BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO POTENTIALLY CREATE REINVESTMENT ZONE FOR DATACENTER PROJECT

  

The Brenham City Council will act Thursday on the creation of a reinvestment zone for commercial tax phase-in incentive for a datacenter project planning to locate in Brenham.

The council will vote on establishing the reinvestment zone for CGG Services Inc., a geophysical surveying and mapping company that has selected 2602 Longwood Drive as its new home for its Viridien Americas hub.

According to the agenda packet for the meeting, the project will include an administration building and up to three datacenter buildings.  It will be dedicated to scientific and data processing applied to complex industrial problems, and its primary cooling method will utilize “advanced full immersion cooling using air”.

The project is expected to create 26 jobs at an average annual wage of $90,000, with a total capital investment projected at $100 million at full build-out in 2028.

In related action, councilmembers will take up a resolution adopting a commercial tax phase-in agreement with Brenham Main Street Holdings, LLC.  The city council approved the creation of a reinvestment zone for the property at its last meeting. 

The firm is looking to completely refurbish the second floor of 207/209 East Main Street, which is occupied by Moorman Tate, LLP, with the intent of moving the law firm upstairs and leasing the first floor to a new tenant.  The city says the property owner has hired an architectural firm and will modernize the space with updated electrical systems, upgraded HVAC and energy-efficient lighting, while keeping the building’s historical character.  The total capital investment is estimated at $2 million.

In other business, the council will:

• Act on a proposal from EMPACT Engineering, LLC for engineering services related to a long-term fiber study, in the amount of $72,000.
• Consider a second change order to the city’s contract with Hydro Resources-Mid Continent, Inc. for the first phase of the groundwater supply project.  The city says the change order is needed to alter the casing and screening quantities for the final well-casing design, per the hydrologist’s recommendation.  The proposed change order increases the net project price by $62,410 and pushes the final completion date from July 9, 2025 to May 9, 2026.
• Hold a work session discussion on the city’s 2024-25 financial reports.

The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday’s meeting.