Data center backlash not slowing Wiwynn Socorro manufacturing growth
Wiwynn Corp, a data center equipment manufacturer, is undergoing a major expansion of its Socorro, Texas facility, adding over 1,100 jobs by 2027 and planning four factory buildings by 2028. This growth is supported by millions in tax breaks from El Paso County and the city of Socorro, despite a general public backlash against data centers in the region.
Wiwynn Corp., a Taiwan-based data-center equipment manufacturer, is significantly expanding its operations in Socorro, Texas, an El Paso suburb. The company announced plans to open a second factory by 2027, creating over 1,100 new jobs and bringing its total workforce to 2,500 employees. By 2028, Wiwynn intends to operate four factory buildings within the Socorro Logistics Center industrial park.
The expansion, which involves an investment exceeding $398 million, is supported by substantial tax incentives from El Paso County and the city of Socorro. These incentives, totaling $5.94 million over 10 years for the current expansion, build upon an earlier $3.32 million package for the initial phase. Socorro Mayor Rudy Cruz Jr. emphasized the importance of Wiwynn's manufacturing facility as a key economic driver for the region, clarifying that it produces components for data centers, not data centers themselves, to address local misconceptions.
Joseph Hsu, managing director of Wiwynn's North America operations, stated that the growing public and political backlash against data centers in the El Paso area and nationwide has not impacted Wiwynn's growth. He attributed this resilience to the increasing demand for AI-driven technologies, which in turn fuels the need for data center equipment. One of Wiwynn's notable customers, Meta Platforms, is also developing a large data center complex in Northeast El Paso.