Taylor, Hutto Vying for EWCHEC Site
Temple College Trustees will choose between each community's funding plan

Within the next month or so, Temple College administration will decide on the building site of the East Williamson County Higher Education Center.

The teaching center, a cooperative effort with Hutto and Taylor school districts, both cities and economic development teams and Temple College, became an established entity with the passage of legislation last session.

EWCHEC is a multi-institution teaching center, meaning students could take a variety of classes and programs through several Texas colleges and universities. Currently, Temple College and Texas State Technical College in Waco are on board, but Chuck McCarter, EWCHEC's executive director, said he is currently speaking with representatives from Texas Tech University, the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor and Tarleton State University.

The entity became established, and classes started for the first group in the Early College High School. But there is no building and no funding from the state to get the first phase under construction.

Both Taylor and Hutto want the site of EWCHEC within their school districts. Hutto has proposed a location on donated land from former Precinct 4 Commissioner Frankie Limmer in Frame Switch on US Highway 79; and Taylor is proposing a site on land owned by the Taylor Independent School District at the US 79 loop and FM 973.

“Each community would love to have EWCHEC in their backyard,” McCarter said. “Someone's going to be disappointed.”

But before a site is selected, both communities must present their funding plans before the Temple College Board of Trustees, which is expected to hear the proposals in their October meeting at the earliest.

According to McCarter, both entities presented their early proposals during a spring board meeting, but the trustees agreed to hold off on the decision until the legislation passed. Representatives from Hutto and Taylor both declined to reveal details of their updated proposals.

“The question is,” said Temple College President Marc Nigliazzo, “how do you fund a $5 or $6 million building?”

Only Hutto Superintendent David Borrer would speculate that the school district may incorporate a bond election to pay for the building in their proposal since the state's fastest growing school district is having to bond money every two years for new schools as it is.

The prize associated with housing EWCHEC is economic development.

Having a multi-institution teaching center within Hutto or Taylor would bring higher education to residents and new companies interested in a highly-trained and educated workforce. The difference between the two locations is maybe 5 miles but means a world of difference to each community.

“I think the economic impact is good for either community, depending on the location,” Borrer said. “And of course there is a prestige involved with having a higher education institute in your community.”

A brand new $5 to $6 million building with about 1,000 students means additional retailers and spending and thus sales and property tax revenue. The Hutto site is in an unincorporated area between the two cities, but Taylor's site is within the city limits and taxing district.

Regardless, both communities always reiterate that the site location is not as important as EWCHEC itself and the students from both school districts that will attend.

“It doesn't bother me at all if it's in Taylor,” Borrer said. “Our kids will go and our kids will benefit from it anyways.”

Taylor has the additional urge to house the center because of Temple College of Taylor, a 10-year-old satellite campus initiated with Executive Director John Nelson and the Taylor Economic Development Corp.

The community has expressed the wish to have EWCHEC in Taylor because of the work with TCAT, said Taylor City Manager Frank Salvato.

TCAT will eventually be absorbed into EWCHEC in the coming years, Nigliazzo said. Jan King, director of TCAT since the inception, left just a few months ago for a position with Austin Community College and has not yet been replaced. Nigliazzo said they are taking their time with filling the spot as Temple College reassess the future of TCAT.

If the Hutto site is selected, Salvato said he worried about the future of the TCAT building, which is currently housing Early College High School and an additional 900 or so TCAT students. TCAT on North Main Street will max out with 1,000 students.

Next year, an additional 60 to 100 students will join Early College and classes for a new biomedical technician training course from TSTC are expected to begin.

“We want to see this happen,” Nigliazzo said. “As long as it gets built somewhere.”