TSTC, city of Waco, McLennan County partner for workforce training initiative

(WACO, Texas) - Construction continues on a workforce training facility in south Waco that is a partnership between Texas State Technical College, the city of Waco, and McLennan County.

"It is important to be closer to the industry partners who will utilize the space and for residents seeking quick, short-term training options," said Kacey Darnell, TSTC's vice president and senior executive director of student learning.

The WorkSITE (Skills, Innovation, Training and Education) is a $17 million, 34,047-square-foot building on Wycon Drive that is scheduled to open for classes in spring 2025. TSTC will own and operate the building.

"We identified a need, worked together to plan a solution, figured out a way to fund the project, and launched the WorkSITE initiative in a relatively short period of time," Waco Mayor Jim Holmes said.

The training facility's purpose is to increase access to customized training and build a skilled workforce in the county. Prosper Waco will help recruit unemployed or underemployed people who need training to earn credentials for jobs that require technical skills.

Holmes said upskilling benefits workers by helping them get better-paying jobs, businesses by filling positions, and the city by establishing confidence in existing and new businesses, thereby fulfilling workforce needs.

"As The WorkSITE becomes established, and as proof of concept is met, I believe that the WorkSITE program will serve as a valuable recruiting tool, not only for new businesses considering a move to Waco, but also for Waco's existing businesses as they consider expansion or position replacement," Holmes said.

The mayor said the city has attracted in the last seven years more than 30 new businesses and more than $3.2 billion in capital investment.

"It is important for the city to continue the positive momentum of good jobs and financial security for its residents," Holmes said. "In order for new businesses to consider Waco as a new location for their operations, we need to demonstrate that the city is proactive in addressing workforce needs."

The WorkSITE will be an extension of TSTC's existing Waco campus, with a combination of current and new TSTC faculty teaching at the center. Some of the functions of TSTC's Workforce Training and Continuing Education department will move from the campus to the new building.

Some of the certifications the facility can offer include NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) Core, OSHA-10 and OSHA-30 training, along with mechatronics, advanced manufacturing, and forklift certification. Specialized training can be developed to meet the needs of companies. The training does not need to follow TSTC's academic schedule.

"Because we have a significant amount of low- to moderate-income population in McLennan County, skilled workforce training is the best path out and away from poverty," McLennan County Judge Scott Felton said.

Felton said the partnership between TSTC, the city and the county is important because it helps prioritize needs and find common solutions. He said combining financial resources can also reduce the time it takes to tackle problems.

Construction began on the facility in September 2023.

For more information on The WorkSITE, go to tstc.edu/worksite.

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.

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