Tesla has outlined a comprehensive community investment plan exceeding $750,000, according to a recent update presented to the Travis County Commissioners Court on October 3, 2023.
The electric vehicle manufacturer has committed funds to various programs aimed at education, workforce development, and environmental sustainability.
Among the beneficiaries are Ecorise, with a $100,000 allocation for a Student Innovation Fund, and American YouthWorks, which will receive $30,000 for new training and production equipment. The Colorado River Alliance is earmarked for $25,000 for river clean-up and environmental education, while the Black Leaders’ Collective will get $32,000 for its State of Black Education Program.
The Austin Area Urban League is set to receive $75,000 for a Green Jobs Initiative, and Partners for Education, Agriculture, and Sustainability (PEAS) will get $100,000 for sustainability programming in six elementary schools.
Tesla has also committed $12,000 for Workforce Solutions Teacher Externships and $376,880 for the creation of three new roles at Del Valle ISD to directly support career opportunities. The exact amount for manufacturing and robotics equipment for Del Valle High School is yet to be determined.
In terms of community outreach, Tesla has partnered with various organizations for STEM and education programs, including “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day,” Girlstart, Latinitas, and Austin Voices for Education and Youth. The company is also involved in community resource fairs and job fairs in collaboration with TOCA/PODER, AISD, Del Valle Community Coalition, and Workforce Solutions.
On the ecological front, Tesla has initiated a 120-acre pilot project for ecological restoration. The project includes planting over 5,000 new native trees and 2,000+ wetland plants. It also involves the removal of invasive species across 50 acres and the restructuring of depleted soil across 46 acres. The project aims to create about 30 acres of shallow water habitat and offset 150 million gallons per year of potable water through the use of reclaimed water for irrigation.
The economic impact of Tesla’s operations in Travis County is significant, with a real and business property investment of $5.8 billion, expected to exceed $10 billion upon completion. The company has also paid over $15 million in taxes from 2020 to 2023 and made payments totaling nearly $50 million during the same period.
“To see what has happened there because of the hard work of a lot of people, it’s really cool to see that,” said Rohan Patel, director of public policy at Tesla, speaking about the impact of Giga Texas, reports Fox7Austin.
“The whole goal with this pilot project, which is a fairly large pilot project, is to get a lot of learnings about what works on this site and maybe what doesn’t and continue applying this along our river frontage,” said Logan Grant with factory engineering at Tesla.
The community investment plan and ecological initiatives are part of Tesla’s broader commitment to Travis County and Del Valle ISD, aiming to foster sustainable development and community well-being.
Tesla’s Gigafactory in Austin is currently manufacturing the Model Y and also Cybertruck, with the latter expected to start deliveries this quarter.
