Dive Brief:
- Samsung Electronics chemical materials supplier Soulbrain plans to build a factory in Taylor, Texas, through its U.S. subsidiary, Soulbrain TX, the company said in a July 31 news release, which has been translated.
- The company submitted a long-term investment plan to the city of Taylor and was approved for economic development and property tax incentives by the city council on Aug. 8.
- The project will be completed in two phases and create 50 jobs, according to the Austin Business Journal. Soulbrain TX will invest $175 million in the project’s first phase, which is expected to be completed in January 2029. The company will invest $400 million in phase two, set to be completed in January 2033.
Dive Insight:
Soulbrain is just one of the Samsung suppliers in Taylor to announce plans to build a facility near the chipmaker’s upcoming campus.
Since Samsung announced plans in April to build two logic fabrication plants, a research and development fab and an advanced packaging fab in Taylor, city officials have publicized ambitions to establish an industrial development to draw more Samsung suppliers.
However, while there are Samsung suppliers interested in establishing their facilities in the city, there isn’t an area to place them, Ben White, president and CEO of the Taylor Economic Development Corp., said in a July 29 release. iMarket Americas, a maintenance, repair and operations company, has submitted plans to help draw in the suppliers to Taylor with a business park.
iMarket’s plans include 2.23 million square feet dedicated to warehousing, factories and research and development operations, according to Taylor Economic Development’s press release. It’ll also have another 66,030 square feet for retail, restaurants and supporting facilities such as utility plants.
One of the city’s other projects included opening a new highway named Samsung Highway in June to improve safety and traffic flow around the upcoming chip fabs. The four-lane road is part of Williamson County’s improvements, which include infrastructure projects near the upcoming Samsung factory.
