Farmers Branch just landed a heavyweight in the chip supply chain, as FormFactor Inc. plans to open a new probe-card manufacturing plant in the city after securing a $24.2 million award from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund, Governor Greg Abbott’s office announced Thursday. The project is expected to create more than 600 jobs and bring roughly $140 million to $170 million in new capital investment, with the factory set to produce probe cards, the precision test heads used to verify chips during production, expanding FormFactor's U.S. manufacturing footprint.
State award and reaction
In a post from the Governor Abbott Press Office, the governor’s office said the TSIF award totals $24.2 million for FormFactor and shared praise from state and local leaders. The post quoted Gov. Greg Abbott saying, "Texas is where the technologies of tomorrow are manufactured today," and included a statement from State Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez calling the grant "a monumental win for Farmers Branch."
Governor Abbott announced a $24.2 million Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund grant to FormFactor Inc.
— Governor Abbott Press Office (@GovAbbottPress) July 2, 2026
FormFactor will build a new probe card manufacturing facility in Farmers Branch, creating 600+ jobs and $140-170 million in investment. pic.twitter.com/DpgOmHnYTa
FormFactor's plans and site history
FormFactor selected Farmers Branch last November as the site for an advanced manufacturing facility and told investors the project includes more than $140 million in capital spending as it ramps the location, according to FormFactor. In that company release, CEO Mike Slessor said the firm was "pleased to partner with the City of Farmers Branch" as it expands capacity for probe-card production.
Jobs, timeline and local impact
The governor’s announcement put the total at more than 600 positions tied to probe-card manufacturing and test operations, although it did not lay out a hiring schedule. FormFactor’s SEC filings show the company purchased a Farmers Branch site in June 2025 and expects production to begin late in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, with a ramp to initial target production levels through fiscal 2027, FormFactor told investors.
Where this fits in Texas' chip push
The TSIF award to FormFactor is the latest example of state-backed incentives aimed at building a domestic chip ecosystem, from fabrication and materials to workforce training. The Office of the Governor maintains a public list of TSIF awards that documents prior large projects and supplier grants across Texas, underscoring the program’s role in courting multibillion-dollar and supply-chain investments statewide, the Office of the Governor shows.
Officials did not provide a timetable for when the $24.2 million would be disbursed, and the company release did not include a disbursement schedule, according to FormFactor. City and economic-development leaders have hailed the announcement as a major win for Farmers Branch, and local officials expect the project to spur supplier hiring and training efforts across North Texas as the plant ramps.
