SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced Tuesday that he is donating $30 million to Texas localities hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Musk said he will be giving $20 million to Cameron County, Texas, schools and $10 million to the city of Brownsville for downtown revitalization in a tweet on Tuesday morning.
Am donating $20M to Cameron County schools & $10M to City of Brownsville for downtown revitalization. Details to follow next week.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 30, 2021
Musk, who has expressed support for some right-leaning policies since urging followers to “take the red pill” last May, encouraged people to move to the Brownsville area to work for SpaceX, which he said is rapidly expanding.
“Please consider moving to Starbase or greater Brownsville/South Padre area in Texas & encourage friends to do so!” he wrote in a tweet. “SpaceX’s hiring needs for engineers, technicians, builders & essential support personnel of all kinds are growing rapidly.”
Starbase will grow by several thousand people over the next year or two
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 30, 2021
ELON MUSK RELOCATED TO TEXAS ONLY AFTER LOSING LOBBYING BATTLE TO SELL TESLAS DIRECTLY TO CUSTOMERS
The city of Brownsville welcomed Musk’s support in a tweet following the announcement.
“On the border, by the sea and BEYOND! Grateful for your support in making #Brownsville a launching pad to Mars. We look forward to continuing to work with @elonmusk and @SpaceX!” the city wrote.
On the border, by the sea and BEYOND! Grateful for your support in making #Brownsville a launching pad to Mars. We look forward to continuing to work with @elonmusk and @SpaceX! #WeLoveThisCity #VisitBTX #SpaceX #NewSpaceCity #RGV #BTX https://t.co/Fplt2xwmty
— City of Brownsville (@BTxRGV) March 30, 2021
Musk recently relocated the company to Texas, arguing the state’s business climate is friendlier than that of California.
“If a team has been winning for too long, they do tend to get a little complacent, a little entitled, and then they don’t win the championship anymore. California has been winning for too long,” Musk said at the Wall Street Journal CEO Council summit in December.
The billionaire has indicated he intends to grow his Texas operation, vowing on March 2 to create “the city of Starbase, Texas,” a proposal that attracted attention from local officials.
“If SpaceX and Elon Musk would like to pursue down this path, they must abide by all state incorporation statutes. Cameron County will process any appropriate petitions in conformity with applicable law,” Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. said in a statement.
SpaceX successfully launched its SN11 rocket on Tuesday morning from its Boca Chica Beach site near Brownsville, but a subsequent attempt to land the Starship prototype ended in a crash.
“At least the crater is in the right place!” Musk wrote.
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Texas is one of six states with state-ordered in-person instruction, according to data compiled by Education Week. The number of coronavirus cases reported among students and staff in Texas public school campuses has been falling for the last month, and the state estimated that there were 3,007,214 students on campus as of Jan. 29, according to state data.
The Washington Examiner could not immediately reach the Texas Department of Health State Services for an updated estimate.
