Return of Company Towns

The combination of generous tax incentives from state and local governments, plus the increasing influence of tech (and tech-adjacent) companies, are leading to the return of "company towns." While corporate campuses like those of Google, Apple, and Microsoft are well known, some companies are now seeking greater influence over entire communities. For example, Snailbrook, Texas, established in 2021 with just 12 residents in 2023, is expanding as SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter) relocate operations to Texas, and Starbase, SpaceX's Texas launch facility, recently voted to formally organize as a city.

This, and other new developments, may have negative implications for public outreach, public safety, and dedication to the public good if planners are not able to influence the governance of new communities by these large, powerful private companies with varying interests.