(TEXAS) – The administration of Texas State Technical College announced the proposed new campus location in Fort Bend County yesterday. The new campus, if approved by the Texas Legislature, will be located on 80 acres on the north side of Hwy 59 between FM 2218 and Hwy 36, 1 1/2 miles east of Hwy 36.

TSTC Vice Chancellor and Chief Execution Officer, Randall E. Wooten, unveiled the plans for the campus at the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council General Membership Breakfast Meeting.  The vision is for the TSTC campus in Fort Bend to include 6-8 buildings with instruction and services to meet the needs of 5,000+ students.

Wooten commented, “Fort Bend County is the sixth fastest growing county in the nation — making this a prime location for expansion.” A recent study by The Perryman Group predicted the rapid economic growth of the region. This growth, combined with workforce replacement needs, will continue to increase the demand for skilled workers.

Jeff Wiley, CEO of the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council explained that TSTC is an important part of the puzzle in building Fort Bend County into a world-class county.  “The addition of a larger TSTC footprint to the stable of existing higher education partners and programs is substantial and complimentary to building the best workforce available in the Greater Houston region. Fort Bend already maintains the highest level of educational attainment for people age 25 or older than any other county in the Greater Houston region.  TSTC will surely help to continue this leadership in our community,” Wiley said.

House Bill 658, sponsored by State Representatives John Zerwas, Rick Miller, Ron Reynolds and Phil Stephenson of Fort Bend County, and Representative Charles “Doc” Anderson of McLennan County, passed the Texas House of Representatives on Monday. The bill would authorize TSTC to have a campus in Fort Bend County. If the Texas Senate and the Governor concur with the plan, the college may proceed with construction of the first 110,000 sq. ft. building. Classes could begin at TSTC in Fort Bend County as early as Fall 2016. Senator Lois Kolkhorst is the legislation’s sponsor in the Senate.

The announcement comes after months of negotiations and mounting support from the community. The auditorium was filled with business leaders from Fort Bend County, many of whom have already voiced their commitment to TSTC. Leaders from the City of Rosenberg, the City of Richmond, Fort Bend County, the City of Sugar Land, Sprint Waste Services, The George Foundation, and The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation have promised their ongoing support to ensure a skilled technical workforce can be readily available to serve the businesses and industries within Fort Bend County and the Greater Houston area.

Joe Swinbank, founder of Sprint Waste Services presented a check for $250,000 to The TSTC Foundation in support of the Fort Bend expansion. “Sprint Waste Services and Sprint Transport have struggled for years to find qualified candidates for the jobs we have created and we started thinking how we could solve it,” said Swinbank. “About 10 years ago with Commissioner James Patterson, we started working with the school districts on how do we create demands for the trades, and we think with this TSTC campus in Fort Bend County we can deliver these skilled trades people to the jobs that are being left unfilled,” added Swinbank.

Roger Adamson, CEO of The George Foundation, and Pat McDonald, CEO of The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation, in a joint statement said, “The George Foundation and The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation are excited to partner with the community to bring world-class technical education to Fort Bend County.  We are confident that TSTC’s track record of results, coupled with industry demand for a skilled workforce in our area make this project a transformational investment for Fort Bend and the surrounding region.”

Evalyn Moore, Mayor of the City of Richmond and president of the Development Corporation of Richmond, said, “Education is at the foundation of successful economic development and the new TSTC Fort Bend campus will contribute to the region’s ongoing growth and prosperity.” Mayor Moore added, “The Richmond community, as reflected by the City Commission, Development Corporation of Richmond and our business community, has demonstrated how strongly we believe in TSTC and will do all we can for the new campus to exceed its goals.”

The City of Rosenberg Mayor Vincent M. Morales Jr. said, “The City and the Rosenberg Development Corporation are committed to supporting the effort. We’re confident TSTC will continue to provide for the ever-growing needs of our local workforce and employers, as well as contribute greatly to our local economy, and we’re grateful for the continuing cooperative efforts and generous support of so many important groups in Fort Bend County that worked to make this project possible,” Morales added.

Currently, the college offers career training in Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology, Diesel Equipment Technology, and Precision Manufacturing at the Wharton County Junior College Fort Bend Technical Center. Plans are underway to support additional high-tech, high-paying career fields at the new location including Industrial Systems Technology, Computer Networking & Systems Administration, Cyber Security, Telecommunications, and Welding Technology as well as Commercial Truck Driving (as a continuing education offering).

Wiley added, “To think a little over eighteen months ago, there was a real question as to TSTC’s continued long-term presence in Fort Bend County, says a lot about what this community can achieve and how fast it can achieve it when it rallies around a common objective.  We have come a long way in the past eighteen months but not nearly as far as we will go over the next eighteen months.”

“Those with the appropriate technical skills will have abundant opportunities for employment in Fort Bend County and across our state, and they can count on TSTC to provide the technical know-how and skills needed,” said Wooten.

Registration began Monday for new students at TSTC. The last day to register for the summer semester at the WCJC Ft. Bend Technical Center is May 1. Call (281) 239-1548 to learn more about starting your technical career training at TSTC in Fort Bend County.