Texas State Technical College unveiled plans for a new Fort Bend County campus in Rosenberg during the April 16 Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council meeting. Construction on the new campus is slated to begin as early as June and will be delivered in phases starting this summer, said Randall Wooten, TSTC Fort Bend County executive manager. Wooten said the campus will offer Fort Bend County students an alternative to four-year universities and colleges, as well as provide students with specific skillsets. "There is a full segment of our population who are really smart but they do not do well in a four-year university setting," he said. "Those kids come to us and we give them skillsets." The campus will be situated on an 80-acre tract of land north of Hwy. 59 between FM 2218 and Hwy. 36. The six-building, 500,000 square-foot conceptual design depicts the campus to initially need only 40 acres of land, leaving the remaining 40 acres for future development, Wooten said. The campus is also projected to house more than 5,000 students once complete. The first building is expected to be complete and ready for classes in August 2016, with the construction of the second building slated to begin in June 2016. All six buildings total more than $40 million and are funded through money raised by residents, local organizations and cities, including the George Foundation, city of Rosenberg, city of Richmond, Fort Bend County and Joseph Swinbank. "I cannot envision anything bigger that will have a positive impact than something like TSTC because you are now educating an entire workforce for future generations," Wooten said. Rosenberg Mayor Vincent Morales Jr. said the campus will help provide resources for the growing work force in the city as well as benefit the local economy. "TSTC will continue to provide for the ever-growing needs of our local work force and employers, as well as contribute greatly to our local economy, and we're grateful for the continuing cooperative efforts and generous support of so many important groups in Fort Bend County that worked to make this project possible," he said. Although TSTC is breaking ground in June, Texas House Bill 658—which details the creation of TSTC in Fort Bend County—was passed in the House of Representatives April 13 and is awaiting approval from the Texas Senate. If approved, and signed by Governor Greg Abbott, TSTC will be able move forward with construction of the first building and begin offering vocational and technical programs by fall 2016.