In the Metroplex region, where Fort Worth is located, approximately $63.4 billion in goods were imported and exported in 2024\u2014as found in the Trade & Infrastructure tab of the TexStats dashboard.<\/p>\n
Port of Corpus Christi<\/p>\n
At another port of entry, the Port of Corpus Christi, the numbers show that the port accounts for 21% of the state\u2019s seaport trade<\/a>, or $88.6 billion, and more than 864,000 direct and indirect jobs. Trade through the Port of Corpus Christi is trending up, with a 487% increase between 2016 and 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cPort of Corpus Christi is a prime example of how innovation and infrastructure come together to strengthen our economy, support thousands of good jobs and keep Texas competitive on the global stage,\u201d Hancock said during a recent visit to the port.<\/p>\n The TexStats dashboard\u2019s Trade & Infrastructure tab shows the full trade dollars of Texas\u2019 ports of entry by region. For example, in the South Texas region, where the Port of Corpus Christi is located, $548.8 billion in goods were imported and exported in 2024, the highest value in the state.<\/p>\n West Texas mega data center<\/p>\n In Texas\u2019 Northwest region, the flagship location of the Stargate data center project \u2014 part of a $500 billion initiative by OpenAI and Oracle to build AI infrastructure across the country \u2014 is open and under expansion. The Abilene campus is on 1,100 acres, and when complete, it will include eight buildings comprising up to 4 million square feet.<\/p>\n During construction, reports indicate that there are more than 6,000 construction workers on site daily, while the completed data center expansion is slated to employ nearly 1,700. According to the Development Corporation of Abilene, the project\u2019s first two buildings are expected to generate approximately $1 billion in direct and indirect economic impact to the city over the next 20 years.<\/p>\n Population data in the TexStats dashboard show that Abilene over the past decade has seen a 9.4% increase in population, which could trend higher in the next few years with the Stargate project.<\/p>\n The Economy tab of the dashboard also shows that since 2021, changes in real GDP for Abilene have been consistently outpacing U.S. economic growth.<\/p>\n Spotlighting small business activity<\/p>\n Small businesses have sizable economic impact, both regionally and statewide: Across Texas, small businesses employ about 44% of the workforce<\/a>, 5.1 million people.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether it\u2019s a family-owned shop on Main Street or a fast-growing startup, small businesses power our state\u2019s economic engine, create opportunity and strengthen the character of every Texas community,\u201d Hancock said.<\/p>\n Hancock met with local leaders and business owners at the Lindale Area Chamber of Commerce to highlight the impact of small towns and small businesses.<\/p>\n In the Upper East region of Texas, where Lindale is located, 97.9% of all businesses are small businesses, and the restaurant industry, as shown in the Jobs & Industry tab of the TexStats dashboard, was the largest employer, with 37,998 workers in 2024.<\/p>\n Data access for all<\/p>\n The TexStats dashboard was produced by the Comptroller\u2019s Data Analysis and Transparency Division and the Information Technology Division, using data from federal and state government agencies. The tool is updated when new information becomes available.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the dashboard, we\u2019re raising the level of data transparency,\u201d division director Will Counihan says. \u201cThe Comptroller\u2019s office has periodically released different versions of these data in both printed and online reports. But now, the public will be able to access them at any time and be assured they have the latest data available.\u201d<\/p>\n Find more information on TexStats, including access to the data, here.<\/a><\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss what\u2019s next. Subscribe\u00a0to\u00a0Dallas\u00a0Innovates.<\/p>\n Track Dallas-Fort Worth\u2019s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \tR E A D\u00a0\u00a0 N E X T\t<\/p>\n \t A new satellite campus is adding hands-on training, lab capacity and startup support to Dallas\u2019 growing life sciences ecosystem.<\/p>\n \t The pilot will test Last Energy\u2019s 5-megawatt PWR-5 design at Texas A&M\u2013RELLIS while the company advances a plan for 30 commercial microreactors in Haskell County northwest of Dallas-Fort Worth to serve data center growth.<\/p>\n \t Cait Brumme says the event at Dallas’ Pegasus Park on Nov. 6 will explore the technologies and economic forces defining the future for entrepreneurs and innovators.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UTA-TEES-Biomanufacturing-970.jpg\")
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