Growth and development are large factors in Taylor’s future, as indicated by Mayor Brandt Rydell during his State of the City address.
“How we develop and grow, I think it’s going to be a case study for a lot of folks,” the mayor added. “The challenge is there, but I think we’re up to it.”
Rydell concluded his address with that statement at the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon at Holiday Inn Express in Taylor Feb. 28. Seating was packed in the meeting room with people eager to hear the annual review of city business.
“Our city has seen some interesting times since Brandt Rydell was elected to represent District 3 (on the Taylor City Council) in May 2012,” said Tia Rae Stone, Chamber president.
Some of the interesting times focused on during the State of the City address was last year’s announcement of a Samsung Austin Semiconductor plant coming to Taylor. Samsung plans to invest $17 billion and build a 6-million square foot chipmaking plant on a 1,200-acre parcel. The facility is expected to create 2,585 new jobs, with 785 indirect jobs and 1,800 direct employment positions at the facility.
“It was a whirlwind of a year,” said Rydell. “Little did I know when I ran for City Council and was appointed mayor of Taylor that this would be part of the job description on working on a project of this magnitude.”
However, he expressed confidence in his staff and the community to handle the change.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” said Rydell. “There will be some growing pains and we all will have to adjust to this new world of Taylor, but the opportunities in my mind are just going to be boundless, not just today but for decades and generations to come.”
Rydell also spoke on a variety of other Taylor projects, including streets, municipal plans for the future, new housing and more.
“A few years ago, I think the Taylor Chamber theme was ‘Putting Taylor on the map,’” recalled Rydell. “I don’t know how well that went for y’all, but I can tell you if it wasn’t on the map before, it’s on the map now.”
