Fort Worth is receiving an exciting addition to the downtown area. On November 10, Texas A&M University announced its plans to build and develop a research center in the city.
The facility will formally be called the “Texas A&M System Research and Innovation Center.”
It will serve as a hub for collaborations between Fort Worth industries and research, education, and workforce training in the A&M system. Last week, a non-binding memorandum was signed to allow further development and planning in the coming months.
Construction on the research center could start as early as Summer 2022, with the first two buildings costing between $250 million to $300 million.
The 2020 Census showed that Fort Worth’s population grew to nearly one million residents, but almost half of the county’s residents aged 25 years and older lack a college degree. The Census also showed that one in four county households has an annual income below $30,000.
Civic leaders in Fort Worth are hoping to turn those numbers around through the initiatives that Texas A&M will bring to the community.
“Fort Worth is the ideal landing place for Texas A&M to expand its brand and anchor a hub for innovation. Our city is ready to be the home of these opportunities for life-changing workforce development and world-changing research.” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. “It is truly ‘go-time’ in Fort Worth, and the role that this project will have in the revitalization of the Fort Worth convention center district to spur business and job growth is a prime example of that.”
The A&M Research and Innovation Center will bring a diverse selection of studies. So far, these studies will include emergency response communication, medical technologies, advanced manufacturing, nutrition, biotechnology, medical laboratory science, and nursing.
“The A&M System is making a Texas-sized commitment to Fort Worth,” Chancellor John Sharp said. “Welcome to Aggieland North.”