Williamson County Greenlights $674M Blue Origin Development Deal

Two weeks ago, Connect reported that the Williamson County economic development board had agreed to terms with Jeff Bezos’ space technology company, Blue Origin. Yesterday, the full board of commissioners approved the item, and it raises the odds that the company will build a $674 million facility in Hutto, within Williamson County. There is still one more approval required. The State of Texas needs to okay the deal.

The approval would facilitate Blue Origin’s construction of approximately one million square-feet of industrial research space related to the aerospace and defense industry, located in Hutto Crossing industrial park. The facility would create as many as 2,000 jobs in 10 years.

That 10-year deal includes a county abatement of 100% of real property and 50% of personal property taxes in the first five years, and 50% on real property in the last five years. 

Founded in 2000, Blue Origin aims to develop reusable rocket technology to lower the cost of space travel and make it more accessible.