Civil and Municipal - Mar 2023

98 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 “Those are things that we hope to be able to continue to do as we have the resources due to our economic development activities,” he says. Workforce Development is also a key ingredient in Taylor’s future planning, including a part of the agreement with Samsung that guarantees the hiring of 24 interns from the Taylor Independent School District every year. “That in and of itself is a huge opportunity, and really a great thing for Taylor students,” remarks Osborne. The company has also committed to providing 1,800 full-time jobs when in the community, as well as ensuring that Taylor companies are considered for the construction of the new plants. “They also are working with the Chamber of Commerce to make sure that they’re involved in the city. We have a really good partnership with them. Beyond the internships, we don’t have any specific workforce development initiatives going on right now, but I know that those are coming down the pipeline as the plant is built, workforce development will be a constant issue and something that we’re discussing all the time,” she says. In a proactive effort to plan for a curriculum that will support the skills that the company will need in their manufacturing operations Samsung and Temple College are currently in discussions, although a formal partnership has not been announced. Rich with outdoor opportunities, including hike and bike trails following along Bull Branch Creek, the city of Taylor is very connected to recreation and parks in every direction. Protecting this natural waterway, even as the community grows, is part of Taylor’s sustainability plan, as Yantis describes, “One of the things that we did as a part of our comprehensive plan update is to designate all of our floodplain corridors as priority open space. As we grow, one of the great things that we’ll be able to do is protect those natural waterways from being developed. That will help with stormwater management, it will also retain a lot of the city’s tree canopy and help us with linking neighborhoods together through hiking and bike corridors throughout the community.” The city is also home to Murphy Park, featuring a large lake, a community pool, and pavilions, making it an ideal gathering place in the community. As well, Taylor Regional Park and Sports Complex, one of the premier facilities of its kind in Central Texas, brings many to the area