grants, signage, and marketing to keep foot traffic strong.” SAMSUNG AND THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS No discussion of Taylor’s growth is complete without Samsung. The company’s first fabrication plant, Fab 1, will begin operations in 2026, bringing thousands of high-tech jobs to the area.“Samsung has already moved between 500 and 1,000 employees into their office section,” White says.“They’ll have several thousand people on-site during the equipment installation phase next year, which will create a surge in local business activity.” But Samsung’s impact extends beyond direct employment. The company’s community and educational partnerships have made it a model corporate citizen. “Samsung is required to provide internships to Taylor ISD students as part of their incentive agreement,” White explains. “They’ve already been doing that for two or three years.They’ve also given a $1 million grant to support education programs, and we’re exploring externships so teachers can experience the technology firsthand and bring that back into the classroom.” Samsung’s commitment has also attracted additional investment in education. The University of Texas recently announced a 68-acre satellite campus just half a mile from the new fabrication facility. “That’s a game-changer,” says White. “It’s going to produce the future workforce for Samsung and for Taylor’s growing economy.” DIVERSIFYING BEYOND SEMICONDUCTORS Even as Taylor rides the wave of semiconductor expansion, its leaders are intent on avoiding overreliance on a single industry. “When I arrived two 33 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12 TAYLOR, TX
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