TAYLOR, Texas — A once-small farming community in Williamson County is growing fast and seeing major development.
One of the projects in Taylor is the Samsung semiconductor facility. Construction is underway along FM 973 and it's set to open next year, bringing a $17 billion investment to the community and more than 2,000 jobs, according to city leaders.
But it's not the only project going on. The county broke ground Monday on the Williamson County Expo Center expansion.
“We just broke ground on the West covered arena at the expo center in Taylor. This facility is going to be magnificent to support this complex," said Russell Fishbeck, the senior director of the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department.
The arena will be nearly 80,000 square feet.
"Support the need for more space – we have about 82 events a year at the expo center, and we turn a lot of people away just because our calendar is full," Fishbeck said. "This gives the opportunity to host multiple events as well as larger events."
That includes the county fair and rodeo, which bring thousands in October.
The new facility is right next to the old arena.
"Predominately agriculture-related events – we can event do concerts in there on the dirt floor," Fishbeck said.
The over $10 million project is paid for by Williamson County residents through a voter-approved park bond.
"As Williamson County grows, the need public spaces, spots where the public can meet, increases as well," said Russ Boles, Williamson County commissioner Precinct 4.
Boles said as they continue to build facilities, city, county and state leaders are trying to keep up with the traffic the growth brings.
"Making sure we have the right roadways at the right time, and it’s a bit of a balancing act," he said.
FM 973, near Samsung, has already seen improvements. The county is also working on East Wilco Highway, which will be a connection between Hutto and Taylor.
Boles said the city of Taylor continues to work with the Brazos River Authority to make sure there is enough water supply. He's said there are a lot of moving parts, but it's an exciting time in the county.
"We are investing in our future when we build these facilities and build new roads," he said. "It’s not just for us, but for our kids and grandkids."
Boomtown is KVUE's series covering the explosive growth in Central Texas. For more Boomtown stories, head to KVUE.com/Boomtown.