The Waller County Economic Development Partnership and the city of Brookshire received a bronze award on Oct. 26 from the International Economic Development Council. The group recognized their partnership with private businesses to bring Tesla's Megapack manufacturing facility to Waller County. The award honors efforts by local governments and businesses to create jobs, attract investment and strengthen local economies.
The project is expected to bring more than 1,500 manufacturing jobs to the area. Waller County Commissioners Court approved a tax abatement agreement for the deal on March 5, 2025, and the Brookshire City Council approved a separate abatement agreement the following evening. Tax abatements temporarily reduce certain taxes a company would otherwise pay, and such agreements are intended to encourage investment and job creation.
The original deal involved about $227 million in planned improvements, manufacturing equipment and related development. Tesla's operation at the Empire West industrial park includes a 1 million-square-foot manufacturing building and a second building of about 616,000 square feet, located along Woods Road between U.S. Highway 90 and Interstate 10 in Brookshire.