MRT: $6B in Fed $ for Taylor Samsung Plant; Finner: Review of Suspended HPD Cases Yield Links to Others; Biden, Japanese PM to Discuss TX Bullet Train
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
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BY: @MattMackowiak
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TOP NEWS
“Samsung to get at least $6 billion subsidy for Taylor facility from CHIPS Act,” via Austin American-Statesman -- “The Biden administration plans to announce it is awarding between $6 billion and $7 billion to Samsung next week to expand its chip output in Taylor, northeast of Austin, as it seeks to ramp up chipmaking in the U.S., Reuters reported Monday.
Reuters cited two people familiar with the matter. The subsidy, which will be unveiled by Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo, will go toward construction of four facilities in Taylor: one $17 billion chipmaking plant that Samsung announced in 2021, another factory, an advanced packaging facility and a research and development center, one of the sources said.
It will also include an investment in another undisclosed location, the source told Reuters, adding that Samsung will more than double its U.S. investment to $44 billion as part of the deal.
The American-Statesman previously reported that Central Texas is among a handful of regions expected to see a boost from the CHIPS and Science Act. Congress passed the law in 2022 to boost domestic semiconductor chip production with more than $52 billion in funding and tax credits for manufacturing, as well as research subsidies.
The Commerce Department, Samsung and the press office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did not immediately respond to the Statesman’s requests for comment.
The Statesman reported in December that mass production of semiconductor chips at the facility in Taylor — which has about 17,000 residents in eastern Williamson County — would be delayed by at least half a year, until 2025. The facility was on track to start production in late 2024, but the company could not comment on when mass production would begin, a spokesperson said in December.
The 6 million-square-foot plant sits on more than 1,000 acres, near U.S. 79 and County Road 401, and is expected to employ about 2,000 people.
When Samsung announced the facility, it said it planned to invest $6 billion in buildings and property improvements and $11 billion in machinery and equipment. The semiconductor manufacturing plant is expected to be the company’s most advanced to date.
In the first 10 years of the project, Samsung is expected to receive about $680 million in total tax breaks and other incentives from Taylor, Williamson County, the Taylor school district and the state.
Samsung has had a presence in Austin, where it has an operational facility, since 1997. But the company could add as many as 11 more chip production facilities in Central Texas in the coming decades, according to tax incentive filings." AAS
TX TRIB: “How Texas teens lost the one program that allowed birth control without parental consent” Texas Tribune
HOU CHRON: “Finner: Review of suspended reports yields links to other cases” Houston Chronicle
HOU CHRON: “Texas lawmakers allege 'violations of state law' in Houston ISD” Houston Chronicle
REUTERS: “Biden and Kishida likely to discuss Texas bullet train project” Reuters
TX TRIB: “Texas Democrats call on colleges to set aside financial aid money for immigrant families affected by FAFSA glitch” Texas Tribune
DMN: “Beth Van Duyne asks the New York police to move to North Texas” DMN
WSJ: Ted Cruz and Mike Lee guest column: “The Senate's duty to put Mayorkas on trial” WSJ
EXTRA POINTS
Last night's Texas sports scores:
> NBA: Astros 10, Rangers 5 Houston Chronicle
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 6:40pm: MLB: Astros at Royals
> 7pm: NHL: Sabres at Stars (ESPN+)
> 7:05pm: MLB: Athletics at Rangers
DALLAS MAVERICKS: “'Ultimate goal is set for Luka, Mavs on verge of clinching top-6 spot" DMN
HOUSTON ASTROS: “Houston Astros GM Dana Brown: 'The sky's not falling" Houston Chronicle
DALLAS COWBOYS: “A potential holdout by WR CeeDee Lamb looms for the Dallas Cowboys" DMN
HOUSTON MEN'S BASKETBALL: “UH Cougars basketball: J.Wan Roberts to return next season" Houston Chronicle