Tom Johnson, President & CEO, Greater Brazos Partnership

Invest: spoke with Tom Johnson, president and CEO of the Greater Brazos Partnership, about the potential impact of a major SpaceX semiconductor project, the partnership’s alignment with Texas A&M University, and the importance of balancing investment with sustainable community development. “Relationships trump everything in a complex system,” Johnson said.

Looking back on your first six months, what have been the partnership’s biggest milestones, and what priorities are shaping your work today?

The biggest project shaping my first six months has been the SpaceX Terrafab semiconductor facility, which will be located about 20 minutes from our office. It has been a real catalyst for attracting national attention to the region.

The project could potentially represent $119 billion in investment, several thousand permanent jobs, and thousands of construction jobs. It will be one of the largest projects in Texas and U.S. history. The project has helped put the region on the national map, and we are receiving more inquiries because of it.

Our location also puts us in an interesting growth position. We are in the middle of the Texas Triangle, with Dallas, Austin, and Houston surrounding us. Each of those metropolitan areas is expanding, and we are positioned near the center of that growth story.

Our targeted industries also align closely with broader priorities across Texas. We are focused on energy, including solar and emerging energy technologies, as well as life sciences, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.

Texas A&M University is another defining advantage. It is the largest public university in the country, with approximately 80,000 students and nearly 15,000 graduates each year. That gives us a substantial workforce pipeline. The university’s agricultural history also creates opportunities connected to the agriculture sector.

The region is growing by approximately 2% to 3% annually in population and employment. We are excited about the future, and the SpaceX project has accelerated that momentum.

What do you see as the region’s greatest competitive advantages?

Workforce is the region’s strongest advantage. Texas A&M graduates approximately 15,000 students each year. When you consider the broader Texas educational ecosystem, including the University of Texas, Texas A&M, and Baylor University, the number of graduates entering the workforce is immense.

Texas has a workforce advantage, and our region benefits directly from it. Companies want to know that talent is educated, available, and capable of supporting their operations. Workforce is usually priorities one, two, and three in a location decision.

Our cost structure is another advantage. While costs have risen because of inflation, our cost of living remains below the national average. That gives companies and employees room to grow compared with many other markets.

Texas also benefits from the absence of state personal income tax and a relatively competitive business environment. When companies evaluate the cost of doing business alongside access to talent, our region continues to receive attention.

Costs are increasing across the country, and we are experiencing some of those pressures. However, the increases have not been as severe as those seen in many other parts of the United States and the world.

How is the partnership working with educational institutions and employers to ensure the region has the workforce it will need?

We have a deep partnership with Texas A&M University at both the system and local levels. The university’s focus areas, including semiconductors, aerospace, manufacturing, and energy, closely match the industries we are targeting.

We are well connected with the university’s leadership and workforce programs. Its ability to produce top graduates, particularly in engineering and other technical fields, gives the region a significant advantage.

Research partnerships are also critical. Many regions do not have access to a research institution of this scale. Working alongside the largest public university in the United States gives us access to talent, research capabilities, and a substantial pipeline of graduates.

We can tell companies that if they need a particular type of worker, hundreds of graduates in related fields are entering the market every year. That includes bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates across STEM, business, and other sectors.

Many communities cannot have that conversation because their labor supplies are constrained. Our partnership with Texas A&M gives us additional capacity to meet employer demand and build a workforce around emerging industries.

How are infrastructure investments and community development supporting sustainable regional growth?

Any region experiencing growth at the rate we are seeing in Texas must continue investing in infrastructure. The state is making significant investments in interstate, freeway, and highway systems.

A major transportation project running through the center of our region is expected to be completed around 2030. It will expand portions of the highway network and improve the region’s ability to support continued growth.

Housing is another major consideration. Developers continue to invest because demand remains strong. The housing market has slowed somewhat during the past six months, but the need for additional housing remains significant.

Infrastructure also includes water, telecommunications, natural gas, and utilities. Those systems are essential for industrial development, but quality of life is equally important.

Communities across the Brazos region recognize the importance of investing in parks, schools, downtowns, shopping, recreation, and family activities. Quality of life ultimately comes down to what makes people want to remain in a place after they accept a job there.

What types of companies or projects would you most like to attract moving forward?

Semiconductors are front and center because of our work with SpaceX. Semiconductor manufacturing involves a broad value chain that includes components, materials, design, and supporting technologies. We are interested in opportunities throughout that ecosystem.

Energy is also a major focus. The region has attracted interest in solar panel manufacturing and advanced nuclear companies, and we continue to see opportunities in both traditional and emerging energy sectors.

Life sciences is another priority. FUJIFILM Biotechnologies has a presence in the region and employs nearly 800 people locally. We want to build on that foundation and attract additional life sciences investment.

We also have to consider technologies including artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Rather than trying to predict every outcome, we need to ensure our workforce can respond to changing market conditions. Texas A&M gives us a distinct advantage because its graduates are being trained for rapidly evolving industries.

I do not believe AI will eliminate jobs at the rate some people predict, but it will change how work is performed. Energy, semiconductors, and life sciences should continue to grow regardless of how AI evolves, and AI may ultimately accelerate demand in those sectors.

How is the partnership working with local governments and community organizations to advance shared goals?

The Greater Brazos Partnership serves a five-county region located roughly an hour north of Houston. The region includes Texas A&M University, Bryan and College Station, as well as several rapidly growing communities.

Our regional population is approximately 400,000 and is growing by about 2% to 3% annually. Our location near the center of the Texas Triangle creates opportunities to build partnerships across multiple counties and metropolitan areas.

Those relationships include state government, county governments, mayors, county judges, and private-sector leaders. We have strong relationships with the mayors of Bryan and College Station, county judges, and other elected officials.

Economic development can sometimes create concern, particularly when communities are growing quickly. Our role is to help navigate those conversations.

Many private-sector leaders sit on our board, which allows us to serve as a bridge between business and government. We are in a strong position to convene conversations, address concerns, and connect economic growth with sustainability.

The goal is to ensure everyone has a seat at the table and an opportunity to provide context as the region determines where it wants to go. The partnership has to remain agile and adaptive as conditions change.

Relationships trump everything in a complex system. Building and maintaining those relationships has been one of my priorities during my first six months, and it will continue to be central to our work.