Made in S.A.: A Manufacturing Hub

Today, the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF) announces that Navistar International Corporation is opening a major facility in the San Antonio region.

On the heels of Toyota’s Tuesday announcement, San Antonio can boast a second big win for the manufacturing segment this week, and for the community as a whole. Navistar, a global manufacturer of commercial vehicles, chassis, and diesel engines, plans to build a commercial vehicle production facility on the Southside of town resulting in more than $250 million in capital investment and approximately 600 jobs for the area.

“San Antonio is winning,” said Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of the City of San Antonio, “and we are committed to creating even more opportunity for every citizen to win too. Navistar is one of the world’s most innovative companies and we share a vision for the future of our region,” the mayor added.

The manufacturing industry currently has a $40 billion annual economic impact on the San Antonio region. With these recent announcements, this number is expected to grow. In particular, the economic impact of the Navistar facility is projected at $5.6 billion over 10 years.

“Thousands of people in our county make their living in manufacturing,” stated Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. “These are the kinds of jobs that not only provide a good living, but can change a family’s circumstances for generations.”

From high-end food to Super Hornet jets, recent manufacturing projects show that San Antonio is a region of creators. Cuisine Solutions has a 290,000 sq. ft. building under construction at Brooks, while metal-injection company Indo MIM and aerospace giant Boeing make their home at Port San Antonio. The network of suppliers associated with each company further enhances the manufacturing ecosystem in the region. Aisin AW, a supplier to Toyota, recently announced their plans to build engines in Cibolo, TX. Specifics of the Navistar project aren’t yet public, but the company will assemble vehicles in San Antonio.

“Amazing things are made in S.A.,” said SAEDF CEO Jenna Saucedo-Herrera. “It’s our job as economic developers to create an environment for success in the region. That means building the workforce and supply chain that enable companies like Navistar to build the things that change the world.”

A recent economic impact study conducted by Dr. Steven Nivin, Assistant Professor of Economics at St. Mary’s University, calculated the 10-year impact of the recently announced Toyota expansion and two related suppliers. The conservative impact was quoted at more than $10 billion in 10 years, with an employment multiplier of 40,000 jobs. Holistically, recent manufacturing projects in the region are expected to generate increased economic activity, creating a ripple effect in the community.

“Navistar’s and Toyota’s decisions to invest here demonstrate San Antonio is ready for business,” said San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh. “With our central location, city-owned utilities, robust workforce and valuable training partnerships, San Antonio is the ideal location for businesses to invest and thrive.”