Chamber luncheon highlights partnership
Austin Samsung Semiconductor remains on schedule to open at the end of 2026 and employ up to 2,000 people, a company spokeswoman assured listeners during the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce luncheon July 21.
In addition, the South Korean-based tech giant is also having a positive, multicultural impact on Taylor, said Michele Glaze, Samsung’s director of communications and community affairs.
Glaze noted the meal served to the more than 100 attendees came from Taylor’s Seoul Food restaurant.
“I can tell you that in November 2021 (prior to the Samsung deal) there was no such thing as Seoul Food in Taylor…but we’re so excited to see new entrepreneurs like that grow in relation to the partnership with Taylor and Samsung, to help folks understand a little bit more about their Korean culture,” Glaze said.
Samsung announced in November 2021 the plant was coming to Taylor and would create 1,800 to 2,000 fulltime slots. The operational date has shifted during the last few years, but Samsung officials including Glaze have maintained it will be running by next year.
Glaze also thanked the community for being friends of Samsung.
“Without you, we wouldn’t be able to continue to create the semiconductor ecosystem that’s coming,” Glaze said.
The fabrication facility on Taylor’s southwest fringe is owned by Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate Samsung Group.
During her presentation, Glaze showed attendees a video of the construction progress of the Taylor plant and shared potential projects for the location, such as sustainability and environmental goals.
“I know that a lot of you are ready to have a Samsung traffic light up, but we can’t do that yet. A traffic study must first be conducted,” Glaze said.
The company also has striven to be a good community partner, she said.
Since 2022, Samsung has invested nearly $4 million in local organizations in Taylor and Williamson County by offering community civic development and business initiatives.
“We are making a significant contribution to (the county) and not just in construction. We are really trying to focus on being a good neighbor and a good corporate citizen,” Glaze said.
Glaze added Samsung valued “co-prosperity,” which means if the company succeeds, Samsung wants the community to succeed and vice versa.
“Our vision is to thoughtfully invest in Taylor, so we don’t necessarily invest in everything that’s going on.
We really try to focus on closing the academic achievement gap in schools with science, technology, engineering and math, while also focusing on other priorities such as food insecurity,” Glaze said.
According to its agreement with Williamson County, Samsung offers internships to 24 Taylor High School students each summer. The fourth group of interns just graduated July 18.
Samsung also contributed $1 million to Taylor High School’s new Career and Technical Education building.
“Students will be able to find good jobs in their hometown right across the street from their high school,” Glaze said.
The school and the plant are neighbors.
The Chamber hosts monthly luncheons with keynote speakers 11:45 a.m. the third Monday of the month at either the Taylor Independent School District Event Center, 3101 N. Main St., or First Baptist Church, 2500 Mallard Lane.
Details can be found at taylorchamber. org.
