by Bob Francis, Fort Worth Report
September 1, 2026

Another manufacturer is considering opening a plant in Fort Worth. This time it is Harting Connectivity, a company that provides high-end industrial connectors that transmit data, signals and power for factories, machinery and other applications.

It’s no done deal though. The city of Fort Worth is in competition with several other states for the company’s planned manufacturing plant valued at $192.7 million that could bring as many as 700 jobs with a possible corporate relocation as an added motivation. 

The Fort Worth City Council heard a presentation from the Economic Development Department on the project from Harting Connectivity at its Sept. 1 work session. The city is proposing a 10-year tax abatement of up to 65% of the project’s incremental real and business personal property taxes valued at $6 million to bring the plant here, according to Brianna Brown, assistant economic development director at the city of Fort Worth. 

In return, the company, based in Elgin, Illinois, and the American arm of a family-owned, German-based manufacturer, would agree to a minimum capital investment of $192.7 million in a new plant by the end of 2028. Of that, $31.1 million would be spent in real property construction costs by the end of 2027 and $161.6 million in equipping the plant by the end of 2031. 

Harting would also agree to hire 701 new employees by the end of 2034 with an average wage of $87,000. The new location would also include 189 high-paying corporate and technical jobs with a headquarters relocation opportunity, Brown told the council. Those corporate positions would average over $125,000 in annual salary. 

As part of the company’s commitment, Harting would also pledge to spend 30% of construction costs with small businesses. 

A project summary of the Harting plans that could bring a new manufacturiing plant to Fort Worth. (Courtesy | City of Fort Worth)

Harting is also planning an expansion of its existing research and development functions, bringing high-tech manufacturing and innovation that is currently being done in Europe, according to Brown. 

“There is really exciting innovation and technology that is proposed for this facility,” she said. 

The local operation would also strengthen supply chain linkages for key companies already located in Fort Worth, including Siemens and TTI, Brown said. 

The manufacturing plant would support the production of a projected $900 million in goods for sale in the U.S. that would otherwise be produced overseas, according to Brown. 

Harting’s new manufacturing site would be in three buildings at the Carter Crossing industrial park at Interstate 20 and Wichita Street in southwest Fort Worth. 

Fort Worth is competing with multiple out-of-state locations for the site. Harting currently imports approximately 40% of its components, so competing locations that offer direct East Coast ocean routes have an advantage, Brown said. The incentives the city can offer will play a significant role in the company’s decision, she said. 

“Several states are providing higher incentives that the city is currently recommending,” Brown said. 

When Harting celebrated its 40th anniversary in the Chicago area in March, the company announced it was planning to increase investments in its Illinois headquarters and facilities, as well as expand operations in Mexico, citing 33% year-over-year growth in the Americas. Those expansion plans include increasing the company’s U.S. headcount by 64%. 

The company was founded in 1945 and initially focused on producing everyday items needed in post-war Germany such as light bulbs, hot plates and waffle irons. It now employs more than 6,000 in 14 production facilities and seven development sites around the world. The company reported sales of $1.3 billion in 2025, a 17% increase over the previous year. 

The council is expected to vote on the Harting incentives at its Sept. 29 meeting. 

Two weeks before that, the council is expected to vote on a proposed $10.9 million tax abatement plan to help the city land a proposed Carrier Corp. manufacturing plant valued at $433.8 million that could bring nearly 500 jobs on Sept. 15. 

Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org.

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