**Optics Manufacturer Making $150M Investment in Sugar Land**
The City of Sugar Land, in collaboration with Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AOI), has announced a significant expansion of AOI’s operations, including the onshoring of a portion of its international manufacturing to Sugar Land. The company will invest more than $150 million, creating over 500 new jobs in the city over the next five years.
The expansion is backed by a $2 million incentive package from the City of Sugar Land, with additional assistance provided by Fort Bend County. Plans include the addition of a new manufacturing line at AOI’s existing headquarters and the development of a 210,000-square-foot facility that will focus on the production of advanced optical transceivers for AI-driven data centers. The new facility is expected to be fully operational by the summer of 2026.
Founded in 1997 at the University of Houston, AOI established its headquarters in Sugar Land 25 years ago with just 35 employees. Today, the company plays a crucial role in powering the internet with products such as lasers, components, modules, and equipment used across data centers, CATV broadband networks, telecom infrastructure, and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) systems.
