This podcast is a visit with the city of Bryan's economic development director, Kevin Russell and WTAW's Bill Oliver, recorded January 12, 2023.

A Pennsylvania based manufacturer is building a second location in Bryan.

Saint-Gobain, which operates a ceramics plant, will build a 140 million dollar roofing materials plant and distribution center for its CertainTeed subsidary.

The city of Bryan's economic development director, Kevin Russell, says the facility will be located in the Texas Triangle Park. That is the business park in north Bryan that is home to Kristen Distributing and a Federal Express facility that is under construction.

Russell says 130 jobs will be created that will pay at least ten percent above the Brazos County average.

In addition to the sister plant, Russell says another factor in Saint-Gobain's decision was employee training through Bryan ISD's career and techical education complex.

Bryan ISD also played a financial role, giving what CertainTeed described as "millions of dollars" of property tax savings. The exact amount has not been disclosed. WTAW News is waiting for BISD to respond to an open records request that was made before the holiday break which will include that information.

Russell says the major financial incentive was providing 211 acres of free land.

Saint-Gobain is also getting a railroad easement valued at more than $7 million dollars, around $3 million in industrial infrastructure, and $546,000 dollars from the Texas Enterprise Fund.