Bryan approves Messer LLC economic development agreement for planned gas‑production facility

Bryan City Council unanimously approved an economic development agreement with Messer LLC on March 10 that staff said will support an estimated $65,000,000 project to host a liquid air separation unit in the city.

Todd McDaniel (introduced in the meeting as the city's new director of economic development) told council the project is planned to serve a broad regional market and aims to be operational by 2027, though some utility lead times could extend work to 2029. Staff described key terms including an easement payment schedule to the city for electric infrastructure, Messer's construction and maintenance of a private sanitary sewer line, a model that rebates 55% of certain ad valorem tax collections on the M&O portion, a quality‑of‑life pilot payment mechanism, and a "deficit pilot" guarantee intended to assure the city a minimum level of annual tax receipts.

McDaniel said one payment term provides that if Messer's ad valorem tax liability is below a set threshold during the incentive period, Messer will make a deficit payment to the city to bring receipts up to that minimum. The agreement also includes an employment guarantee tied to a payroll minimum and a per‑employee penalty if targets are not met; staff recited $7,500 per missing employee if the 16‑employee payroll threshold is not achieved in any year of the incentive period.

On the project's scale and timeline, staff said: "they're looking at about a $65,000,000 investment" and that the goal is to be "operational and energize on stream by 2027." Council members thanked staff, BTU (Bryan Texas Utilities) and partners for the work to prepare the agreement. The motion to approve passed unanimously.

What happens next: staff and BTU will continue coordination on utility easements and infrastructure work, and the city will implement the financial reporting and pilot payment monitoring described in the agreement.