Bryan + College Station Public Library System Update on WTAW

Activity at the Texas A&M system’s RELLIS campus was a subject at four meetings this week. System vice chancellor of research Joe Elabd shared at Monday’s Brazos County intergovernmental committee (IGC) meeting (April 21) information about the future construction of small nuclear power plants at RELLIS. Elabd said the power plants could create 5,000 permanent private sector jobs. That does not count construction jobs. Elabd also said the system on Thursday (April 24) is dedicating its Ballistic Aero-Optics and Materials facility. Nicknamed “BAM”, the system says it is the nation’s biggest and most advanced enclosed range for testing hypersonic flight, lasers and other technologies with military applications. A system news release says U.S. scientists and engineering researchers will begin using the BAM for experimental testing in the race against China and Russia to develop the world’s most advanced laser and hypersonic weapons technology, including the types of materials that can withstand hypervelocity impacts. Testing will also have applications for space exploration and other civilian advancements. On Tuesday (April 22), leaders with the system and the flagship university gathered with officials from Bryan and College Station and the Greater Brazos Partnership economic development agency for an event recognizing their relationship with a national company, Plug and Play, which has been hired to recruit aerospace and defense companies to RELLIS and the surrounding area. Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez said during a visit on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs that Plug and Play will be recruiting private industry that can take advantage of the RELLIS presence of the Army Futures Command and the Bush Combat and Development Center among other facilities. Also on Tuesday, the A&M system board of regents approved the purchase of more than 867 acres of land to expand the RELLIS campus along Goodson Bend Road. Dr. Elabd told the IGC attendees that the land “will help us meet the demand” for future private sector partners. After the vote, during a separate meeting of the regents building committee, a question was asked if the new land is the site for the new RELLIS water tower. The system’s chief facilities officer, Brett McCully, said the water tower will be built on existing land as part of the system’s semiconductor research institute. Dr. Elabd told the IGC the semiconductor research institute is expected to open in the first quarter of 2028. A member of the regents building committee also asked about the status of a privately owned data center that is being built on the RELLIS campus. A system administrator said “the data center is moving forward”. More information was provided at a Bryan city council special meeting on Tuesday (April 22), as the council amended its economic incentive agreement with the data center owner. Over a ten year period, the city will receive $23 million dollars and will give up $13 million in property tax breaks on the center’s second building. The agreement calls for the construction of a 230,000 square foot building that will eventually employ 100. Click HERE to read and download background information on the tax abatement agreement that was approved at the April 22, 2025 Bryan city council meeting. Click HERE to read and download the tax abatement agreement that was approved at the April 22, 2025 Bryan city council meeting. Click below to hear comments from the April 21, 2025 Brazos County IGC meeting, the April 22, 2025 A&M system board of regents building committee meeting, and the April 23, 2025 visit with Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs. Listen to “Texas A&M system's RELLIS campus a subject of four meetings this week” on Spreaker.

Public speakers at Tuesday’s meeting (April 22) of the Brazos County commission asked for assistance with a community garden and controlling feral cats. Because the requests were not part of the meeting agenda, by state law commissioners were not able to respond. The community garden request came from a third year doctoral student at Texas A&M who was also a probation officer for 26 years. Stephanie Smith said she has the support of the judge who supervises Brazos County’s specialty drug court to allow court participants to supervise a proposed garden on county owned land south of downtown Bryan along South College. Sabrina Brown asked commissioners to work with the city of Bryan to develop a trap, neuter, and release program to control the population of feral cats. Brown also said there is a petition drive on the Reddit websites for Bryan and College Station. Click below to hear comments from the April 22, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Public speakers ask Brazos County commissioners for assistance with a community garden and controlling feral cats” on Spreaker.

Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia about Plug and Play, wastewater infrastructure, new development in Downtown Bryan and Midtown Park, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.