Agreement for new tech manufacturer will bring 50 high-paying positions to Round Rock
WilCo approves new municipal district affiliated with Disney
DISTRICT FEATURES The Solana Municipal Utility District No. 1 will:
Span 7,000 acres across Williamson and Bell counties
BY BROOKE SJOBERG
AGREEMENT DETAILS In exchange for making local investments and creating jobs, Toppan Photomasks will receive financial incentives. Elements of the deal include:
As part of a local economic development effort, 50 new semiconductor industry jobs are coming to the Round Rock area. Jordan Robinson, Round Rock Chamber CEO and president, said Toppan Photomasks will add a total of 50 new job postings with starting annual salaries of $70,000, some of which will be posted in the near future. Toppan Photomasks, a man- ufacturer of key components used to make semiconductors, brokered a deal with the city of Round Rock April 27 that will see $200 million worth of investment in real and business property investments made into the community. This is an expansion of existing operations in the city, where the company’s U.S. headquarters is based. Round Rock is also the site of one of five global manufactur- ing operations.
BY GRANT CRAWFORD
Contain about 14,000 homes
The creation of a municipal utility district for a residential develop- ment—which could have ties to The Walt Disney Co.—received a stamp of approval from the Williamson County Commissioners Court on April 11. Williamson County Judge Bill Grav- ell said the Solana Municipal Utility District No. 1 is being created through the state Legislature and will need the approval of state lawmakers. He said the project’s funding sources and DMB Development LLC’s potential affiliation with Disney “is really a decision by the developer.” “The family that owns Solana Ranch very much cares about the environment, our water [and] our trees,” Gravell said. “I appreciate the seriousness of the conversation. I can assure you that Disney World is
Require the developer to provide rights of way needed for long-term transportation plans
OVER $200M investment from Toppan Photomasks
50 jobs created
SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
not going to build a theme park at this location. However, it could well be other Disney property.” A municipal utility district, or MUD, is a special political subdivision providing developers with an alternative way to finance infrastructure, such as sewage, water, drainage, roads and other services through taxes. Gravell said the Solana MUD is a product of annexation laws as state law does not allow cities to add land outside of their extraterritorial jurisdiction.
$1.25M incentives to Toppan Photomasks through 2029
SOURCE: CITY OF ROUND ROCK/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
Robinson said the agreement will provide the company $1.25 million in economic incentives that are tied to phase completions through 2029 and based on investment in the city’s tax base and job creation.
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ROUND ROCK EDITION • MAY 2023
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