Texas State Technical College gets major expansion in Hutto
The Brief
The Texas State Technical College celebrated the expansion of its WilCo campus
The school says this is an opportunity to meet the demand for advanced manufacturing jobs
HUTTO, Texas - Texas State Technical College is celebrating the expansion of its Williamson County campus.
The school says the development will allow it to expand its reach to students through its manufacturing programs.
The $47 million project will allow the school to triple the amount of enrollment in its manufacturing programs.
TSTC says this is a great opportunity for it to meet the overwhelming demand for advanced manufacturing jobs.
The backstory
It is the start of a new beginning at Texas State Technical College.
The school hosted a groundbreaking Wednesday at its east Williamson County campus in Hutto.
"This campus in the years ahead will build out into a significant technical training center to respond to the need for technical skills. Up and down the 79 corridor and the entire Austin Williamson County region," said TSTC Chancellor, Mike Reeser.
The 70,000 square foot, two-story facility will house three programs.
Students will have the chance to take advanced manufacturing technology-semiconductor, industrial systems and precision machining technology courses.
The facility is scheduled to open in the spring of 2027.
What they're saying
"Depending on the industry, it could be anything from a part that you might put in your car to the microchips that you would have in your cell phone and just about everything in between," said Roger Snow, TSTC dean of manufacturing.
When students walk into the new facility, "You're going to see things like precision machining, both computers controlled and conventional. You're going to see robotics. You're going to see instrument control systems, integrated systems and some semiconductor chip, too," said Reeser.
As for what makes the program unique to others, "We've designed the advanced manufacturing programs that are going to go into this center with conversations with the various employers in the region so we can be sure the students who study here are going to get the exact skills needed to land a great paying job," said Reeser.
Big picture view
TSTC says it's not only the workforce benefiting from the expansion but the community as well.
"What we do is not just providing somebody with a great job, but it's providing the community with somebody who can generate continued revenue and bring in more companies," said Snow.
In the State of the State on Sunday, Governor Greg Abbott highlighted the importance of career training in our schools, even noting a success story from a student at TSTC.
He also declared life-changing career training an emergency item on what he says is much needed legislation.
The Source
Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Jenna King
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