Abbott announces TSIF grant to USA Rare Earth, Texas A&M
Gov. Greg Abbott announced a pair of Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) grant, totaling more than $27 million.
May 12, Abbott announced that a TSIF grant of $14,177,600 has been extended to USA Rare Earth, Inc. (USARE) to accelerate rare earth mineral production at their Round Top Mountain project in Hudspeth County. The facility is expected to create 260 jobs and represents more than $1.4 billion in capital investment.
USARE will develop its Round Top Mountain deposit as a domestic source of heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) and select technology metals. Rare earth elements are deemed vital to U.S. national security; the oxides from this deposit are critical components for high-performance permanent magnets used in semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, physical AI and robotics, as well as advanced defense systems. The Round Top site contains an estimated one billion tons of material and 15 of the 17 rare earth elements.
A week earlier, Abbott also announced a TSIF grant of $13 million has been extended to Texas A&M University for an expansion of their Cyclotron Institute in College Station, which has provided high-energy heavy-ion particle testing for more than 30 years.
Texas A&M will expand the Cyclotron Institute and its Radiation Effects Facility to enhance capabilities for radiation hardness testing that is essential for developing resilient systems in harsh environments. The project will establish new beam lines and develop a state-of-the-art spectrometer, enabling cutting-edge research in nuclear science and semiconductor testing.
Texas wins 2026 Prosperity Cup
May 4, Greg Abbott announced Texas won the 2026 Prosperity Cup awarded annually by Site Selection magazine to the top-performing state for job-creating business investment.
“Texas is once again the top state for job-creating business investment,” said Abbott. “In Texas, we want people and businesses to succeed. With America’s best business climate, powered by predictable, pro-growth policies and a highly skilled and growing workforce, we will build a more prosperous Texas for decades to come.”
“If you want to know how Texas put together a corporate facility deal-making dynasty, it pays to look at the numbers,” said Executive Vice President of Conway Data Inc. and Site Selection magazine Ron Starner. “By any measure employed by Site Selection, Texas outperforms all comers and does so by a wide margin.”
Texas again takes the crown for registering the highest scores across 10 categories in the Prosperity Cup index that tracks business location and expansion projects, capital investment, job creation, business and tax climate, and workforce readiness.
Abbott celebrates opening of Fairfield power plant
May 5, Gov. Greg Abbott today celebrated the opening of the Constellation Pin Oak peaking power plant in Fairfield, the first Texas Energy Fund-backed project to come online that will deliver more reliable, affordable power to the state’s grid.
During his remarks, Abbott noted that the Pin Oak power plant is the first Texas Energy Fund project to come online, adding 460 megawatts of dispatchable power that will serve thousands of homes during periods of peak demand. The Governor also highlighted the work done by the State of Texas to reinforce the grid, including adding more than 61,000 megawatts of new power over the past five years.
The Constellation Pin Oak peaking power plant is designed to quickly supply electricity when demand is at its highest, delivering reliable power for Texas homes and businesses when they need it most.
Abbott was joined by Representative Angelia Orr, Fairfield Mayor Bobby Nichols, Public Utility Commission of Texas Chairman Thomas Gleeson, Calpine President and CEO and Constellation Senior Executive Vice President Andrew Novotny, and Constellation Senior Executive Vice President & Chief External Affairs and Growth Officer David Dardis.
Facility aims to modernize applied research, teaching, extension
Leaders from Texas A&M AgriLife and The Texas A&M University System gathered May 4 to break ground for the new Meat Science and Technology Center, a $133.36 million project designed to modernize applied agricultural research, teaching and extension services.
The ceremony, held at 3844 Finfeather Rd., marked the beginning of construction for an 85,600-square-foot facility, which will serve as the anchor for a future agriculture district on West Campus. The project follows a decision in March by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents to keep the Meat Science and Technology Center on the main campus.
The new center will feature modern laboratories, classrooms and processing spaces for beef, swine, poultry, sheep and goats. Designed to address global food solutions, the facility will incorporate emerging technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence to enhance food safety and processing.
The center’s expanded footprint and infrastructure reportedly will support long-term growth on the university campus. The new center will house an array of key programs and initiatives of the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science and the Texas A&M Department of Poultry Science.
Texas sets new record for total jobs in March
Gov. Greg Abbott announced May 1 that Texas’ skilled workforce as a magnet for business investment as the state set a new record of 14,403,500 total nonfarm jobs with a gain of 46,800 jobs over the month of March and a gain of 117,200 jobs from March 2025 to March 2026.
“Texas is where free enterprise flourishes and jobs grow,” said Abbott. “Year after year, our state sets new records because we believe in hard work, cutting burdensome regulations, and the power of capitalism. Texas’ skilled workforce is ready to reach new heights and keep our state the economic engine of America.”
March labor market data from the Texas Workforce Commission shows:
• Texas added 46,800 nonfarm jobs over the month of March, reaching a new high of 14,403,500 total jobs.
• Texas gained 117,200 jobs from March 2025 to March 2026, outpacing the national annual job growth rate.
• Texans working, including self-employed Texans, totaled 15,236,600.
• The Texas labor force totaled 15,916,600 after adding 82,200 people over the last 12-month period.
Texas has now gained nearly 2.6 million jobs since January 2015 when Abbott took office.
