Governor Greg Abbott announced a $24.2 million grant from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) to FormFactor Inc. for a new probe card manufacturing facility in Farmers Branch. FormFactor will invest $140 million to $170 million in 2026, with the project expected to create more than 600 high-skilled jobs in North Texas.
Grant and Investment Details
The TSIF grant supports FormFactor’s expansion of advanced probe card production. These components test integrated circuits at the wafer level and are essential for manufacturing logic and memory chips used in AI systems and data centers. FormFactor is the global leader in this technology.
The $140 million to $170 million capital investment and new Farmers Branch facility address a key gap in the domestic semiconductor supply chain by increasing U.S. capacity for critical testing equipment.
Job Creation and Local Impact
More than 600 new jobs are projected in Farmers Branch and surrounding areas. The announcement was welcomed by state and local leaders as a boost to North Texas advanced manufacturing and the regional economy.
Key Quotes
Governor Abbott said Texas is “where the technologies of tomorrow are manufactured today” and praised FormFactor’s investment for filling a supply chain gap, creating high-skilled jobs, and advancing the state’s semiconductor leadership.
FormFactor CEO Mike Slessor highlighted the company’s role supplying probe cards “used by global manufacturers of the logic and memory chips at the heart of the AI revolution” and thanked Texas for supporting growth in the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem.
Senator Tan Parker and Representative Cassandra Garcia Hernandez noted the win for jobs, innovation, and strengthening America’s semiconductor supply chain in their districts.
Broader Semiconductor and AI Context
The grant stems from the Texas CHIPS Act of 2023, which created the TSIF to expand Texas leadership in semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing while building domestic capacity. Probe card production is a strategic piece of the AI chip and data center supply chain.
For high-net-worth investors focused on semiconductor supply chain resilience, AI infrastructure, and Texas economic development, this announcement delivers clear metrics on grant funding, private capital commitment, and job creation in a high-priority subsector. The expansion reinforces Texas’ standing as a national hub for semiconductor and advanced manufacturing supporting AI growth.