Daikin Comfort Technologies North America is making history in Houston—not just on the field, but across the region. As the new namesake of the Astros’ ballpark, Daikin’s investment in the Houston region has been a game-changer for the regional economy and community.  Daikin’s journey in the Houston region has been one of steady growth and impact, and it all began over a decade ago. In 2012, the Japanese company acquired Goodman, a leading U.S. manufacturer of residential air conditioners. The acquisition strengthened Daikin’s foothold in the U.S. market and expanded its product offerings.  In 2017, the company opened the Daikin Texas Technology Park in Waller – just outside Houston – after consolidating Goodman’s four U.S. factories, headquarters, and distribution bases. The 4.2 million square-foot facility also serves its North American headquarters.  Since then, Daikin has invested more than $1 billion in the region, including over $500 million in the technology park alone. In 2023, the company announced the launch of a new product line focused on digital HVAC technology.   “Since establishing their campus in the region, Daikin has continued to grow, invest, and create jobs,” Steve Kean said. “Their expansion has brought new opportunities, strengthened our economy, and reinforced Houston’s role as a hub for global manufacturing and advanced technology.  Their knowledge and technology will also be valuable to our community as we maintain and grow our position as the world’s energy capital.”   As the Astros take the field at the newly renamed Daikin Park, the partnership marks more than a new name on the stadium — Daikin’s commitment to Houston goes far beyond the stadium. Through community programs focused on education and sustainability, the company is helping strengthen the region while reinforcing its commitment to innovation, economic growth, and global recognition for the region.  In partnership with the Astros, Daikin is launching two major programs. The Most Valuable STEAM Scholarship will provide Houston-area students with resources to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Daikin’s community cooling program will bring energy-efficient HVAC systems to underserved households, helping families stay comfortable while lowering energy costs.  Complementing these developments, the City of Houston has undertaken infrastructure improvements around Daikin Park. Texas Avenue, between Crawford and Hamilton Streets, was repaved — with crews removing 10 inches of pavement and replacing it with concrete and asphalt. Work began March 8 and continued around the clock to ensure the street reopened ahead of Opening Day, showing the city's commitment to creating a seamless experience for fans.  Daikin’s long-standing commitment to Houston shows that when global companies invest in our region, everyone benefits. From job creation and workforce development to education and sustainability, Daikin’s work in Houston is a strong example of what can happen when business, government and community come together.  Click to expand Daikin’s naming rights deal for the stadium runs through the 2039 season.  Learn more about what makes Houston the ideal place to live, work and build a business.

Education policy is often at center stage in the Texas Legislature. This session, lawmakers are teeing up another slate of bills that could contend with 2019’s sweeping bipartisan effort to reform education finance. A $10 Billion Increase in State Spending This legislative session, lawmakers plan to add $10 billion in new funding for education. If passed, that puts the total amount at more than $100 billion for public education in Texas. House Bill 500 seeks to increase state spending by more than $1 billion to compensate for the federal funding shortfall in education. The supplemental bill is a stepping stone to larger proposals, including House Bill 2 (HB 2). The Texas House is proposing nearly $8 billion in new funding for teacher pay raises, expanded Pre-K and early childhood education programs, and increasing the funding formulas per student. Click here to read more about HB 2 and its proposals. Six-Figure Salaries for Teachers Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath testified in House Public Education earlier this year that Texas already has teachers in the six-figure salary range. This session, lawmakers are looking to expand the number of teachers who qualify for retention bonuses and merit-based pay increases. HB 2 and Senate Bill 26 take different paths to the same solution. Lawmakers are intent on keeping quality teachers in the classroom rather than promoting them to administrative positions. Both bills offer significant increases in the Teacher Incentive Allotment. The bills specifically add funding to help more school districts participate in the merit-based incentive program for high-performing teachers. Read more about teacher pay increases here. The ABCs of HB 123 The Partnership supports House Bill 123 by Houston-area Representative Harold V. Dutton. The longtime lawmaker is introducing this proposal to target kindergarten readiness, early childhood literacy, and math skills across the state. Early estimates put funding for the proposal between $260 million and $392 million by 2030. The proposal includes a new program that would provide funding to parents of students who do not meet target goals for reading and math. The program would also offer grants for tutors and other study aides to help young students get back on track if they fail to hit those targets by the third grade. These are just a handful of the policy proposals related to public education. The Partnership is focused on increasing school funding and strengthening accountability standards. Click here to learn more about the Executive Priorities for the 89th Texas Legislature. For more updates and alerts on the Texas Legislature, click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter.