2019 State Of The Year: Texas
Jack Rogers, February 10, 2020, Business Facilities
Texas has been named Business Facilities’ 2019 State of the Year (SOTY), becoming the first state to win BF’s top honor for the fourth time. The Lone Star State won our inaugural SOTY designation in 2007; Texas also was BF’s State of the Year winner in 2012 and 2016.
The top five Texas projects in terms of capital investment last year brought a tidal wave of more than $30 billion in capex to TX, while the top five job-creating projects netted nearly 15,000 direct new jobs.
“As we ring in 2020, it’s time to acknowledge that Texas has by far been the most prolific economic development success story of the decade just ended,” said BF Editor in Chief Jack Rogers, in a January 3 press release announcing the award. “With a rapidly expanding skilled workforce and leadership in a diversified set of growth sectors, Texas will be sitting tall in the saddle for years to come.”
After BF announced the Lone Star State’s record-setting fourth SOTY, Gov. Greg Abbott released the following statement:
“Thanks to our unrivaled workforce and our commitment to economic freedom, Texas continues to shine as America’s center for job creation, innovation, and economic development,” Gov. Abbott said. “I thank Business Facilities for this incredible honor, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Texans throughout the state, including our local economic development teams. The Texas success story is just beginning. Together, we will continue to cultivate an environment of economic growth and opportunity that creates a brighter future for every Texan.”
In an interview broadcast on January 6 on News Radio 1080 KRLD in Dallas-Fort Worth, Rogers characterized BF’s designation of TX as its 2019 State of the Year as a fitting coda for a decade of dominance in economic development by Texas.
“BF doesn’t have a State of the Decade Award, but if we did, Texas would be the hands-down winner,” Rogers told KRLD News Anchor Chris Sommers, in an interview heard throughout the state on the Texas State Networks.
BONANZA OF CAPEX AND NEW JOBS
BF’s SOTY award is based on a review of the state’s top projects for 2019 (in terms of capital investment) and job-creation, as well as an across-the-board evaluation of the successful execution of its economic development growth strategy. Diversification of growth sectors, business climate, incentives and the availability of a skilled workforce also are key factors considered in the SOTY evaluation.
The biggest job-creating projects in TX in 2019 included Uber’s new Administrative Hub in Dallas and a $1-billion investment by Apple in metro Austin. The Uber project in Dallas also earned the Bronze Award in BF’s 2019 Deal of the Year contest.
Apple broke ground in November for the construction of its new campus in Austin, part of the tech giant’s broad expansion in the city. At a production facility just a short distance away, Apple in December began shipping the all-new Mac Pro to customers.