College Station Councilman Bob Yancy on WTAW

Second Round Of Layoffs In Three Years At Brazos County’s Largest Private Employer

The largest private employer in Brazos County is downsizing for the second time in three years. A statement from FUJIFILM Biotechnologies (FUJI) did not disclose how many positions will be lost in College Station and in North Carolina. A FUJI spokeswoman sent WTAW News a statement that undisclosed assets are being refocused in an effort to increase efficiencies as they remain committed to their biopharmaceutical business. The statement also says the downsizing “impacted a small number of roles at the site. Any individuals impacted will receive support in accordance with Company policies and values, including severance packages and as needed, outplacement support.” In June 2025, FUJI received approval from the College Station city council and the Brazos County commission to restructure an economic development agreement. In exchange for FUJI receiving almost $5 million dollars over a ten year period in property tax refunds, FUJI has until the end of 2028 to complete an expansion that includes hiring an additional 150 employees. The FUJI spokeswoman says they are “working closely with their local economic and workforce development partners, and is monitoring their progress towards the goals.” Click HERE to read and download the amended agreement with FUJIFILM Biotechnologies approved at the June 10, 2025 Brazos County commission meeting. Click HERE to read and download the amended agreement with FUJIFILM Biotechnologies approved at the June 12, 2025 College Station city council meeting. In April 2024, a corporate spokeswoman told WTAW News the College Station operation lost up to 33 employees as part of an overall downsizing of up to 240 positions. As of September 2025, when FUJI introduced the new leader of the College Station operation, employment was at 770. According to local economic development compliance reports, employment has been as high as 845. Statement from FUJIFILM Biotechnologies: We’ve conducted a strategic review of our manufacturing facilities, capabilities, and talent, with the goal of improving efficiencies to strengthen our long-term ambition. As part of this effort, we are aligning our manufacturing operations in Texas with our current customer demand. This effort will ensure that we have a sustainable organization that is fit for the future. Unfortunately, this decision has impacted a small number of roles at the site. Any individuals impacted will receive support in accordance with Company policies and values, including severance packages and as needed, outplacement support. We are working closely with our local economic and workforce development partners, and monitoring our progress towards the goals. We don’t have any further updates to share at this time Fujifilm is committed to the Bio CDMO business, and in an effort to increase efficiencies, the company is refocusing certain assets across the network. Unfortunately, this decision has impacted roles at two of our sites in the United States – College Station, Texas and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

College Station ISD School Board Approves Purchases Funded From The November 2023 Bond Issue

College Station ISD school board members at its March regular meeting, without public discussion, approve almost $3 million dollars in purchases funded from the November 2023 bond issue. Just over $2 million dollars will be spent on 13/78 passenger buses. This does not include the cost of routing hardware and software, child accountability components, or fuel management components. Those items will be added upon delivery. Each bus costs $160,000 dollars and are supposed to be delivered one month after receiving the order. Click HERE to read and download a memo about the purchase of buses. Click HERE to read and download the quote for the bus purchase. And $857,742 dollars will be spent on furniture on new and renovated classrooms at Consolidated High School, College Station High School, and the career and technical education (CTE) center. Breaking down the cost per campus, the cost at College Station High School is $414,714.63, the cost at Consolidated High School is $236,773.37, and the cost at the CTE is $206,254.94. The board’s vote also included $100,000 dollars for what a memo described as a owner’s contingency across all projects to address any unforeseen needs”. The contract includes the price of furniture and the cost of “installation and debris removal services”. Click HERE to read and download a memo about the furniture purchase. Click HERE to read and download the invoice for the furniture purchase.

Texas A&M’s Interim President Makes Several Announcements In His Monthly Update

Texas A&M’s interim president makes several announcements in his March online update. Tommy Williams has appointed 17 members to the university’s new faculty advisory council, which replaces the independent faculty senate that was eliminated by state lawmakers last year. Faculty members began electing the remaining 43 members last Friday (March 20) and that will continue through April 3rd. The first meeting of the new body has not been set, but it won’t be any sooner than September 1st. There is an update on the search for two new deans. The search committee for the next dean of the college of arts and sciences will be conducting interviews through April. And a search committee has been formed for the next dean of the college of education. Williams also announced two leadership appointments. A&M’s new vice president for research is Angela Wilson, who comes here from Michigan State. And there is an interim chief information officer following last month’s retirement of Ed Pierson. While Michael Leary fills the interim position, Williams says details will be shared soon about the formal search for a permanent CIO. And there is a reorganization involving the university’s health services office. Williams says health services will now be a part of the division of student affairs.