Many folks have asked me what I think life will be like in Milam County with the development of the properties out at SLR (Sandow Lakes Ranch), also known as the old Alcoa Property. All I can tell them at this time is it will be busy. I could sum of much of my experience in the Navy with the old saying, “hurry up and wait,” and that phase is true out at SLR at the moment; but once that wait and the activity begins, it looks like it is going to be extremely active.
Last week, T1 Energy announced plans to build a manufacturing plant on the SLR property, making it the first tenant in SLR’s Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics Campus, or AMLC for short. T1 said in their press release that they will employ 1,800 employees. That single entity would nearly match all the jobs lost that Alcoa had in place at the height of their operations. These are jobs that have been needed in the area and that is wonderful, but it also means that there will be a lot of housing, businesses and services needed to handle that many people. All of these needs and that’s just the first of the proposed tenants that will be in the AMLC.
So, what does that mean for Milam County and the communities immediately surrounding SLR? It means opportunity.
I know there are folks in Milam County that don’t want to see growth and development in our small rural county; however, given our location in the small triangle (Waco, Austin, and BCS) and the larger triangle (DFW, Houston, and San Antonio), we have to face the fact that not only is the growth going to come, but it’s also already arriving. I’ve written many times about how the county is preparing for growth via infrastructure improvements, and this is of a similar topic, only different.
One of the most significant benefits of being a smaller community around an industrial park within a MUD is the economic growth and job creation it fosters. Industrial parks attract a variety of businesses, ranging from manufacturing, to warehousing, to logistics, which in turn generate employment opportunities for the local population. The close proximity of these neighboring towns to workplaces reduces commuting time and costs for residents, allowing them to enjoy a better work-life balance. Moreover, local businesses such as retail shops, restaurants, and service providers also thrive and multiply, further boosting the local economy.
The increased presence of industrial development inside the SLR facility will also benefit our schools as they can serve as hubs for educational and skill development opportunities. Partnerships between businesses, local school and vocational training centers can provide residents with access to various programs and initiatives. These opportunities help individuals acquire new skills, enhance their employability and foster a culture of lifelong learning. Such initiatives not only benefit residents but also ensure a skilled and adaptable workforce for businesses within the industrial park.
Eventually, SLR plans to develop residential opportunities in their development; however, that is a ways off and until then, Rockdale and the other communities in Milam and the surrounding counties will have to be the residential, and by default the retail and commercial sites servicing these industries and their employees. If you look at one of the oldest MUDs in Texas, The Woodlands which was founded in the mid-1970’s, while The Woodlands developed, the surrounding cities of Conroe, Spring and Tomball benefitted from those developments.
Again, I realize there are many who shudder at the possibility of growth and the loss of country life – and I understand. The Nurse and I live where we live for precisely that reason, we enjoy the quiet country life. But even our sleepy little slice of Milam County has seen signifi cant growth over the last four or five years. The truth is, we either work with the companies and people we wish to have in our county, or we get stuck with those who have nowhere else to go.
Right now, many businesses have us on the radar. Some in the near term and some farther down the road. That’s why it’s so important for our cities and our economic development folks to work towards attracting those preferred businesses involved in handling the growth so that we get the businesses we want rather than just leaving it up to chance. It’s incumbent on our EDCs and MDDs to lead the way and to help us to better develop our towns to attract businesses and residents that we want to be a part of our history. To have them come in and inhabit our already empty storefronts and structures. We want to be a preferred destination, otherwise we’ll simply be an also-ran who gets what’s left over.
In conclusion, the development of smaller communities around industrial parks within a MUD offers numerous benefits that contribute to economic growth, enhanced infrastructure, sustainable development, community cohesion and educational opportunities. By creating a balance between industrial and residential areas, these developments can significantly improve the quality of life for residents while supporting the growth and success of our local businesses. As development continues to evolve, the integration of smaller communities surrounding a MUD and industrial parks will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our cities.
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