A&M Regents greenlight RELLIS manufacturing project; Brazos County, Bryan to discuss tax breaks - KBTX

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) -The Texas A&M Board of Regents approved an agenda item to give A&M officials authorization to begin negotiating the terms of agreements and a ground lease for a manufacturing facility at the RELLIS campus in Bryan during a special meeting on Wednesday.

Regents met in a special telephonic meeting, during which Texas A&M officials confirmed they met in an executive session before taking action in an open session. University officials confirmed to KBTX that no questions or comments were made by regents in open session before the item passed with a unanimous 8-0 vote.

A&M Chancellor John Sharp provided limited information on the possible project last month, stating he couldn’t share further details due to a non-disclosure agreement. Sharp, who announced his June 2025 retirement on Monday, hinted that the project could be “transformational for the area.” University officials have not provided a timeline for an announcement regarding the possible manufacturing facility.

Texas A&M University Chancellor John Sharp (Source: Official Photo)

Both the Brazos County Commissioners Court and the Bryan City Council will consider approving a tax abatement agreement next Tuesday that would pave the way for this project at the RELLIS campus. Although the university did not release the manufacturer’s name, legal notices indicate the pending tax abatement agreements are with a company called America’s Foundry Bryan LLC.

According to online records, the project scope would include a minimum of $5 billion in buildings and other property improvements, along with a minimum of $5 billion in tangible personal property, including machinery and equipment. The project would involve housing one or more manufacturing plants and other buildings and facilities to support the plants’ operations.

According to the City of Bryan Council agenda for Tuesday, America’s Foundry Bryan, LLC, driven by the Texas A&M University System’s RELLIS Campus vision, promises significant economic growth for Bryan. Job creation is projected to rise from 25 jobs in Year 1 to 1,800 by Year 10. The City’s projected new ad valorem tax revenue, based on the Guaranteed Value and after annual abatement, is $124,800 in Year 1, reaching $31.2 million annually from Years 7 to 10. For perspective, the Brazos Central Appraisal District’s 2024 estimate of net taxable value for the City is $9.9 billion.

The project would be located on a 288-acre parcel on the RELLIS campus, which the Bryan City Council designated as a reinvestment zone last month to allow for property tax breaks. Bryan city staff said the designation aims to attract a significant economic development project with the A&M System. Bryan city staff noted engagement with a prospect has been ongoing for the past year and involved officials from the A&M System, as well as state and federal governments.

A&M’s plans in the semiconductor sector have fueled speculation about a related project. Last month, the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation took city leaders to Japan to explore international business opportunities.

“America’s Foundry Bryan, LLC represents an incredible economic development opportunity for the City of Bryan. Spearheaded by the Texas A&M University System and its vision of the RELLIS Campus, America’s Foundry Bryan, LLC will be the epicenter for the region’s high-technology ecosystem bringing together the private sector with the research and development capabilities of the Texas A&M University System,” said Bryan City Staff,

Entrance to the Texas A&M Rellis Campus(KBTX)

During a recent visit to News Radio WTAW, Bobby Gutierrez, Mayor of Bryan, expressed his inability to divulge more specific details regarding the proposed project but confirmed signing a non-disclosure agreement, which legally restricts him from discussing certain aspects associated with this potentially transformational economic venture.

The Commissioners Court of Brazos County will consider the approval of a tax abatement agreement with America’s Foundry Bryan, LLC at its regularly scheduled Commissioners Court meeting at 10:00 a.m. on July 9, 2024, in the Commissioners Courtroom of the Brazos County Administration Building, 200 South Texas Avenue, Suite 106, Bryan, Texas 77803.

The Bryan City Council will consider the approval of a tax abatement agreement with America’s Foundry Bryan, LLC at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, Bryan Municipal Building 300 South Texas Avenue, Bryan, Texas 77803.

More information on the two agreements can be found below.