IEM's $200M Texas Plant: A New Era for San Antonio Manufacturing

SAN ANTONIO, TX – August 25, 2026 – In a move set to reshape the region's economic landscape, Industrial Electric Mfg.™ (IEM) has announced a landmark $200 million investment to build a new, 1-million-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility in San Antonio. The project, located at the redeveloped Brooks City Base, represents the single largest job-producing investment in the area in more than two decades, promising to create up to 3,000 jobs by 2030.

For over 75 years, IEM has operated as North America’s largest independent manufacturer of custom electrical distribution and control systems. This major expansion of its U.S. manufacturing footprint signals a robust commitment to meeting surging customer demand across a wide range of critical industries while strengthening the domestic supply chain.

“IEM is excited to put down roots in San Antonio,” said Clayton Such, Chief Executive Officer of IEM. “The city’s skilled workforce, strong infrastructure and collaborative economic development environment made this a natural choice for our next phase of growth. This facility will strengthen our ability to deliver highly engineered, customer-specific power distribution solutions that industries, from healthcare to energy, advanced manufacturing, and more, depend on every day. The investment also will strengthen IEM's domestic supply chain and support deliveries for customers across North America."

A Transformational Jolt for the Alamo City

The economic ripple effects of IEM's investment are poised to be substantial for San Antonio and Bexar County. The projected 3,000 jobs will span a variety of roles, including manufacturing, engineering, logistics, and corporate support, with an estimated average annual salary of over $53,000. This infusion of skilled, well-paying jobs is a monumental win for the region's workforce.

To secure the transformational project, regional and state partners worked in concert to assemble a competitive incentives package. Governor Greg Abbott announced a Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) grant of $3.36 million, while Bexar County commissioners approved a 10-year, 70% tax abatement valued at approximately $1.55 million. The collaboration underscores a shared vision for long-term economic prosperity.

“Texas leads America's manufacturing resurgence,” said Governor Abbott. “This investment by IEM in San Antonio will create new, good-paying jobs and generate a significant economic impact for Bexar County. Advanced manufacturers invest and expand in Texas because of our welcoming business climate, easy access to domestic and global markets, and highly skilled and growing workforce.”

The sentiment was echoed by regional leaders who have championed the project.

"IEM's decision to establish operations in Greater San Antonio is a transformational investment and a testament to what can be accomplished when regional partners work together to compete and win,” said Sarah Carabias Rush, President & CEO of the greater:SATX Regional Economic Partnership. "This is the single largest job-producing investment in more than two decades for our San Antonio region, reflecting both the scale of opportunity here and the strength of our workforce, advanced manufacturing ecosystem, and collaborative approach to economic development."

Powering America's Industrial Core

The new San Antonio plant is more than a local success story; it's a strategic move that bolsters America's entire industrial base. IEM specializes in creating the highly customized power distribution and control systems that serve as the backbone for society's most essential services. Its client list reads like a who's who of modern innovation, including data center giants like Amazon Web Services and Meta, tech leaders Apple and Google, and critical infrastructure operators such as NASA and Chevron.

This expansion comes at a pivotal moment. The North American power distribution market, valued at nearly $100 billion in 2024, is projected to surge past $125 billion by 2030. This growth is fueled by the modernization of aging infrastructure and unprecedented energy demands from artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and renewable energy integration. By significantly increasing its U.S. production capacity, IEM is positioning itself to meet this demand head-on, reducing reliance on overseas supply chains and accelerating product delivery for its North American customers.

The facility is described as an "advanced manufacturing" plant, reflecting IEM's core competency of delivering "custom at scale" solutions. Unlike mass-produced components, IEM's systems are engineered to meet the unique and exacting power requirements of high-stakes environments, from hospitals and utilities to petrochemical plants and advanced manufacturing facilities.

A Strategic Blueprint for Growth

This $200 million investment is not an isolated event but the latest and most significant move in an aggressive, five-year growth strategy. Including the San Antonio facility, IEM has invested $300 million and added more than 3 million square feet of product development and manufacturing space across its North American operations in Fremont, California; Jacksonville, Florida; and Surrey, British Columbia.

This calculated expansion solidifies IEM's standing as the continent's largest independent manufacturer in its field. While competing against multinational conglomerates like Siemens and Eaton, IEM has carved out a dominant niche by focusing on engineering expertise and flexible, customer-specific design. The San Antonio plant will serve as a central hub in this network, enhancing the company's ability to innovate and execute complex projects with agility.

Building on a Foundation of Renewal

The chosen location for this futuristic facility is itself a story of transformation. Brooks City Base, once Brooks Air Force Base, has been meticulously redeveloped over the past two decades. Following its closure, the site underwent extensive environmental cleanup under the supervision of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, earning a "Ready for Reuse" determination in 2002. IEM's arrival marks a new chapter in this renewal, transforming a site once dedicated to national defense into a modern engine for regional prosperity.

“Brooks exists to create regional prosperity and expand opportunity across Southeast San Antonio. IEM’s decision to locate at Brooks is a significant win that reaches far beyond our campus and demonstrates what is possible when strong public and private partnerships come together around a shared vision,” said Brooks President & CEO Leo Gomez. “We are proud to welcome IEM and excited about the lasting impact this will have in the lives of people our region and the San Antonio community."

Local officials have expressed their full support for integrating the new facility and its workforce into the community.

"I am pleased to support this project and the meaningful economic benefits it will bring to Bexar County," stated Commissioner Tommy Calvert of Bexar County Precinct 4. "I look forward to welcoming IEM as it launches operations in Precinct 4."