Abilene’s business-friendly initiatives and prime location drive economic growth.
Abilene sits at the heart of West Central Texas, combining strategic location, a skilled workforce, and excellent infrastructure. The metro area generates nearly $10.3 billion in GDP, supported by a regional labor shed of over 150,000 people across 19 counties. With direct access to Interstate 20 and daily air service to Dallas–Fort Worth, companies in Abilene are connected to markets across Texas and beyond. Dyess Air Force Base is a cornerstone of Abilene’s thriving aerospace and defense industry, and contributes a steady flow of highly trained veterans into the local talent pool. Industries such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and food processing also play central roles in driving the regional economy.
Abilene is consistently ranked among the most affordable cities in the nation, with a cost of living 9% below the national average. With abundant open land for development and leadership committed to business growth, Abilene offers companies the right environment to expand and succeed in Texas.
Abilene is part of a larger story of growth across West Texas. Learn more about the growing business opportunities in Northwest Texas.
This video from the Development Corporation of Abilene highlights business assets in Abilene, including its central location, diverse industries and robust infrastructure.
Business opportunities in Abilene are powered by strong infrastructure, competitive costs, and a responsive local environment.
By locating in Abilene, companies tap into the broader advantages of Texas’ economic strength, from global trade leadership to unmatched infrastructure investment.
Abilene is quickly emerging as a hub for clean-power data centers. At Lancium’s 1,000-acre Clean Campus on the city’s east side, Crusoe Energy Systems is building one of the largest AI-focused facilities in Texas, with plans to scale capacity up to 1.2 gigawatts across multiple phases. Known as Project Radiance, the development is backed by an initial $3.4 billion investment. Comprising eight buildings totaling 4 million square feet, it is expected to create 400 direct jobs and generate more than $4 billion in economic impact over 20 years, including an estimated $40 million annually in new city and county tax revenue.
Abilene is home to another massive AI infrastructure investment known as “Stargate,” a supercomputing data center campus backed by OpenAI, Microsoft, and other technology partners. Envisioned as one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world, Stargate is designed to deliver the vast computing power needed to advance artificial intelligence. More than $1 billion has already been committed to site development, including an on-site natural gas plant to provide dedicated power for operations. The longer-term plan calls for as much as $500 billion in AI infrastructure investment over four years, making it one of the most ambitious digital projects globally, and signaling Abilene’s place at the forefront of next-generation digital infrastructure.
Abilene is a long-standing hub for military aviation and aerospace support. Dyess Air Force Base is home to the 7th Bomb Wing, one of only two B-1B bomber wings in the U.S. Air Force, as well as the 317th Airlift Wing, which operates the C-130J Super Hercules. These missions bring continuous flight operations, maintenance, training, and contracting activity into the local economy.
The city also supports a growing private-sector aerospace supply chain. Texas Aerospace Services (TAS) in Abilene is an approved Boeing Global Services MRO for component support and build-to-print manufacturing. Nearby Spitfire Aerospace Services provides FAA-certified NDI/NDT testing and specialty fabrication, underscoring the technical depth of aerospace services available in the region.
Looking ahead, the Texas Space Commission awarded funding in 2025 to the West Central Texas Council of Governments to evaluate potential space infrastructure in the Abilene region, highlighting state-level recognition of the area’s capacity to expand its aerospace and space-related industries.
Abilene’s central location continues to attract investment in distribution and production. R+L Carriers recently announced Project Bay, a new $15 million, 58,000-square-foot trucking terminal on 21 acres in Access Business Park. The project will add 22 new full-time jobs and generate more than $173 million in economic impact over 10 years.
Nearly 15,600 people in the Abilene area work in trade, transportation, and utilities, making it one of the region’s largest employment sectors and reinforcing the city’s role as a hub for supply chain activity.
Abilene sits at the heart of the West Texas wind corridor, giving companies direct access to one of the nation’s strongest renewable energy ecosystems. Just northeast of the city, EDP Renewables’ Lone Star Wind Farm produces 400 megawatts of power across Shackelford and Callahan Counties. Additional large-scale projects, such as the 166 MW Hackberry Wind Project in Albany, and multiple facilities across Taylor, Callahan, Eastland, and Nolan counties, reinforce the region’s role as a center for wind generation.
The industry’s presence extends into manufacturing and services within the city. Broadwind operates a major tower and heavy fabrications facility in Abilene’s Five Points Business Park, supplying wind-tower components and gearbox services, while multiple field service and O&M providers maintain local operations. This activity is supported by the CREZ transmission build-out, which connected West Texas wind generation to demand centers across the state, cementing Abilene’s place in Texas’s wind energy industry.
Abilene’s education and workforce programs are expanding to meet employer needs. Abilene Christian University set an all-time enrollment record in fall 2024, while Hardin-Simmons University, McMurry University, and Cisco College provide additional streams of graduates in business, education, healthcare, and the sciences.
Texas State Technical College (TSTC) Abilene delivers stackable credentials in fields such as IT, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare, ensuring a steady flow of career-ready workers. Local adult-education programs also partner with TSTC to move residents directly into certification tracks for high-demand jobs.
The NextU program connects high school students to career pathways, while Active Duty to Active Career links transitioning airmen and military spouses from Dyess Air Force Base with local employers, giving companies access to a skilled, disciplined labor pool.
Learn about the broader business benefits in Texas, including the state’s national leadership in exports and energy.
Long-term infrastructure investments continue to expand Texas business opportunities, creating advantages for companies looking to grow in Abilene and across the state.
Abilene offers companies the advantages of Texas’ pro-growth tax structure. There is no corporate or personal income tax in Texas, and the state’s franchise (margin) tax applies only above certain thresholds. For 2025 filings, companies with revenues of $2.47 million or less owe no franchise tax, while those with revenues up to $20 million may elect a simplified “EZ computation” method.
Local incentives are equally competitive. The Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA), a Type A economic development organization, provides support through site-readiness, land grants, low-interest financing, and performance-based incentives.
At the state level, businesses may also access deal-closing tools, workforce training grants, and programs such as the JETI Act (House Bill 5), which enables eligible capital-intensive projects to secure school district property-tax limitations.
Together, these advantages create a business climate where companies can expand with confidence and long-term cost certainty.
Abilene combines affordability and scale in a way few cities can match. With open industrial land, reliable infrastructure, and a track record of success in industries like defense, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and digital infrastructure, Abilene provides a strong foundation for long-term business growth.
These advantages are amplified by the strength of the Texas economy, which is the 8th largest in the world and home to 54 Fortune 500 headquarters. Whether you’re an executive, investor, or entrepreneur, now is the time to seize the unmatched potential of doing business in the Lone Star State.
In the Abilene area, major corporations and small businesses thrive thanks to a large talent pool, robust infrastructure and a pro-business environment.
Major business clusters in Abilene include food processing and manufacturing. Major employers include AbiMar Foods, Broadwind Towers, Coca-Cola, Eagle Aviation Services, First Financial Bankshares and Tige Boats.
Plenty of career training programs in the Abilene area offer education options for students of all ages and career interests.
Abilene’s higher education institutions include Abilene Christian University and Texas State Technical College. In addition, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at Abilene is a top health-focused educational institution.
Abilene lies in the heart of West Texas, providing access to major roadways, in addition to reliable air and rail travel.
The I-20 highway supports transportation by car in Abilene, while the Abilene Regional Airport offers efficient domestic air travel. Major Class I railroad carrier services offer reliable transportation by rail.
