Experts say potential Austin Samsung plant could be biggest in state history — why some are concerned

8 Feb 2021


News

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A massive investment may soon be coming to Austin: Samsung Austin Semiconductor is considering building a multi-billion dollar chipmaking plant at its campus in north Austin.

Documents with the Texas comptroller show the company filed an application for Chapter 313 property tax breaks from the Manor Independent School District in January. Those documents recently became public.

In its application, Samsung indicates the manufacturing plant would be a $17 billion project.

“Which, you know, would be mammoth for any state, but, you know, biggest one for this area and biggest one in Texas,” said Nathan Jensen, government professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

“Nothing else comes close,” said Dale Craymer, president of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association.

According to the application filed with the comptroller, the company said it will create at least 1,800 new jobs, but Jensen points out in another part of the same application Samsung said it’s only committed to bringing a total of 45 jobs.

Read full article.