Texas Governor Greg Abbott has spoken about the company that will create 500 jobs in the state. CesiumAstro announced it secured a historic $200 million financing package from the Export-Import Bank of the United States, in partnership with J.P. Morgan, to support its expansion in Texas. The governor congratulated the company on its expansion, noting that CesiumAstro joins other companies like SpaceX that are expanding their operations in Texas.
Abbott noted that the new investment helps solidify Texas’s position as a global hub for the aerospace and defense industries
Going into detail, the “new” company is a Texas-based startup founded in 2017 called CesiumAstro. It will invest $500 million in Bee Cave, a small town outside of Austin, according to a statement from the governor’s office. This is the largest funding ever provided under the EXIM’s “Make More in America” (MMIA) initiative and one of the most significant government-backed investments in U.S. space manufacturing to date, according to local media. Specifically, Abbott noted that the new investment helps solidify Texas’s position as a global hub for the aerospace, aviation, and defense industries, as CesiumAstro specializes in space communications, defense, and satellite systems.
The governor took the opportunity to speak about Austin’s current trajectory: “By partnering with industry leaders like CesiumAstro, Texas will continue to set the standard for innovation, technology, and advanced manufacturing in the United States.” Among the projects approved for 2025, the state is slated to host the most data centers in the country thanks to the Stargate project, a coalition of OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. CesiumAstro, a global leader in space and defense communications systems, provides connectivity solutions for the aviation, aerospace, and defense industries.
The financing includes a $185 million EXIM-authorized credit line
This company also offers comprehensive solutions for satellites, high-performance communications payloads, and advanced computer systems. In addition to stating it will invest over $500 million in Texas and create more than 500 new jobs over the next five years, it has the support of influential figures. Furthermore, while details of the salaries for each job opening were not disclosed, if the project materializes, it will bring new employment opportunities to the area.
“Our expansion in Texas marks a transformative step for CesiumAstro as we advance cutting-edge space and defense technologies in the United States,” said Shey Sabripour, the company’s founder and CEO. According to local media, the financing includes a $185 million EXIM-authorized credit line, along with a $15 million revolving credit facility from JP Morgan. The company also stated that it will be able to expand its manufacturing capacity by producing active phased-array antennas.
Operations are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027
Based on information available so far, CesiumAstro has acquired a property of more than 25,000 square meters in West Austin to establish an integrated manufacturing facility for space and defense communications. “This investment marks a pivotal moment for CesiumAstro and for the U.S. space and defense industry,” explained Shey Sabripour. Operations are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027. Another company also expanding operations in Texas is Loloi, Inc., a leading textile brand. It received a $2.45 million Texas Enterprise Fund grant and was offered a $45,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus as an incentive to build a distribution facility of more than one million square feet in Ennis, according to AOL.
Therefore, Texas, and specifically Austin, has clearly become one of the nation’s leading centers for cutting-edge technology. “Texas has been our home since we founded Loloi more than 20 years ago, and the state continues to provide opportunities for growth. These new facilities in Ennis will allow us to create more jobs and build a world-class facility that we are proud of,” said Amir Loloi, founder and president of Loloi. It’s clear that keeping track of the latest developments in Austin means staying at the forefront of technology.