Gradually , then
Suddenly
HOW A SLEEPY TEXAS TOWN BECAME DFW ’ S HIGH-TECH HUB
By Nate Strauch
Just an hour north of Reunion Tower , nestled between the Red
River and the sprawling suburbs of McKinney , sits Sherman , Texas , county seat of Grayson County . And over the last few months , the eyes of many Texans — not to mention several national and international heavyweights of industry — have been focused firmly upon this growing city of 45,000 people .
What they ’ ve seen here has catapulted this historic community to the forefront of Texas ’ s burgeoning high-tech economy . And with Texas Instruments ’ November announcement of a $ 29 billion ( with-a- ‘ b ’) semiconductor plant to begin construction in early 2022 , suffice to say that those eyes are now wide-open to the seemingly limitless untapped potential of Sherman .
“ People have been saying for decades that growth was coming up Highway 75 , but then it never really happened ,” said Sherman Mayor David Plyler . “ But after what we ’ ve seen in the last few years , there aren ’ t many doubters left .”
In 2017 , Finisar ( since rebranded as “ II-VI ”) renovated a 700,000-square-foot building in Sherman , investing $ 390 million of Apple ’ s money to create an onshore production facility for iPhone chips . And with those 500 new jobs in hand , Sherman had officially announced itself as major combatant in the Metroplex ’ s internecine battle to woo the next great titan of industry .
“ That really put us on the map ,” said Sherman City Manager Robby Hefton . “ And as the jobs came , the rooftops quickly followed .”
A steady stream of emigrants from cities further south and states far afield soon began to pay Sherman and its cheap housing notice . A trickle of 100 new homes a year expanded to 150 , then 200 , and now 300 new housing starts each year — a number that ’ s expected to double in 2022 .
But those housing numbers could soon look quaint . News broke in late November that Texas Instruments had selected Sherman over Singapore for a new facility that will be one of the largest factories in the United States when complete — on par with Tesla ’ s plant in Austin . And the 3,000 high-paying jobs that come along with it will deliver the type of growth that most cities only dream about .
“ Sherman provides some unique advantages such as a competitive business environment , access to a highly trained technical workforce , and an existing supplier base ,” said TI Senior Vice President of Technology and Manufacturing Kyle Flessner .
But preparing for this day has been a process that stretches back decades . In order to capitalize on its water rights in nearby Lake Texoma , Sherman undertook a massive expansion of its water treatment facility in 2020 . That $ 30-million investment gave the city far more water than it was able to use at the time , creating a reservoir of potential , should an opportunity like the TI plant ever come along .
“ We ’ re very fortunate in Sherman that our leaders have had the foresight to make sure we would have all the water we would need ,” said Hefton , the city manager . “ We are able to chart our own course when we need to make hard decisions . And God continues to bless our community in ways that are unimaginable .”
Now , the floodgates are open . Literally hours after the TI announcement , Hefton ’ s phone was already ringing . Companies large and small have reached out to learn what made Sherman so attractive , and to be next in line to take advantage of what it has to offer . So , water ? Check . Jobs ? Check . Affordable housing ? Write a small check . And as for quality-of-life , well , that ’ s the mayor ’ s forte . Sherman hosts perhaps the largest free concert series in Texas , with big-name acts every summer . Also on the city ’ s résumé : a brand-new high school that opened last year ; a re-blossoming historic downtown chockfull of locally-owned shops and restaurants ; and city property taxes that are among the lowest in the state . Leaders say it ’ s a recipe for sustained success that extends far beyond the big-tech headlines .
“ It ’ s pretty remarkable , how quickly it ’ s all come together ,” said Plyler . “ You spend all these years preparing for growth , but when it arrives is out of your hands . All you can do is plant the seeds and wait for nature to do its thing .”
It was Hemingway who coined “ Gradually , then suddenly ,” in his 1926 book The Sun Also Rises , and it seems an apt phrase for what ’ s happened in Sherman in the last few years — incremental growth , followed by a day in the sun in which everything comes together .
And now that the sun has risen in Sherman , it seems the day may have only just begun .
30 • JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022