Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Eyes Hutto for $650M Project

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is zeroing in on Hutto for a massive industrial campus that could cement Williamson County as Central Texas’ aerospace hub.

The aerospace company is eyeing Hutto for a 1.3 million-square-foot manufacturing, research-and-development, warehouse and logistics project in the fast-growing Austin suburb, the Austin Business Journal reported.

The project, publicly referred to only as “Project Blue Hub,” was the subject of a public hearing Monday before the Hutto Economic Development Corporation regarding potential financial incentives. While Blue Origin was never named during the meeting, multiple sources told the publication that the company is behind the proposal. The details align closely with reporting from late last year about Blue Origin’s statewide search for a Texas manufacturing and logistics hub approaching $1 billion in investment.

Officials said the proposed Hutto development would bring more than 2,000 jobs over five years with average annual salaries of roughly $88,000. Capital investment was pegged at more than $650 million, though the outlet reported that previous recruitment materials circulated by state and regional economic development groups suggested the total project could ultimately cost $1 billion.

Hutto Economic Development discussed a performance-based incentive package during executive session, but took no public action afterward and did not disclose proposed terms. Representatives for Blue Origin and Hutto officials did not respond to requests for comment.

It’s not the first indication of the firm’s interest in Central Texas. Texas economic development officials and Opportunity Austin circulated requests for information on Blue Origin’s behalf last year seeking sites along the I-35 corridor. The company reportedly sought at least 20 acres for manufacturing operations and another 80 acres for a logistics center within roughly 15 miles of the interstate, according to the publication. Sources said Blue Origin also explored leasing existing industrial space while evaluating build-to-suit opportunities.

The Kent, Washington-based company enlisted JLL senior managing director Zane Cole to assist in the search. Blue Origin reportedly toured multiple sites across Central Texas, including locations near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and several in Williamson County. The company is believed to be deciding between Texas and Florida for the expansion. Earlier this year, Blue Origin filed permits for an 800,000-square-foot manufacturing facility dubbed “Project Horizon” on Florida’s Space Coast, though it’s unclear whether that overlaps with the Texas search.

Landing Blue Origin would mark another tech industry boost for Austin’s northern suburbs, as Hutto sits near Samsung’s massive semiconductor plant under construction in Taylor, which has already triggered waves of industrial and housing development across eastern Williamson County.

County leaders and economic development groups have spent years promoting the U.S. 183 corridor between Cedar Park and Liberty Hill as a regional “space corridor,” anchored by Firefly Aerospace’s headquarters and testing operations. Aerospace firms including CesiumAstro, National Aero Stands and Valken Industries have also expanded in the region, while local officials recently launched the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation to recruit additional aerospace firms.

— Eric Weilbacher