Grant to fund SpaceX
Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the fifth Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund grant of $17.3 million has been extended to Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (“SpaceX”) for an expansion of their semiconductor research and development (R&D) and advanced packaging facility in Bastrop.
The expansion is expected to create more than 400 jobs and more than $280 million in capital investment, according to a news release.
Over the next three years, SpaceX’s Bastrop facility will expand by one million square feet to produce Starlink kits and their component parts, including advanced packaged silicon products. Starlink satellites provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to more than five million people and businesses in over 120 countries and territories. The proposed project includes printed circuit boards (PCBs), a semiconductor failure analysis lab, and advanced packaging for panel level packaging (PLP). Once complete, the Bastrop facility will be the largest PCB and PLP facility in North America.
Abbott signed into law the Texas CHIPS Act in 2023 to establish the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund, a performance-based incentive program to encourage the continued leadership of Texas in semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing, as well as the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium.
SIF grant To KoMiCo to create new jobs
The fourth Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) grant of $2 million has been extended to KoMiCo Technology, Inc. for their facility in Round Rock that provides precision cleaning and coatings for semiconductor wafer manufacturing tools, the governor’s office announced.
The expansion is expected to create 70 new jobs and $36 million in capital investment.
KoMiCo, a wholly owned subsidiary of KoMiCo Ltd., provides parts cleaning and coating services as well as sells equipment parts to customers in semiconductor industries. Through their investment, KoMiCo is expanding their facility in Round Rock by over 40,000 square feet to increase their clean room capacity along with their production lines for contamination removal and the application of coatings integral to wafer manufacturing tools to handle advance node (sub 10nm) geometry chamber tool parts.
Contamination removal ensures that impurities on a wafer surface are removed through chemical treatments, gas, or physical methods. This is a critical step in semiconductor manufacturing because even microscopic contaminants can cause defects in the microstructures of the wafer.
Economic success touted at Nasdaq luncheon
March 18, unique business opportunities that propelled the state to become the modern embodiment of the American dream were celebrated at a Nasdaq, Inc. luncheon in Dallas. The luncheon celebrated entrepreneur Ross Perot Jr. for his contributions to the thriving Texas economy.
“We’ve seen an acceleration over the past decade in the growth of the financial sector in Texas,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. “And that growth continues today, with Nasdaq announcing its going to have a regional headquarters here in the great state of Texas”
Speaking to a room filled with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and economic development organizations, Abbott honored Perot’s role to help drive the Texas economy to become the economic juggernaut of the nation. The governor also touted the state’s economy, mentioning that Texas is the No. 1 state for job creation, Best State for Business, and has the 8th largest economy in the world — more than $2.6 trillion.
After his remarks, Abbott was presented with the Nasdaq, Inc. Appreciation Crystal. The governor was joined by The Perot Group Chairman Ross Perot Jr., Nasdaq, Inc. Chair and CEO Adena Friedman, and Nasdaq, Inc. Executive Vice President Ed Knight.
Bill to ban sale of HC product heard in Senate committee
District 3 State Senator Robert Nichols reported the Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 3 by Sen. Charles Perry recently. The bill would outlaw products containing THC, which is the psychoactive element in marijuana.
Nichols in his weekly report, noted a few sessions ago, a bill passed to help support the emerging hemp industry by authorizing the sale of consumable hemp, which has trace amounts of non-intoxicating Delta-9 THC. However, the bill limited the amount of THC products could have to not more than 0.3% concentration – anything higher is considered marijuana. While both marijuana and hemp are cannabis plants, hemp has lower THC levels than marijuana, which is the distinction between the two.
Since 2019 when the law approving consumable hemp sales passed, the state has seen a proliferation of businesses that claim to sell hemp-derived products. However, these products often have effects more similar to marijuana products and have THC concentrations well above the legal limit. This bill is an attempt to rein in an industry that has exploded across the state and many are operating illegally. The hearing extended for many hours and ultimately left the bill pending in committee, according to Nichols.
PUCT secures refunds, bill credits for consumers
Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) secured refunds and bill credits of $105,906 for Texas electric, water, and telecommunications consumers in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 (December 2024 – February 2025).
The agency’s Consumer Protection Division (CPD) team of 20 employees assisted customers who reported billing issues or other complaints across the three industries the PUCT regulates, closing a total of 1,849 complaints in the second quarter.
The PUCT’s Consumer Protection Division also assists consumers with issues relating to electric, water and telecommunications utility disconnections and refusal of service. In total, the division fielded 7,404 calls from customers throughout the first quarter.
In the first quarter of FY25, CPD secured refunds and bill credits of $144,563 for Texas electric, water and telecommunications consumers.
