneider, Jarvis Brewer, Bryan Roller)
 The Governor's Office of Small Business Assistance, within the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, serves as the principal resource for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Texas. The team provides opportunities for effective education, training, management and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses in the state. They offer resource referrals to help entrepreneurs and small business owners start, grow and sustain their businesses. The team also oversees the planning and execution of the Governor's Small Business Series and Webinars.
As the office's Small Business Advocate, Jarvis Brewer serves as the principal focal point in the state for assisting small and historically underutilized businesses. He also helps support the creation, stability and growth of Texas small businesses across the state by serving as an expert on available resources.
Jarvis' Fun Fact: On weekends, you can catch Jarvis waiting in line for breakfast tacos or smoked meats. He’ll likely be on his way to cheer on the Longhorns to victory!
As Business Assistance Specialists, Bryan Roller and Eric Schneider work directly with small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to ensure that they have the tools and resources available to get started and grow in Texas. They help with everything from general business and permitting inquiries to connecting business owners with relevant local, state and federal contacts to help them find success.
Bryan's Fun Fact: From small craft breweries to custom speed shops, Bryan admires the men and women who take that step into the unknown to chase a dream of owning a business.
Eric's Fun Fact: Eric can typically be found visiting local music and marine fish shops, and as a Dallas native, he cannot help but stop by Campisi's Restaurant any time he is in town.
You may reach the members of the Governor's Small Business Assistance Team through our online staff directory. To learn more about the team and the resources our office offers, be sure to follow us on social media throughout Small Business Week! #SmallBizWeekTEXAS
May 5, 2022 I El Paso, Wyndham El Paso Airport Hotel
The Governor’s Small Business Series - El Paso will connect small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with the resources and information needed to start, strengthen and grow a business. The event is an opportunity to network with other business owners and meet experts who can share timely, relevant, actionable advice on a multitude of small business topics. While the El Paso region was impacted by the pandemic, the community’s entrepreneurial spirit and resiliency did not waiver. We hope you will join us as we “Stay Positive and Profitable” on May 5!
Made in Texas: Chemical Manufacturing
  Thanks to the state’s strong workforce, state-of-the-art infrastructure and abundant natural resources, the Lone Star State is a power player in chemical product manufacturing. As the nation's #1 chemical producer, this robust Texas industry has long played a crucial role in our state’s economy, creating new jobs and supporting our status as the #1 exporting state in the U.S.
Texas chemical companies supply a wide-array of products that are used to make everyday items such as pharmaceuticals, computers, transportation and infrastructure. Texas produces about 43% of U.S. crude oil and 26% of U.S. natural gas. These raw materials have supported Texas' dominance in chemical manufacturing, providing a strong supply chain for production facilities and fostering a hub for industry development along the Gulf Coast region.
More than 50% of the nation's chemicals are produced and processed in the state and 13% of the world's chemicals are shipped through Texas—making The Lone Star State the nation’s top chemical producer and top exporter. Texas exports totaled $51.5 billion worth of chemical products in 2021.
Industry leaders have access to a large, job-ready workforce in chemical manufacturing. In fact, Texas is home to the world's largest petrochemical workforce cluster, employing more than 75,000 workers. Companies like Valero, Huntsman, ExxonMobil and Celanese all have major operations in the state.
The industry continues to improve by focusing on efficiency through technology and the strengthening of cybersecurity initiatives in order to help mitigate potential future supply chain unpredictability.
Read more about chemical manufacturing in Texas by visiting the Texas Comptroller's website.
Hot off the Press
Our office develops in-depth reports and publications highlighting the Lone Star State's best assets in various industry sectors. Check out these and other Reports & Publications on our website.
Texas Economic Development Guide
The Texas Economic Development Guide, published by Site Selection Magazine, offers the latest on economic development in Texas. Check out this year's guide for Q&As with Governor Greg Abbott and EDT's Executive Director, Adriana Cruz, plus much more!
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Governor Greg Abbott attended the HIF announcement in Matagorda County, Texas.
Texas' success in attracting the most expanded and relocated corporate facility projects is thanks to the multitude of unique competitive business advantages that no other state can claim. For more on these business advantages, visit our Why Texas? webpages. Here are some of Texas' recently announced projects in regions across the state:
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TIAA in Frisco: Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) will establish a new corporate center in Frisco, creating 2,000 new jobs and nearly $58 million in capital investment. TIAA was extended a Texas Enterprise Fund grant of $18 million in addition to a Veteran Job Created Bonus of $19,000.
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HIF in Matagorda County: Highly Innovative Fuels (HIF) has selected Matagorda County as the location of its first industrial-scale eFuels facility in North America. The project is expected to create $6 billion in capital investment and more than 125 new permanent jobs.
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Raytheon in McKinney: Raytheon announced plans for a more than $200 million expansion to their intelligent manufacturing facility in McKinney. The expansion is expected to create new jobs when the buildings open late next year.
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REE Automotive in Pflugerville: REE Automotive, an electric vehicle technology company, is opening its first North American headquarters and integration center in Pflugerville. The facility is expected to create 125 full-time jobs and $24.75 million in capital investment.
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Pratt Industries in Cedar Hill: Packaging manufacturer Pratt Industries Inc. will locate a plant and shipping center in the southwest Dallas County community of Cedar Hill. The facility is expected to create 150 new jobs.
Texas & Japan: Digital Investment Promotion Initiative
 Texas and Japan have a strong cultural and economic relationship that only continues to flourish. Recently, our office worked with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to promote Texas' competitive business advantages to Japanese companies through the JETRO Digital Investment Promotion Initiative.
With a highly skilled, diverse and growing workforce of more than 14 million, Japanese companies can find the right labor to meet their needs in all areas of the state. As the 10th largest economy among nations of the world, Texas is a premier destination for Japanese investment.
Check out the video for more on Texas and Japan!
Did you know? Japan is Texas' fourth largest trading partner with more than $35.2 billion in trade between the two markets in 2021.
 “It ain’t bragging if it's true!” Here are some of the recent accolades Texas has received:
- Texas was once again named the Best State for Business by Chief Executive Magazine for the 18th time in a row.
- Texas is #1 in the nation for tech employment job gains and #2 for net tech employment, according to CompTIA's 2022 Cyber States Report.
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington and Austin-Round Rock ranked among the top five metro areas in the country for net tech jobs added, according to CompTIA's 2022 Cyber States Report.
- The University of Texas at Austin ranked among the top 10 "dream" colleges in the nation, by the Princeton Review.
- Four of the top 10 "Safest Cities" in the U.S. are in Texas, according to SmartAsset: Frisco (#1), McKinney (#2), McAllen (#6) and Plano (#9).
- Texas has ranked among the top 20 most innovative states in the nation, by WalletHub.
- Four of the top cities renters moved to in 2021 are in Texas, according to StorageCafe: Irving (#1), Lewisville (#2), Dallas (#17) and Austin (#18).
- Texas cities dominate the list of 2022 Best Large Cities to Start a Business, by WalletHub.
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