Austin has long been an attractive headquarters for major technology firms. Companies like IBM, Texas Instruments, and Dell are among the well-known firms that have their corporate headquarters in Austin, and many smaller startup firms and mid-level organizations call Austin home as well.

Recently, a number of new, and significant, corporate investments have begun to take root in Austin. In April of 2005, Samsung Electronics gave final approval for a multi-billion dollar investment in a new fabrication plant in Austin. Construction on the facility, about three times the size of the company’s existing factory in Northeast Austin, will begin soon . The result will be one of the largest electronics fabrication sites in the United States.

The Constellation Property Group of Australia has contracted to buy a three-acre site across the street from the Austin Convention Center and plans a $250 million project to build two 30-story skyscrapers. Construction is slated to start mid-2007 and be complete in 2010.

HealthCare Facilities Development Corporation is planning three new medical buildings Austin. The $60 million investment is currently underway and includes a 110,000-square-foot medical facility across the street from St. David's North Austin Medical Center. Opening is slated for late 2007.

Three Marriot hotels, possibly the largest hotel development in Austin's history, are being constructed as well. The tallest hotel will be a 26-story Marriott convention center with 650 rooms, 50,000 square feet of meeting space, and street-level retail. There also will be a 15-story Springhill Suites with 150 rooms, and an 11-story upscale Renaissance Hotel with 200 rooms. The $185 million project is scheduled to open in summer 2009.