The $3 billion project could bring an estimated 74,000 new jobs to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, according to experts researching the project’s long-term impact. Construction on the chip factory should get underway near the end of 2005.
The company originally surveyed 20 to 25 states, gathering information on taxes, infrastructure, university participation and land cost. The Metroplex ultimately won the project against competition from New York, Virginia and Singapore.
An important component to Texas Instruments’ decision hinged upon the Texas state government’s agreement to earmark $50 million for UTD research.
The deal will help improve UTD’s engineering and computer science research by enabling it to recruit 40 research professors, construct an engineering and science building and hire 400 research graduate students during the next five years.
Expansion and relocation projects have dotted the Lone Star State landscape in recent months.
For instance, the West Texas city of Lubbock welcomed a new headquarters operation in April.
Petersburg, Texas,-based Wylie Manufacturing Co., a producer of agricultural and industrial chemical application equipment and polyethelene containers, is consolidating its sales and marketing functions in the new location. All manufacturing operations will remain in Petersburg.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas announced plans to build its newest customer service center in Amarillo, in Northwest Texas. The company is purchasing land to prepare for the growth of its health plans and the expansion of its customer service capabilities. The facility will house 550 employees.
Once the decision is made to begin construction of the new facility, the company expects it to be completed within 14 months. If growth at the health insurer continues at its current pace, ground could be broken for the facility as early as the first quarter of next year.
This will be Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’ seventh customer service center.
— Dan Perkins
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