Silicon chip producer Toppan Photomasks Inc. is making a $30 million investment in Round Rock, installing new equipment on its 20-acre campus that will allow semiconductor manufacturers to build smaller and faster microchips.

Within the past month Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) has added new direct flights to New York and Boston and one new carrier, JetBlue. It will now be easier for Austin executives to fly to New York on the non-stop flight offered by Delta Airlines, as well as the new non-stop flights to New York and Boston offered by the new carrier JetBlue.

The Texas Legislature approved, and the Governor has signed, a bill that will give extended life and a cash transfusion to the Texas Enterprise Fund, the state’s premiere incentive fund for new and expanding businesses. Legislation also created an additional fund, the Emerging Technology Fund, aimed at encouraging and expanding research and commercializing new products in Texas.

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) has announced that it would create a new 825,000 square foot campus in Southwest Austin, affirming its long-term commitment to the Greater Austin region. The campus will consolidate AMD’s corporate, office and engineering design workers in a single complex consisting of five buildings.

Freescale Semiconductor CEO Michel Mayer announced April 1 that the company has selected Austin for its global headquarters, despite fierce competition from other cities and states around the world, including Chicago, Phoenix and Dallas-Fort Worth. The newly independent company plans to invest about $600 million and create about 500 new jobs during the next 10 years.

Forbes magazine released its list of best places to jumpstart a business or career on May 5. Austin ranked Number Three, making it the third straight year in which this metropolitan area has been listed in the top three.

US Aquaculture’s new $5 million, 60,000 square toot facility, employing 20-30, will produce environmentally pure, organically raised fish that will be available to customers within hours of being packaged. The Taylor location is the first of eight production facilities the company will open nationwide.

US Aquaculture’s new $5 million, 60,000 square toot facility, employing 20-30, will produce environmentally pure, organically raised fish that will be available to customers within hours of being packaged. The Taylor location is the first of eight production facilities the company will open nationwide.