Texas Governor Announces Davie Defense Expansion

Shipbuilder to create over 2,400 new jobs in Galveston and Port Arthur

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Governor Greg Abbott announced that Davie Defense Inc. will expand its shipbuilding capacity in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas, to build Arctic icebreakers. The $730 million expansion project will create more than 2,400 new jobs and has received a $21.7 million grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund.

Why it matters

This investment by Davie Defense will bolster Texas' position as a hub for critical shipbuilding, supporting American manufacturing, reindustrialization, and national defense readiness by expanding the U.S. industrial base's capacity to build specialized vessels.

The details

Davie Defense plans to make its Texas operations the center for revitalizing the American shipbuilding industry. The company will build complex vessels for government and commercial clients, starting with polar-capable icebreakers critical to U.S. national security.

  • Governor Abbott announced the expansion on February 12, 2026.

The players

Davie Defense Inc.

A shipbuilding company that is expanding its operations in Texas to build Arctic icebreakers and other specialized vessels.

Governor Greg Abbott

The Governor of Texas who announced the Davie Defense expansion and the $21.7 million Texas Enterprise Fund grant.

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What they’re saying

“With the best business climate in the nation, Texas is a magnet for complex, critical manufacturing. This significant capital investment by Davie Defense will expand economic opportunity in Galveston and Port Arthur and create thousands of good-paying jobs and further bolster national defense by expanding capacity for the manufacture of icebreakers and other specialized vessels for the U.S. government and commercial customers.”

— Governor Greg Abbott (thestkittsnevisobserver.com)

“Davie Defense is proud to deepen our commitment to Texas. Texas has one of the world's most business-friendly environments and the scale to support complex shipbuilding — a capability we're bringing back to Texas for the first time in generations. Our investment will serve American industry and the U.S. government for decades to come — starting with Davie's globally recognized specialty: the polar-capable icebreakers critical to U.S. national security.”

— Kai Skvarla, CEO, Davie Defense (thestkittsnevisobserver.com)

What’s next

The Texas Enterprise Fund grant of $21.7 million will support Davie Defense's expansion in Galveston and Port Arthur.

The takeaway

This investment by Davie Defense solidifies Texas' position as a hub for critical shipbuilding, supporting American manufacturing, reindustrialization, and national defense readiness by expanding the U.S. industrial base's capacity to build specialized vessels.