Office of the Governor
Staff
Gov. Abbott’s Office releases regular updates about issues, the latest state dealings, and business partnerships happening around the state.
The Governor of Texas is responsible for acting on behalf of and in the best interest of Texans at the national level.
Through regular press releases submitted by Governor Greg Abbott’s office, Texans can stay informed on what is happening at the state level behind the scenes.
Abbott was first elected as Governor of Texas in 2014 after serving as the state’s 50th and longest-serving Attorney General. As AG, he earned a national reputation for “defending religious liberty and protecting Texas communities and children.”
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott has sent a letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) opposing the construction of a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in Andrews County, Texas.
The facility, proposed by Interim Storage Partners (ISP), would take spent nuclear fuel from around the country and store it on the surface of the Permian Basin.
The Governor urges the NRC to deny ISP’s license application, highlighting the unique environmental risk of a terrorist attack that could shut down the world’s largest producing oilfield through a major radioactive release.
“The proposed ISP facility imperils America’s energy security because it would be a prime target for attacks by terrorists, saboteurs, and other enemies,” reads the letter. “This location could not be worse for storing ultra-hazardous radioactive waste. Having consulted with numerous state agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Department of Transportation, I urge the NRC to deny ISP’s license application.”
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott on Wednesday thanked the IKEA US Community Foundation for gifting the State of Texas $4,900,125.
The funds are equivalent to the amount of money the State paid in unemployment insurance to IKEA retail workers in Texas who were previously furloughed due to COVID-19.
In a letter sent to the Governor, IKEA Retail U.S. President Javier Quiñones wrote that now that stores have reopened, the Foundation has decided to pay it forward to Texas.
“The State of Texas is grateful to IKEA and the IKEA US Community Foundation for their commitment to Texas employees,” said Governor Abbott. “IKEA has shown that it is not only an important part of the Texas economy but a valued member of the communities in which its employees live and work. Thank you to IKEA for this generous gift to the people of Texas, and I look forward to our continued partnership.”
“We are appreciative of the ongoing support from the state of Texas including the unemployment funds paid to our co-workers who were furloughed in the early weeks of the pandemic,” said Javier Quiñones, IKEA Retail U.S. president. “People are the heart of our business, and the state unemployment benefits helped our co-workers during a difficult time. We now have a better understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on our business, and we’ve decided to “pay it forward” in our local communities.”
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday announced that the Japan-based company CKD Corporation will establish its first U.S. production site in Austin.
The $13 million investment will create up to 70 new jobs and is scheduled to begin operations in Fall 2021. CKD Corporation provides an extensive array of automation technology products found in a wide range of industries including automotive, packaging, and medical.
The Austin manufacturing facility will produce fluid control components for the semiconductor industry.
“CKD Corporation’s $13 million investment in the Lone Star State further solidifies Texas’ reputation as a premier economic destination both nationally and internationally,” said Governor Abbott. “I am proud to welcome CKD Corporation to the Lone Star State and look forward to the economic prosperity this investment will bring to the Austin community. This trailblazing company, combined with Texas’ business-friendly environment and high-skilled workforce, will undoubtedly make for a long and successful partnership.”
CKD Corporation was established in 1943 and is headquartered in Aichi, Japan. The company provides an extensive array of automation technology products, including pneumatic and electric actuators, directional control valves, vacuum components, air preparation, and process valves.
CKD products are specified in automation and machinery by OEMs and end-users globally. The company’s distribution network, combined with unsurpassed product breadth, provides customers with world-class solutions delivered anywhere in the United States.
AUSTIN – Last week, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the state of Texas will participate in CyberStart America — an innovative, online cybersecurity game, competition, and talent search sponsored by the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation and the SANS Institute.
Texas high school-aged students are encouraged to explore their aptitude for cybersecurity and computer science by participating in the program. Participating students will have the opportunity to win prizes and recognition for their schools and scholarships for themselves.
This program builds upon last year’s Girls Go CyberStart Program, a pilot program targeted to young women in which 2,294 students from Texas high schools participated and 199 succeeded in reaching the national finals.
The CyberStart America program is a series of 100% online challenges — referred to as the CyberStart Game — that allow students to act as cyber protection agents, solving cybersecurity-related puzzles and exploring related topics such as code-breaking, programming, networking, and digital forensics.
The program can be assigned as part of homework, can form the basis of an extracurricular club, or students can participate on their own.
“This exciting program builds on our statewide efforts to provide innovative learning opportunities and technology skills that will be relevant to students in any career path,” Governor Greg Abbott said. “These competitions offer fun activities for young women and men to explore and learn about the high-tech, high-impact field of cybersecurity.”
“Part of the Texas Cybersecurity Strategic Plan focuses on the need for talented cybersecurity professionals to continue to combat the increasing sophistication of threats facing the State of Texas,” said Texas Department of Information Resources Chief Information Security Officer Nancy Rainosek. “We are delighted by the opportunity to partner with the SANS Institute again on this initiative, and the opportunity it provides for high school students to receive college scholarships.”
Participating students and their teachers do not need knowledge or experience in information technology or cybersecurity to take part. The program is free for schools and students, and all Texas students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate.
Building on the success of last year’s Girls Go CyberStart program, this year’s CyberStart Game is open to all high school students, and anyone who reaches level 5 in the Game will qualify for the national competition to win scholarships.
To encourage the participation of young women and JROTC cadets, specific communities have been established for those groups, offering additional support and community-specific awards within the overall scholarship competition.
The National Cyber Scholarship Foundation anticipates awarding scholarships worth a total of $2 million for use at any accredited college to 600 high-scoring students across the nation who participate in the competition in 2021.
Students are able to compete for state-specific and community-specific prizes as well as national championship status.
There will also be incentives for Texas high schools to encourage more students to reach the qualifying level in CyberStart Game, including exclusive access to additional cybersecurity education resources and recognized cyber skills mastery badges for their students.
Complete details may be found at www.cyberstartamerica.org. Registration for high school students began on October 30th.
The program begins November 15th and runs through February 28th, 2021. Students will be informed that they qualify for the CyberStart National Scholarship Challenge Round as soon as they have achieved sufficient progress, but they are allowed to continue playing and learning in order to build more skills that will be useful to them in National Scholarship Challenge.
To see the types of challenges students will face in the games, visit https://go.cyberstart.com.
Participating students and schools are encouraged to share updates on social media with [#TXCyberStart].
The San Marcos City Council received a presentation on the Sidewalk Maintenance and Gap Infill…
The San Marcos River Rollers have skated through obstacles after taking a two-year break during…
San Marcos Corridor News has been reporting on the incredible communities in the Hays County…
Visitors won't be able to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Jacobs Well Natural…
Looking to adopt or foster animals from the local shelter? Here are the San Marcos…
The Lone Star State leads the nation in labor-related accidents and especially workplace deaths and…
This website uses cookies.