This podcast is a visit with Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez, on the phone from Kyoto Japan with WTAW's Scott DeLucia.

Leaders from Bryan/College Station are in Japan on an economic development trip. 

At 8:30 Wednesday morning (June 5) in Bryan/College Station, WTAW's Scott DeLucia visited with Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez in Kyoto, Japan, where it was 10:30 at night.

Gutierrez said the city of Bryan's participation "is based mostly upon and around (the) RELLIS (campus) and all the new stuff that's been going on through announcements with the chancellor and the university and the system, basically set up around the (computer) chips institute (and) semi conductor space."

Gutierrez said "Bryan and College Station are strategically located" whether it be to support Samsung's facility in Taylor TX "or whether it would be just distribution or warehousing (or) manufacturing that supports what's going to be hopefully another semi conductor space in Bryan at the RELLIS campus and we hope we'll know something pretty soon on that".

Gutierrez said the local group has also met with representatives of companies who select sites for Japanese corporations who could participate in the Texas A&M system's plans to build small nuclear power plants on the RELLIS campus and peaker power plants using other energy sources on system properties around the state.

Gutierrez also shared his first experience riding a high speed bullet train in the context of the Texas Central/Amtrak project between Houston and Dallas.

Gutierrez said the group includes College Station mayor John Nichols, Texas A&M's chief community engagement officer Fred McClure, city managers Kean Register of Bryan and Bryan Woods of College Station, local business representatives Spencer Clements and Jeremy Osborne, and members of the Brazos Valley economic development corporation (BVEDC).

Gutierrez thanked BVEDC president Susan Davenport, who "arranged a really really tremendous trip for us."