Tesla looking to expand with Brookshire facility

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 1/19/23

Tesla, the Austin-based electric car manufacturer, plans to lease a one-million square foot warehouse in Brookshire.

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Tesla looking to expand with Brookshire facility

Posted

Tesla, the Austin-based electric car manufacturer, plans to lease a one-million square foot warehouse in Brookshire.

The company will lease a warehouse in the Empire West Business Park, 100 Empire West Blvd. in Brookshire.

It is not immediately clear what the company intends to manufacture at the warehouse. Jeremiah Hill, who serves both as Positive 5 alderman and president of the city’s economic development board, said Tesla staffers have been moving things into the warehouse. Hill had no dates on when there might be an opening, whether official or not.

Despite such ambiguity, Tesla is looking to hire staff for the facility. According to the business social media site LinkedIn, Tesla is looking to hire a production control supervisor, or supervisors, along with a production control associate manager, or managers. More openings can be expected, though it’s not immediately clear what kind of jobs, or how many, will be available.

“These will be good, quality jobs,” Hill said. “They will be solid, paid positions.”

Mike Barnes, who serves both as acting and city administrator and economic development coordinator told board members at their Jan. 5 meeting that Tesla officials have not approached the city for any financial incentives. Nor has HEB, which is expected to lease a 300,000-square foot warehouse near the one for Tesla. Barnes said the city would begin receiving a cash flow from these companies immediately if no financial incentives are implemented.

However, Barnes said, Brookshire city officials have worked with Tesla and HEB on permitting issues.

Barnes said the good news in this is that Brookshire will get an internationally known company in Tesla and a well-known Texas company in HEB.

Barnes described Empire West as the largest spec development in the Greater Houston area.

“They built that thing without end users, which is unheard of in the economy,” Barnes said. “But we’re fortunate enough in Brookshire to be the recipient of that.”

Hill praised Empire West, which is within the Brookshire city limits, and Stream Realty, which has worked to answer calls about available commercial space. Having these facilities and teams in place speed up the time needed for companies to settle in Brookshire, he said.

Mariela Aguilar, who serves as a member of both the City of Brookshire Economic Development Board and the Royal ISD Board of Trustees, said in an interview she expected more details would be made public at the Feb. 2 board meeting. The meeting precedes the city council meeting.

Aguilar said she thought the company’s setting up shop in Brookshire was exciting and she looked forward to learning more about it.

“I think Brookshire has a lot to offer,” Aguilar said. “People are excited about it. Brookshire deserves to have a strong economy and resources for its citizens. We’re as qualified as any other community have the economy grow.”

Tesla, Brookshire