BY AUBREY VOGEL
Why it matters
What’s next?
Fort Bend County population, 2013-23
+41.18%
The college’s legislative request comes as the county’s population continues to grow, estimated to hit 1 million by 2030, county officials previously said. Residents are also getting older and needing more access to care. To meet the area's growing needs, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital is undergoing a $231 million expansion that will bring at least 150 jobs by 2027, Community Impact reported. Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital offi- cials said they were excited about the university’s potential investment in health care. “The center would offer state-of-the-art space to train the next generation of nurses, helping to address the nursing shortage in Texas,” said Malisha Patel, senior vice president and CEO for Memorial Hermann Sugar Land and Southwest hospitals. Meanwhile, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center broke ground March 31 near Smart Financial Centre on the hospital’s second largest Houston-area facility, set to be completed in 2029.
The legislative session began Jan. 14, with a bill filing deadline of March 15, according to the Texas Legislative Council’s website. The session is slated to adjourn June 2, barring extensions through special sessions. “Our hope is that we will receive favorable news from the Legislature who have been very supportive of the instructional sites, particularly as they meet the growing demands of the region’s and state’s economies and priorities,” Neal said. If awarded, university officials said they expect to receive funding in early 2026 and will begin the design phase for the building, which is anticipated to take approximately a year followed by construction bidding. Construction is expected to take 18-21 months, Neal said.
1M
800K
859,721
600K 400K 200K
739,342
608,939
0
2013
2018
2023
Percent of population age 60 and older, 2023
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Missouri City
Sugar Land
Fort Bend County
Texas
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 5-YEAR AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
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