TSTC worksite opens in Waco and begins short-term training with local employers

Texas State Technical College officials briefed the Waco City Council at its April 1 work session on the new TSTC worksite, a $17,000,000 partnership among the college, the city of Waco and McLennan County that opened Feb. 13 and is providing short-term, employer-aligned training.

“this is a collaboration, the first of its kind, partnership between the city of Waco, and McLennan County and Texas State Technical College in an effort to address the skilled workforce needs of our region,” Provost Beth Wooten said during the presentation.

The facility, located in the industrial park, was built with large, mobile bays and flexible equipment to allow rapid changes to curriculum based on employer needs, Wooten said. Casey Darnell, TSTC’s vice president and senior executive director who manages day-to-day operations at the worksite, said training began in February and has included OSHA classes, forklift training, NCCER core modules, industrial electrical and mechanical coursework and customized onboarding for employers.

“We opened the doors on February 13,” Darnell said. She told council members that TSTC has delivered training to Graphic Packaging (a paper and packaging firm), Sanderson Farms and others; she said the worksite will continue classes in April and June as partner companies ramp up hiring. Darnell said TSTC expects to offer summer camps and industry-based credentials in partnership with local high schools and the Greater Waco Chamber’s teacher externship program.

City Manager Bradley Ford and multiple council members praised the speed of the project’s delivery and the role the worksite plays in business attraction. Councilmember George Chase and others noted that TSTC had already trained close to 200 Graphic Packaging employees ahead of that firm's plant opening, a result council members said demonstrates the worksite’s intended purpose.

TSTC said the worksite’s advisory committee—co-chaired by Rick Tullis and Jacob Cox of Phallis Automation—drives curriculum so training matches employers’ immediate needs. Wooten and Darnell listed community partners engaged in outreach and recruitment, including Prosper Waco, the McGregor Chamber, the Central Texas African American and Hispanic chambers, Mission Waco and Heroes Make America.

Councilmembers asked how the facility will adapt to changing employer needs; Wooten noted the equipment is on wheels and bays can be reconfigured. Darnell described a recent example in which a scheduled forklift class moved indoors and staff reshuffled equipment to accommodate weather without canceling training.

The presentation did not include a request for council action; TSTC leaders said they will continue regular updates as programming expands.

The worksite update concluded with council members encouraging a media tour to showcase the facility to prospective employers and to highlight the partnership’s early training numbers.