Director Named for CART Project
Development of the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART) got a boost when Dr. Chuck McCarter was recently named director of the project.

McCarter, the Executive Director of the Bioscience Initiative with Temple College, will be working both on the CART project and a similar program in Bell County that will be open this fall.

“We've been talking with him for almost a year concerning the collaborative effort of the districts in Bell County and he feels that initiative really doesn't need his hands-on attention every day,” TISD Superintendent Bruce Scott said. “It is a natural fit because he has just sealed the deal with the Texas Biosciences Institute and he has all the connections and the game plan. Since he has just gone through it and has the expertise it is kind of too good to be true.”

Scott said McCarter will be spending about 20 percent of his time working on the Williamson County project, primarily generating support for the plan.

“For the next year he will be our project champion,” Scott said. “Primarily what we are hoping he will do at this point is to join together business partners, government entities and school districts to form the consortium and make sure we have a strong alliance to start implementing this.”

Being responsible for only 20 percent of McCarter's salary is another benefit, Scott said, but the amount has not been determined and those supporting CART will not be responsible for that portion of his salary until September.

“We are asking our partners to participate monetarily and share the costs, spreading it out over at least four partners,” Scott said.

Currently, TISD, the Taylor Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) and Hutto ISD are signed on and Scott said he hopes the Hutto Economic Development Corporation joins in as well.

John Nelson, TEDC Director, said local businesses are showing support for the plan.

“Business leaders in Taylor are becoming very supportive of the community and asking where areas are we can contribute,” Nelson said. “That is one of the areas I think business leaders need to participate in. The availability of a skilled labor force are among the top factors businesses consider when looking for a home. It is a fundamental building block we need to be effective long term.”

Scott said a new center will likely start the same size as the center in Bell County, which cost between $3 million and $5 million.

“We will probably start with a facility similar in size to that,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is to be able to partner with a foundation or corporation and some of that capital investment will come from an outside source. We really don't want to burden the local tax payers with this. If we can show it will be a benefit to Central Texas as a whole I think.”