Kval broke ground on its new 52,500-square-foot facility, to be located at 1591 Innovation Blvd., on Aug. 26.
The groundbreaking marked the beginning of construction in Innovation Business Park’s second phase, a 100-acre expansion of the commercial center.
Kval President Nate Kvalheim said the company chose Hutto for its new location based on a number of variables including labor statistics, growth, crime rates and the school systems.
The Innovation Boulevard site is directly across the street from the East Williamson County Higher Education Center, which Kvalheim said was another major draw for the company.
“We’re looking at engaging with them in a partnership and saying, ‘These are the skills and the traits that we need. Let’s start a program, work together and then hire direct from the institute,’” Kvalheim said.
The facility is expected to bring at least 80 jobs to the area, a number which Kvalheim said could easily double after a few years.
“We look forward to just giving back to the community in the way of providing a great place to work and also contributing, obviously, with taxes and the economic stimulus,” Kvalheim said.
Several other companies have already signed agreements with the city to build facilities in the second phase of Innovation Business Park.
Among them are water treatment company Ovivo and technology solutions company BryComm.
The city of Hutto has focused considerable efforts on attracting these kinds of tech-based companies over the last few years, Mayor Mike Snyder said.
Continued development of Innovation Business Park was and continues to be a large part of these efforts, Snyder said, and added he expects the strategy will pay off in the form of significant economic growth.
“Right now, Hutto has major momentum going. The growth is undeniable,” Snyder said. “We welcome the future, and we welcome Kval to the Hutto family.”
