$180M expansions, incubator planned for Round Rock colleges From the cover
The details
What’s happening?
In addition to the area’s growth, some industries are already feeling worker shortages, Moreno said. Texas is experiencing a nursing shortage, and March data from the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies found that by 2036 there could be a shortage of 56,000 registered nurses. Matt Hoffman, Texas A&M University Round Rock School of Nursing assistant dean, said many nurses are aging out of the profession. Moreno said many electricians, plumbers and HVAC workers are also close to retirement. Programs at schools such as TSTC, ACC and TXST are aiming to address these gaps with expansions. While TAMU at Round Rock is not working on any expansions, the university has programs aiming to keep medicine and nursing workers in Texas. Lessiter said the life sciences incubator may also provide opportunities for startups working to solve the problem of shortages in health care as well as improve patient experiences.
At the ACC Round Rock campus, a new advanced manufacturing program is in the works. In particular, o cials are working to expand automotive, construction and welding programs. ACC o cials said they also plan to expand the Round Rock campus’s health science programs in the future. At TSTC in Hutto, o cials said they are working toward a new advanced manufacturing program as well as a $54 million expansion to the industrial systems technology program. Round Rock ISD also announced partnerships this year with TSTC and ACC for a manufac- turing program and to expand access to free associate degrees.
At the Texas State University at Round Rock campus, a new facility will house the $52 million College of Health Professions in Esperanza Hall with construction set to start in November, as well as a life sciences incubator that will help provide support to future startups in this eld, which could include health and manufacturing- focused businesses, research and development. “The [Round Rock] Chamber really saw this as an opportunity to get into this industry and to attract companies to the region,” said Julie Lessiter, vice president of Texas State University at Round Rock. “We are partnering with them to give space on our campus so that the third party can come and build the building, ll it with early startup entrepreneurial companies.”
Total Austin-area jobs by industry, 2018-24 Professional, scientific and technical services Health care and social assistance
Construction Manufacturing Information
200K
+49.16% +24.95% +31.47% +21.58% +48.13%
150K
“We have engineering that we’re slating to bring in a couple of years. ... We’re really working with the industry that is
100K
around to help prepare degree programs that will help with the workforce pipeline.” JULIE LESSITER, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
50K
0
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
AT ROUND ROCK VICE PRESIDENT
SOURCE: WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS COMMUNITY IMPACT
The approach
Expanding opportunities
ACC Round Rock, Texas State University at Round Rock and TSTC East Williamson County pointed to Samsung’s expansion in Taylor, which is expected to create thousands of jobs with an opening later this year, as a reason for expanding programs. Similarly, Tesla is expanding operations in nearby Travis County. Per the Texas Economic Development Corporation, over 5,200 biotechnology and life sciences-related manufacturing, research and development firms operate in the state. Dave Porter, executive director of the Williamson County Economic Development Partnership, said that manufacturing is new to Central Texas, and when Tesla moved into the area there became a need for manufac- turing and supply chains nearby.
School
Project description
Investment
Texas State University at Round Rock
Construction of the 81,600-square-foot Esperanza Hall will house the College of Health; life sciences incubator will grow programs in these industries Construction of a 95,000-square-foot building to house advanced manufacturing programs including precision and machine technology Expansion of current facilities for skilled trades, advanced manufacturing and to eventually include health sciences
Over $52 million
Texas State Technical College East Williamson County Campus
$54 million
Austin Community College at Round Rock
$75 million
SOURCES: AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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