"We're viewing it as exactly what has been communicated to us," a contact at the Greater Austin Chamber tells GlobeSt.com. "It is a delay. It is not bad news in that they have not selected another site and we're hoping it will resume, of course."

The drug company has scouted Austin sites under a shroud of secrecy and its identity has remained unknown. The Austin chamber refers to its effort to land the manufacturing facility as Project Atlantis.

The drug-maker had been looking for undeveloped land in the Austin area and had considered one site near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. "We're a little disappointed to have it slowed down," the contact says. "But it certainly isn't the end of that one and we have others as well."