Lite-On Technology Corp., a global manufacturing company that specializes in semiconductor components, is building a manufacturing facility in McKinney.
The big picture
The company selected McKinney for a new advanced manufacturing facility in North America, according to a news release from McKinney Economic Development Corp. The $919 million project is expected to create at least 600 jobs over the next several years, making it one of the largest private investments in McKinney history, the news release states.
Lite-On is spending $108.5 million to acquire existing industrial space at the Core5 Logistics Center in McKinney, according to a news release from Lite-On. The investment will “further strengthen” the company’s North American presence, the news release states.
Lite-On Chairman Tom Soong said the expansion represents a “historic milestone” for the company. He said officials look forward to investing in McKinney as Lite-On continues “advancing next-generation technologies.”
“McKinney is a community that shares our values of hard work, innovation, and opportunity, and we are honored to be part of its future,” Soong said in a statement. “The strong support from the city of McKinney and the state of Texas made this investment possible, and we are deeply grateful for their partnership.”
The details
The new campus will span more than 650,000 square feet and support a range of manufacturing, operational and engineering activities. New job positions are expected to span engineering, advanced manufacturing and corporate operations, according to the MEDC news release. The project is the result of a collaboration between the city of McKinney, MEDC and the state of Texas, according to the news release.
Lite-On expects to begin hiring for the campus as renovations are completed. Positions will open in phases over the next several years, the news release states. MEDC Chairman Brian Loughmiller said the investment “represents a significant step forward for McKinney’s economy” while reinforcing the city’s “growing role in advanced manufacturing and technology sectors.”
“We appreciate President and CEO [of MEDC] Michael Kowski’s leadership and the focused work of the MEDC team and our partners in bringing this transformational investment to our city,” Loughmiller said in a statement. “From the beginning, we understood the significance of this opportunity and worked with urgency to secure a company whose presence will create lasting value for our residents, our business community and McKinney’s economic future.”
Mayor Bill Cox said the announcement is a "significant economic development win for McKinney.” It is a “reflection” of McKinney investing in its people, schools and quality of life, he said.
“Lite-On’s decision to select McKinney for its new North American manufacturing campus speaks to the strength of our community and the opportunities we continue to create,” Cox said in a statement. “We are proud to welcome Lite-On to McKinney and look forward to the lasting impact this investment will have on our city.”
Also of note
Lite-On representatives presented details on the project to the McKinney ISD board of trustees at a June 29 meeting alongside a request for a property tax incentive.
The project is slated for 300 and 310 Cypress Hill Drive, McKinney, and the facilities will be used for manufacturing and integration of power supplies, power management systems, power solutions and backup battery units used in servers and telecommunications equipment, according to the presentation.
John Kroll of Austin-based government and public affairs firm HMWK, who represented the project developer at the meeting, said company officials also considered other sites across the U.S., including sites in Washington and Tennessee. The company targeted McKinney in part for the demographics and availability of workforce, Kroll said, noting that the area has the talent needed to fulfill roles in engineering, research and development. Kroll said the company aims to have the McKinney facility operational in 2027.
The presentation outlined the planned project as part of a request for a Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation Act, or JETI, agreement, which allows for reduced property taxes owed on the development to the school district.
While the office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts issued an application approval for the request in early June, per the presentation, the district’s board of trustees unanimously denied the request, with trustees citing a desire to not lose potential tax dollars that could fund district operations.
“I do very much want Lite-On to come into our community and I know that over time that it’s going to be a huge benefit for our district, but what I do wish is that our economy right now was different for us as a public school district. It’s a struggling time,” trustee Kenneth Ussery said.
Another detail
The state of Texas is extending a Texas Enterprise Fund grant of $3.5 million and a $100,000 “Veteran Created Job Bonus” to Lite-On for the project, according to a state news release. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the project will “create hundreds of good-paying jobs in McKinney” while strengthening the state’s “leadership in advanced electronics manufacturing, research and development.”
“Texas is where the world invests and innovates,” Abbott said in a statement. “We congratulate Lite-On on choosing Texas as home for their new North American headquarters for its advanced manufacturing facility.”
Zooming out
The Lite-On announcement is the latest in a series of corporate investments made in McKinney in recent years, according to the MEDC news release.
Raytheon opened a new innovation and manufacturing facility at its McKinney campus in 2021. Globe Life, an insurance company, relocated its corporate headquarters within McKinney in 2025. Encore Wire broke ground on a 650,000-square-foot expansion near the McKinney National Airport in 2025.
Other significant projects across McKinney include the $300 million Sunset Amphitheater and the $200 million Cannon Beach surf resort. Both are currently under construction.
About the company
Lite-On was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Taiwan, according to its website. The company manages sales centers across the globe including two in America. One is located in Milpitas, California, and another is located in Plano.
The publicly traded company has about 77,000 employees worldwide, and sees $5.1 billion in annual revenue, according to the June 29 MISD presentation.
