Because of reports in May that Blue Origin is considering building a major manufacturing plant in the town of Hutto north of Austin, both Hutto and county officials have put together incentive packages to convince Blue Origin to make the move.

Snell said Williamson County’s 10-year total incentives include a 100% tax abatement on real property and a 50% abatement on personal property for the first five years and a 50% abatement on real property for the second five years. The agreement also includes requirements for Blue Origin to work with the Hutto school district on a career and technical education program and high school internship requirements.

He said those incentives “match” Hutto’s development agreement. The city of Hutto approved its initial agreement on Aug. 6 and is beginning the process for tax abatement discussions at Thursday night’s City Council meeting.

Blue Origin’s factory would cover about 1.3 million square feet, employ 2,000 people, and bring in as much as $1 billion in investment before completion. Its purpose remains vague, described as focused on “manufacturing, research-and-development, warehouse, and logistics space.”

The company has not yet made a decision, with officials suggesting it is still considering locations in California and Florida. I doubt California is a serious option, considering its anti-business, pro-communist government, but Florida is certainly an option, considering Blue Origin’s launch operations there. The reports however strongly suggest Blue Origin is favoring Texas.

Overall this move also suggests the company might be shifting some of its operations out of Washington state, for the same reasons it will likely avoid California. At a minimum it appears it is not considering these Democratic Party-run states for any major expansion.

Hat tip Robert Pratt of Pratt on Texas.