The growing public and political backlash against data centers in the El Paso area and across the nation isn’t hurting Wiwynn Corp.
The Taiwan data-center equipment maker is doing a major expansion of its 8-month-old manufacturing complex in Socorro, an El Paso suburb, adding hundreds of new jobs.
"At this time we don’t see that (data center) backlash impact us," said Joseph Hsu, managing director of Wiwynn's North America operations, which includes several plants across the border in Juárez, Mexico. He’s based in the El Paso area.
"I think people are now starting to use AI (artificial intelligence) in their day to day life already. This adds to the demand growth."
The company plans to open a second Socorro factory in 2027, adding just over 1,100
employees to its workforce now at 1,330 people, Hsu said.
It plans to have four factory buildings by 2028 in the Socorro Logistics Center industrial park along Nuevo Hueco Tanks Boulevard, an extension of Eastlake Boulevard, in far East El Paso County.
The official announcement of the expansion was made at Wiwynn's Socorro factory on Friday, Aug. 21.
Jobs include assemblers, warehouse workers, engineers, and technicians.
Construction has begun on the two other factory buildings that will be grouped together in the industrial park.
How many more people will be hired for the additional factories is not yet known, Hsu said
The existing Socorro factory, which began production in February, makes computer servers for data centers across North America, Hsu said. It’s already produced more than 1,000 servers.
One of Wywinn's customers is Meta Platforms, which is building a huge data center complex in Northeast El Paso.
Hsu was joined at the expansion announcement by the leader of the Borderplex Alliance economic development organization, and El Paso County and Socorro leaders, who agreed to provide millions of dollars in tax breaks for the expansion as they did in 2025 for the company's initial phase.
No factory tours were given.
Socorro Mayo Rudy Cruz Jr., said he’s heard some people in Socorro talk bad about the Wiwynn complex because, he said, they don’t understand what it does and how important it is for the area’s economic development.
"There’s a misconception that this a data center. They manufacture components for data centers," he said.
"This is one of the biggest economic drivers" for this area, with high-paying jobs, he said.
More: Meta backs Gov. Abbott data center standards, won't end El Paso tax deal
The newest jobs will pay an average of $23.95 per hour, according to county information.
"I’m tired of my people working in fast-food restaurants, tired of them mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms," Cruz said.
That’s why it makes sense for Socorro and El Paso County to provide tax incentives to further encourage Wiwynn to grow here, he said.
Socorro and El Paso County are providing $5.94 million in tax rebates and other incentives over 10 years to Wiwynn if it meets all requirements. That's in addition to $3.32 million in tax rebates and other incentives the county commissioners and the Socorro City Council approved in 2025 for Wiwynn's first phase.
Wiwynn has agreed to invest more than $398 million and create 2,500 jobs to receive incentives through economic agreements made with the county and Socorro in August and in 2025.
The company bought its first factory building in the Socorro industrial park for $59.6 million. It originally planned to lease the second factory building, but has since bought it for an unreported amount, Hsu said. The company has an option to lease or buy the two other factory buildings under construction, he said.
Vic Kolenc may be reached at 915-546-6421;vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on X, and @vkolenc.bsky.socialon Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Data center backlash not slowing Wiwynn Socorro manufacturing growth
