‘Gigabay’ project may create more than 500 new jobs in Cameron County

STARBASE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — SpaceX may receive a $3,750,000 sales tax refund for creating more than 500 new jobs in Cameron County.

During a meeting on Wednesday night, the Starbase City Commission nominated the company’s new rocket factory — Gigabay — for the Texas Enterprise Zone Program.

“Construction’s going real well,” said Starbase City Administrator Kent Myers. “And it’s anticipated to be completed next year.”

The Texas Enterprise Zone Program allows corporations that create jobs in areas with high poverty rates to receive sales tax refunds.

SpaceX plans to spend about $500 million on Gigabay, a “vertically integrated manufacturing facility” for the company’s Starship rockets.

“While the funding will build the facility, the real story here is the job creation and jobs coming to Starbase,” Damian Barrera, a tax manager at SpaceX, told the City Commission on Wednesday.

Gigabay will create about 630 new jobs, according to information Barrera showed the City Commission.

That number included 315 entry-level jobs, which pay nearly $50,000 a year; 277 staff jobs, which pay nearly $90,000 a year; and 26 manager positions, which pay about $164,000 a year.

“Along with higher wages, we are preparing our employees to enter into high-skill roles,” Barrera said. “Which will, I think, produce and kind of ensure long-term career growth for the local workforce.”

At least 25% of the jobs must be filled by veterans, residents of the enterprise zone or people who are considered economically disadvantaged.

SpaceX may receive a sales tax refund of $7,500 per job if the company invests $250 million. The program is capped at 500 jobs, allowing SpaceX to receive a maximum of $3,750,000.

“And something I want to highlight here is that: We are on track to already meet our 500 new jobs by the end of this year,” Barrera said. “So it’s something that we’re just really excited about.”

To participate in the program, however, SpaceX must be nominated by a city or a county.

SpaceX approached Starbase, where all three members of the City Commission are current or former SpaceX employees.

They voted 3-0 to approve the nomination.