The Athens Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board of Directors convened their monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19, on the Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) Athens campus, followed by a tour of the college's workforce training facilities. The meeting underscored the vital partnership between the college and the community in driving economic growth and workforce development.
During the meeting, TVCC President Dr. Jason Morrison presented key findings from the college's recent economic impact study, conducted in partnership with Lightcast. The study, which evaluated the fiscal year 2022–23, revealed that TVCC generates a total economic impact of $184.5 million annually within its five-county service area. This includes a $38.3 million operational impact, $4.7 million student spending impact, and a $141.5 million alumni impact.
"In the year that we studied, we had over 3,500 jobs that were impacted, and one out of every 47 job in our service area has some kind of connection to Trinity Valley Community College," he said. "We are doing what we're supposed to be doing in making sure people have opportunities to find employment and give back to the community in which they live."
Highlights of the study included the significant contributions of TVCC alumni to the regional economy, the role of out-of-region students in boosting local businesses, and the college’s new initiatives. Among these initiatives is a 20,000-square-foot training facility for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Palestine and a pending Bachelor’s of Elementary Education program designed to address teacher shortages in the region.
Dr. Morrison also mentioned ongoing partnerships with local businesses, saying, "We're working now with Justin Ross from Med-Logics and some other local companies here in Athens."
"So having an asset like Trinity Valley in your community for economic development is essential, because when businesses are looking at areas, they want to know how are the schools," said Dr. Morrison. "You have a great ISD system here in this area, and you have a tremendous, I'm going to be a little partial, I think the most important entity in impacting your economy is Trinity Valley."
Following the meeting, AEDC board members were invited to tour TVCC's workforce classrooms, which feature cutting-edge equipment such as robotic and automation tools, PLC and CNC trainers, and other resources critical for preparing students for high-demand technical careers. The Workforce Education department at TVCC is making an impact across the region by offering flexible and high-demand programs, from healthcare and technology to industrial maintenance. These programs, including Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training, welding, plumbing, and cosmetology, empower individuals to secure rewarding careers and contribute to regional economic growth by aligning training with industry needs.