Over the next 10 years, the county is expected to receive $24.2 million in new tax revenue from the dozen companies. Porter shared Williamson County employment statistics, foreign partnership updates, spaceport development news and more during a July 22 presentation to Williamson County commissioners.
By the numbers
Among select large counties in Texas, Williamson County had the largest increase in employment from December 2023-December 2024 at 2.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Compared to all U.S. counties, Williamson County ranked in the top 10% for job growth by percent change during that same time frame, per the bureau.
Additionally, Williamson County’s 3.4% unemployment rate is under the national rate of 4.2%, according to an Aug. 1 news release from the bureau.
Porter said WilCo EDP’s partners have announced 25 new projects since 2023, which will total about $10 billion in new capital investment.
Over the next decade, local taxing units and school districts in Williamson County are expected to receive $144.1 million and $78.1 million, respectively, in new tax revenue, he said.
Major takeaways
An economic impact analysis from The Perryman Group found that four projects coming to Williamson County near Hwy. 79 will help generate 34,700 jobs and $4.9 billion in annual gross product at total build-out, which could take a few decades, Porter said.
According to the county’s website, the four projects include:The analysis also found projects along Hwy. 79 in neighboring Milam County will generate nearly 200,000 jobs and $24.3 billion in annual gross product.
“The whole [Hwy.] 79 corridor going toward Texas A&M is going to be a talent pipeline and advanced manufacturing pipeline going forward for decades to come,” Porter said.
Meet the players
Alongside Williamson County, WilCo EDP's local city and organizational partners include:
- Cedar Park
- Georgetown
- Hutto
- Jarrell
- Leander
- Liberty Hill
- Taylor
- The Round Rock Chamber of Commerce
Smaller cities not partnered with the WilCo EDP are still showing signs of growth. Florence has “a lot of activity,” and Coupland, just south of Taylor, will eventually be home to a new semiconductor facility for Samsung, he said.
“It's going to be a great addition to Coupland,” Porter said. “It's going to open up a lot of opportunities in the southeastern part of the county.”
Zooming out
In July 2024, Williamson County commissioners approved a sister city agreement with Yongin City in South Korea. The agreement aims to establish a relationship to promote stronger, friendly cooperation and mutual prosperity, according to county documents.
Porter said the sister city relationship is paying “tremendous dividends,” with Williamson County officials visiting Yongin City within the past year, and vice versa.
County commissioners renamed the entryway road into Taylor’s Samsung facility to Yongin City Boulevard in November. Porter said Williamson County Boulevard in Yongin City is situated right in front of where Samsung plans to invest billions of dollars into the city.
During the 89th Texas legislative session, lawmakers approved new offices overseas for economic development recruitment efforts, Porter said. Although tariffs are causing delays, angst and uncertainty for U.S. corporations, Porter said there’s an influx of activity out of Taiwan and Korea.
“We're going to be able to take advantage of a lot of these companies that need to come over and be part of the American system here,” Porter said.
WilCo EDP officials will begin reducing efforts in Korea once Samsung opens in Taylor at the end of 2026, Porter said. EDP members will use a five-year strategic plan to begin identifying other partnership opportunities domestically and worldwide, he said.
What to expect
Williamson County and Cedar Park officials are partnering to form the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation to develop, manage and operate a spaceport—a specialized launch and landing facility for spacecraft, rockets and satellites, Community Impact previously reported.
Porter said Gov. Greg Abbott has a $300 million incentive fund for space-related companies, which typically must be located within a spaceport. If formed, the corporation will be the first in Central Texas and the sixth in the state.
“That is a huge opportunity for this county for decades to come,” Porter said.
