Third Quarter Project Announcements
Knauf Insulation
Industry: Manufacturing
Market: National
Of Note: Knauf Insulation, a multinational producer of building materials and construction systems, announces plans to expand North American operations in McGregor, Texas. The new 600,000 square foot, state-of-the-art production and distribution facility marks Knauf's largest investment in company history, at $210 million. At full production, the facility will employ more than 150. Read more here.
SpaceX
Industry: Aerospace/Defence
Market: National
Of Note: SpaceX will add a $150 million state-of-the-art rocket production facility to its location in McGregor. This project will be a multi-year, multi-phase development, creating a total of 400 new jobs by 2026. The facility will support Raptor engine production and becomes SpaceX's second engine factory. Read more here.
Hesselbein Tire Southwest
Industry: Distribution
Market: Regional
Of Note: The Mississippi-based tire company, a subsidiary of Dunlap and Kyle, announced plans to build a distribution center in the Waco International Aviation Park. The company is a wholesale supplier to major retail chains and independents, including Discount Tire. This project includes a $16 million investment and a new 259,000 square foot facility. Once complete, the project will create 40 new jobs. Read more here.
S2A Modular
Industry: Manufacturing
Market: Regional
Of Note: S2A Modular, a California-based manufacturer of luxury, modular smart homes, has broken ground on a 200,000 square foot mega-factory in Waco's Texas Central Park. The company has acquired 30-acres for operations and plans to invest $30 million into a production facility and showroom, including two model homes. Over 200 jobs will be created over two years with above-average wages. Read more here.
Mars Wrigley
Industry: Food Manufacturing
Market: International
Of Note: Mars Wrigley is expanding its facility in Waco, Texas. The 23,600 square foot addition will house peanut roasting operations for the site. In addition, the company is investing in other infrastructure improvements to increase sustainability efforts. Combined, Mars is investing $58 million into the Waco plant.
Waco's Economic Index is Nothing Short of Spectacular!
The Waco economy increased for the sixth consecutive month in July 2021, according to the Greater Waco Economic Index, showing that the Waco economy continues to register impressive post-COVID growth. The index grew to 140.7 in July, up from 139.8 in June 2021 and 130.2 in July 2020. See below some of the driving inputs of growth for Greater Waco.
Making the Headlines
National survey: Waco among top 10 'emerging' housing markets in U.S.
(WSJ) Those in the business of building or selling homes in Greater Waco have been seeing it for months: homes selling above asking prices or staying on the market for only days... Read More.

Surfers are trading natural waves for artificial ones in Waco, Texas
(NPR) Nearly 200 miles from the nearest ocean, nine surfers are bobbing beneath the Texas sun in what looks like a tropical lagoon. Welcome to the BSR Surf Resort in Waco, Texas... Read More.

Wake Up Call: Winston Rents Waco, Texas Close to Patent Action
(Bloomberg Law) Winston & Strawn is "renting space" in Waco, Texas to allow its 40 or so intellectual property lawyers in the state to work closer to the Western District of Texas federal courthouse that has recently been a hotspot for patent trials... Read More.

New Development Planned at Central Freight Lines Complex
(Waco Trib) Local investors have bought the sprawling complex at 5601 W. Waco Drive occupied by Central Freight Lines, a freight hauler that has grown nationally since W.W. Callan used a Model T to deliver goods in 1925... Read More.

A "Fixer Upper" Fantasy: Waco, Texas Destinations for Chip & Joanna Gaines fans
(USA Today) Fans of Chip and Joanna Gaines "Fixer Upper" TV series and Magnolia brand come from far and wide to visit their home base of Waco, Texas, halfway between Dallas and Austin... Read More.
WacoProspector.com is an invaluable resource for commercial real estate listings and sales, providing in-depth demographics and market analysis. Tool options include: property lines, traffic counts, incentive zone boundaries, population, income thematic maps and more.
Market Stats
Greater Waco's telescopic look into the economy.

(84 available reports)
Regional Labor Force
August 2021:
Waco MSA: 131,623
7-county region: 335,644
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