Applied Optoelectronics began construction on a 210,000-square-foot Sugar Land manufacturing plant for optical transceivers used in AI data centers and broadband networks. The company plans up to $300 million of local investment and 500 automated-production jobs.
Siemens Mobility opened its passenger-rail manufacturing and services center in Lexington with production underway. The plant is expected to employ more than 500 people and source parts from more than 75 North Carolina suppliers.