Wistron Corp., a Taiwanese company partnering with Nvidia to assemble supercomputers, has officially confirmed that it will establish a huge base in Fort Worth — where it plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars and hire nearly 900 employees across a pair of sites.
Wistron’s U.S. subsidiary, Wistron Infocomm USA, has quietly been purchasing land and securing tax breaks on the city and county level for the past few months as the company prepares to partner with Nvidia Corp. (Nasdaq: NVDA) on a $500 billion initiative to build artificial intelligence infrastructure. Other companies involved in the effort include Foxconn and TSMC.
Wistron announced Aug. 21 that the two Fort Worth plants represent a $761 million investment — about $100 million more than initially presented during meetings of Fort Worth City Council. The company eventually plans to hire 888 employees, according to city and county presentations.
Wistron purchased two sites for the factories in June and July: the 766,994-square-foot Westport 14 at 14601 Mobility Way, which it purchased from Hillwood, and a 324,598-square-foot building from Trammell Crow. Co. called 35 Eagle at 15200 Heritage Pkwy. Wistron has deemed the former Trammell Crow building as its primary site and allocated $580 million for land acquisition, factory purchase, property improvements and equipment. The company is allocating $181 million for the former Hillwood building. Both sites are expected to open in early 2026.
Wistron is an original design manufacturer — a company that manufactures technology for other businesses. It is considered one of the largest technology manufacturing companies in the world. Originally part of Acer Inc., Wistron spun off in 2001.
Jackie Lai, Wistron’s senior vice president of global manufacturing for American and European operations, outlined the importance of the factories as it continues to expand artificial intelligence-related product capabilities.
“Establishing manufacturing operations in the United States is a critical step in meeting the needs of our customers and advancing our global vision,” he said. “After a thorough evaluation of key factors such as talent availability, robust logistics infrastructure and a vibrant industrial ecosystem, Fort Worth, Texas, emerged as the optimal choice.”
Ross Perot Jr., chairman of Hillwood and Perot Companies, said Wistron’s entry into North Texas is indicative of the larger effort to bring more manufacturing to the U.S.
“Wistron’s decision arrives at an opportune moment when reshoring is redefining America’s industrial future, with AllianceTexas at the forefront of this movement. With a skilled and growing workforce available and backed by strong support from the City of Fort Worth, Denton County, the State of Texas and our private-sector partners, Wistron will find the support and resources it needs to succeed. We look forward to the economic impact and innovation this project will bring,” Perot said in a statement.
It’s a full circle moment for the area. In the late 1990s, Intel Corp. planned to locate a chip manufacturing plant in the area. Intel spent around $65 million to develop the site but suspended construction in 1998 and ultimately decided to sell the 524 acres instead of constructing a $2 billion manufacturing facility.
Other major manufacturing efforts happening in north Fort Worth include MP Materials’ rare earth magnet factory, which secured a $500 million partnership with Apple, part of a larger push by the iPhone maker to produce more in the United States.
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Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to leadership excellence and continued growth in the aviation sector, Hillwood has promoted longtime aviation executive Christopher Ash to president of the Alliance Aviation Companies at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport. Ash officially assumed the role on July 1, 2025, and will oversee all operations at Perot Field, including management of the airport, fixed-base operations (FBO) and commercial fueling services, while advancing the airport’s position as one of the top 20 cargo hubs in the United States.
Ash joined Hillwood in 1996 as a line operations specialist and has held a variety of leadership roles over the years. Most recently, as senior vice president of aviation business development, he was instrumental in expanding Hillwood’s military, corporate, aerospace and real estate partnerships throughout AllianceTexas — the company’s 27,000-acre, master-planned, mixed-use development. His efforts were key in attracting major industry leaders such as MTU Maintenance and Embraer to Perot Field, both of which announced major expansions during the same week Texas Governor Greg Abbott named Fort Worth the aviation and defense capital of Texas.
“Chris has made significant contributions across every aspect of our aviation operations,” said Bill Burton, executive vice president at Hillwood. “His leadership and commitment to excellence, along with his work to forge meaningful public-private partnerships with government agencies, research institutions and industry leaders, have been central to our success. His experience and vision are invaluable, and with leaders like Chris, the future of the Alliance Aviation Companies is brighter than ever.”
Ash will continue to work in lockstep with the City of Fort Worth and other municipalities in the Alliance corridor, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA and many other institutions, to further advance the aerospace and aviation industry here in North Texas. He also serves on the North Central Texas Council of Governments as a member of the North Texas Safety and Integration Task Force.
Ash has also led advancements in next-generation aviation mobility at the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ). This cutting-edge ecosystem integrates logistics infrastructure and strategic partnerships to help mobility innovators test, scale and commercialize transformative technologies.
“I’m incredibly proud to have grown with an organization that is helping define the future of aviation through leadership in aerospace, infrastructure and mobility innovation,” said Ash. “I look forward to continuing to work with our outstanding team to deliver best-in-class service and operations.”
About AllianceTexas
Developed by Hillwood, AllianceTexas is an unparalleled regional success story that has transformed the North Texas economy and connected the area to global industry. Consisting of 27,000 acres, the development is anchored by the world’s first dedicated industrial airport, Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW), and hosts one of the nation’s premier intermodal hubs. Today, AllianceTexas is home to 590 companies that have created more than 66,000 direct jobs and have approximately 60 million square feet of developed commercial real estate assets. The development’s cumulative impact since 1989 is an estimated $130 billion for the North Texas region. For additional information, please visit www.alliancetexas.com.
About Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport
Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) is the world’s first industrial airport, purpose-built for cargo and corporate aviation. Today, AFW offers a broad range of flight services, including air cargo, corporate, private, and military aviation, and serves as the cornerstone of AllianceTexas, the nation’s premier master-planned, mixed-use development. Owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by privately held Alliance Air Services, AFW features state-of-the-art infrastructure and an award-winning FAA air traffic control tower. Alliance Air Services is consistently ranked among the top FBOs in the U.S. by industry publications and fuel service providers. For more information, visit www.perotfield.com.
Fort Worth is historic, with glimpses of its Western heritage found everywhere. It is creative, with some of the best museums in the country. It is industrious, which can be seen in its large factories as well as its grand real estate projects and even in its enterprising small businesses. And it’s growing faster than any other big city in the country.
That makes it a really exciting place to cover, full of interesting stories and colorful characters. But it can also be a challenge to wrap your arms around all the changes that are happening.
That’s why we created the Fort Worth Newsmakers program, now back for its second iteration. This year’s list contains lifelong Fort Worthians as well as newcomers. There are some who left Fort Worth but returned later with ideas to try out. There are even a few who live just outside Fort Worth but are playing major roles in some of the city’s biggest stories. The list was selected purely by newsroom leaders based on our recent coverage; this is not a typical awards program.
The goal with the list is to educate and connect readers, whether you’re a Cowtown insider or someone trying to learn more about this dynamic city from the outside. We expect the Fort Worth Newsmakers to be regular fixtures in our paper as they wrangle with multibillion-dollar projects and tricky challenges — so please reach out with your feedback on this year’s list and who we should consider next year.
2025 Fort Worth Newsmakers
Russell Laughlin
Executive vice president, Hillwood
Trucks, planes and trains move through the 27,000 acres that make up AllianceTexas. And Laughlin is thinking about exactly what technology and infrastructure is needed for the logistics hub in north Fort Worth, both now and in the far future. Part of that effort is being a partner to create a $262 million smart port, an effort to boost the overall supply chain and provide real-time tracking of goods and services as they move through the port. Laughlin plays a critical role in redefining what it means for AllianceTexas to be a modern logistics hub.
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The AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone and Southern Dallas County Inland Port were identified as sites for two proposed hydrogen fueling stations in North Texas during a March 11 presentation.
What’s happening?
The North Central Texas Council of Governments was awarded $70 million in January to build five hydrogen fueling stations in Texas near DFW, Houston, San Antonio and Waco. The stations will create a hydrogen fueling network for medium- to heavy-duty freight trucks.
Stations are planned for the innovation zone and inland port areas, Air Quality Planner Joslyn Billings said during the NCTCOG meeting. Seven other potential sites have been identified throughout the Texas Triangle, according to the presentation.
“We’ll be selecting the rest of the stations from the potential ones near Houston, San Antonio and Waco to complete and fill in that triangle,” Billings said.
Staff have already begun coordinating with local governments in the project areas, but they are at the beginning of the contracting process, she said.
What they’re saying
Laura Freeland, executive director of the Southern Dallas County Inland Port Transportation Management Association, said in an email they were excited to have one of the fueling stations built at the port.
“The location of a hydrogen fueling station in the DCIP will help transition freight transport from conventional diesel fuel to zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell technology,” she said.
Freeland said the grant was particularly impactful because it was secured for refueling stations across the triangle.
“Given the amount of truck traffic that passes through the Texas Triangle, securing fueling stations for the entire area helps trucking companies make the investment to convert to hydrogen,” she said.
Also of note
The NCTCOG was also awarded $15 million to build up to 100 electric vehicle charging ports across the region. At least half of those chargers will be built in disadvantaged communities known as Justice40 areas. Staff will also emphasize adding charging ports to rural communities excluded from other funding opportunities, Billings said.
Other grant projects include:
Partnering with Oncor and DFW Airport to develop an electric vehicle charging plan for the region focused on power failure: awarded $1.5 million
Repairing or replacing existing nonoperational charging stations in the region: awarded $3.6 million
Cold, dreary weather is always a threat to derail Halloween festivities, as was the case in Dallas-Fort Worth this year. But for trick-or-treaters in one of the area’s neighborhoods, drones came to the rescue.
“We are taking Halloween to new heights with a fun new way for kids to trick or treat—especially when the weather isn’t very Halloween compatible,” said Andrew Patton, the head of Ireland-based Manna Drone Delivery’s U.S. business.
On Tuesday, Manna drones flew chocolate, candies, and other sweet treats straight to the doorsteps of clamoring children (and adults) in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Northlake. The Halloween-themed deliveries marked the company’s official U.S. launch, first teased in March.
But Manna, which is backed by Coca-Cola HBC and operates one of Europe’s largest drone delivery services, will deliver more than just Kit Kats and Sour Patch Kids.
“After over four years of operations and over 150,000 flights logged in Europe, we are excited to be touching down in the United States to offer the residents of Dallas-Fort Worth a lightning-quick and sustainable home delivery service,” said Patton.
Patton brings some traditional aviation expertise to the table—the Manna executive holds a commercial pilot’s license with 1,900 hours of flight time and multiple jet type ratings. He flies a Yakovlev Yak-50 aerobatic airplane whenever time permits.
Moving forward, residents of Northlake’s Pecan Square community will be able to order drinks and food (including more chocolate and candy) from local retailers Farmhouse Coffee & Treasures and The Touring Chocolatier, as well as from a few “notable national brands.”
The service will run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, delivering items in less than three minutes on average, Manna said. Patton told FLYING the company plans to deliver to the yards of all 1,600 households in Pecan Square, rolling out service with a “staggered” approach.
According to the company’s website, when an order is placed through its app, Manna drones take off from a delivery hub, flying at 60 mph (52 knots) at a height of around 200 feet. When they arrive above the customer’s yard, the drones descend to about 100 feet, lowering packages gently to the ground using a tether. That allows it to deliver delicate items such as eggs.
Manna claims that when its drones are soaring at their cruising altitude, they’re perceived as silent by people on the ground. And when descending to complete a delivery, the company describes the aircraft’s buzzing as inaudible to customers indoors.
To kick off its U.S. launch, Manna also partnered with the local Tarrant Area Food Bank, which provides close to a million meals per week to North Texans. The company will make a donation for every flight it conducts this year.
The Start of Something Bigger?
While Pecan Square is Manna’s first and only U.S. drone delivery service area, it’s unlikely to be the last.
Pecan Square was developed by Hillwood Communities and is located near the company’s AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ). The MIZ aims to test and scale drone delivery and unmanned aircraft technologies in a real-world environment.
Manna’s Dallas-Fort Worth launch came a few months after it and Hillwood announced the beginning of trials at the MIZ, with the ultimate goal of offering drone delivery to “a select number of Hillwood’s residential developments.”
The implication is that Pecan Square is only the first site. Per that announcement, Manna plans to eventually offer its service to more than 10,000 local residents.
“Hillwood is the premier developer of best-in-class residential communities in Texas,” Patton told FLYING. “Hillwood’s legacy of technology-forward communities and its investment in next-generation autonomous transportation technology through the AllianceTexas MIZ make it an extremely well-suited partner for Manna as we move into the U.S.”
Another major drone delivery player, Alphabet’s Wing, tested its service at the MIZ’s Flight Test Center in 2021. A year later, it launched a delivery hub at Hillwood’s Frisco Station mixed-use development in partnership with Walgreens. Bell Textron has also demonstrated drone package delivery at the AllianceTexas site.
“Drone deliveries are here to stay, and we’re leaning into this efficient and innovative delivery option,” Chris Ash, senior vice president of aviation business development at Hillwood and the leader of MIZ, told FLYING. “We will continue to build great relationships with more companies to further develop and commercialize this technology that reduces roadway congestion and emissions.”
In August, Wing expanded its Dallas-Fort Worth operations to a Walmart Supercenter in Frisco, which FLYING received an inside look at last month. Israel’s Flytrex has offered drone delivery in the DFW suburb of Granbury since 2022. And elsewhere in the state, Amazon Prime Air last year landed in College Station, adding prescription drone delivery to that service in October.
Manna, meanwhile, has primarily focused on growing domestic operations. Its largest markets are the Dublin suburb of Balbriggan and a few other locations in Ireland—per an interview with Forbes, it has completed thousands of flights per day in multiple Irish markets. According to CEO Bobby Healy, those services are one-tenth the cost of a human driver in a car.
Healy told Forbes the company’s philosophy is to target highly populated U.S. markets, drawing from its experience flying over urban densities of 10,000 people per square mile. Dallas-Fort Worth, one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S., appears to fit that bill. At the same time, Manna is eyeing an expansion into mainland Europe.
FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — In a world-first, Manna Drone Delivery, Europe’s largest and most-advanced drone delivery operator, took trick or treating to new heights – delivering candy to families in North Texas by drone. Given the incredibly wet weather the Dallas/Fort Worth area has been experiencing, kids can stay dry and still participate in the Halloween festivities.
Trick or treating kicked-off Manna Drone Delivery’s first US operations – where they’ll be delivering to residents at Pecan Square by Hillwood Communities. Residents will have the opportunity to order a range of food and beverages from both national and local retailers – including a wide selection of Halloween chocolates and candies.
After over four years of operations and over 150,000 flights logged in Europe, we are excited to be touching down in the United States to offer the residents of Dallas/Fort Worth a lightning-quick and sustainable home delivery service,” said Andrew Patton, Head of US for Manna Drone Delivery. “We are taking Halloween to new heights, with a fun new way for kids to trick or treat – especially when the weather isn’t very Halloween compatible!”
“We’re excited to see Manna commercialize drone delivery in the US at the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone, bringing an innovative last-mile delivery solution to Pecan Square residents,” said Christopher Ash, senior vice president of aviation business development for Hillwood. “At Hillwood, we are a team collaborating to bring innovative supply chain technologies to North Texas and provide next-level amenities to the communities we reach.”
Manna is also partnering with the Tarrant Area Food Bank, which serves nearly 1 million meals a week to residents in North Texas, by making a donation for every flight conducted this year.
Service will be available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays to members of the Pecan Square community. Select products and sweet treats from popular local retailers Farmhouse Coffee & Treasures, and The Touring Chocolatier, as well as some notable national brands, will be available for purchase.
To learn more about Manna’s drone delivery services, please visit www.manna.aero.
About Manna Drone Delivery
Manna is the world’s leading residential drone delivery provider, delivering goods quickly, affordably, and safely to customers homes on two continents. Our service operates in the highest population density of any drone delivery operations in the world, partnering with a range of businesses from global giants like Coca-Cola, Tesco and Samsung to dozens of local businesses, delivering goods to customers in just a few minutes.