Collin County is fast becoming the heartbeat of Texas’ technology-driven economy, and the numbers prove it. A new study from the Texas Association of Business (TAB) reveals that by 2050, Collin County alone will generate more economic output than several U.S. states do today.
The findings, produced by Prestige Economics, paint a future where innovation, especially in artificial intelligence (AI), data centers and automation, reshapes not only the region but the broader Texas economy.
By 2050, Collin County Will Be a National Economic Powerhouse
According to the study, Collin County is projected to contribute:
- 10% of Texas’ total GDP
- 7% of the state’s workforce
- 6% of the population
By these measures, Collin County’s 2050 GDP will match Missouri’s 2024 GDP and triple Oklahoma’s. The county’s ascent reflects the state’s larger trend: tech is driving productivity, manufacturing and job creation at a pace not seen before.
“Texas’ dedication to innovation has positioned communities, rural and urban, across our state to be ahead of the curve on economic growth driven by the technology sector,” TAB President and CEO Glenn Hamer said in an official statement. “The latest study demonstrating the monumental growth projected in North Texas, supported by our booming tech economy, is a testament to the incredible strength of technology and artificial intelligence to boost productivity, job creation and manufacturing in regions across our state.”
AI and Automation: Texas’ Competitive Advantage
Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics, emphasized how even modest growth in tech employment can lead to outsized economic gains. “As artificial intelligence, automation and data center expansions reshape the way work is done, the resulting productivity gains will become a powerful driver of economic growth in Texas through 2050,” Schenker said. “This is a story about the rising importance of technology and how tech growth can drive fundamental economic transformation, shaping the future of the Texas economy for decades to come.”
As artificial intelligence fuels a surge in demand for digital infrastructure, North Texas is emerging as a national hotspot for data centers and tech investment. FiberLight, a high-capacity fiber optic network provider, is relocating its corporate headquarters to Plano, aligning with the region’s growing prominence in AI infrastructure. Plano is also the future home of a $700 million, 425,000-square-foot data center for Lambda Inc., a cloud computing company backed by Nvidia, currently being built by Aligned Data Centers.
This regional momentum reflects broader moves by tech giants. Nvidia recently selected North Texas as a key site in its initiative to build AI supercomputers entirely in the U.S., working with partners to create a fully domestic supply chain from chip fabrication to system testing. In Sherman, Texas Instruments is investing $60 billion in semiconductor manufacturing. The funds will be used to build and ramp up operations across seven advanced semiconductor fabs in Texas and Utah, including major expansions in the North Texas cities of Sherman and Richardson.
Texas, led by regions like North Texas and Collin County, is positioning itself as a critical player in the national innovation landscape — with growth that could redefine the state’s economic standing for generations.
Don't miss anything Local. Sign up for our free newsletter.