The groundbreaking ceremony in Tyler for a $67 million academic center at the University of Texas Health Science Center is good news for the entire region. Upon completion in 2011, it will bring considerable research dollars and jobs to East Texas. Further, it will provide a clinical site for nursing students from Kilgore College, as well as other area community colleges, and possibly funnel physician residents into local hospitals as well.
Health care is probably the fastest-growing segment of the region's economy. The University of Texas' commitment to this major project only increases the impact of that industry on our economy.
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Similarly, it was welcome news that the University of Texas at Austin will open an East Texas admissions center in Longview next year — its first in East Texas. The center will serve high schools throughout East Texas in hopes of attracting the best and brightest students from rural schools throughout our area.
Not every student can attend one of the state's two flagship universities, of course. But UT's effort to reach out to students who might be overlooked because they are in rural districts is a smart move. We also appreciate the continuing efforts by UT-Tyler and Kilgore College to provide a solid foundation for many students. We figure there is plenty of opportunity for all these institutions to work together for a common goal — educating the next generation of leaders in our communities and our workforce.
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Finally, in the better late than never department, it is good news that $2.5 million will go for a variety of social service agencies throughout East Texas that were negatively affected by Hurricane Ike in September of last year. In many cases, agencies were hit hard by demand for services, such as food banks. The twin storms of the hurricane and the financial collapse are a double whammy from which many agencies are struggling to recover.
As reported Wednesday, among the beneficiaries of federal block grant money administered by the East Texas Council of Governments are Longview ISD's backpack meal program, home repairs, meals on wheels, and seniors needing dental work.
The wheels of government often move slowly, but this money should make a difference for the needy among us in East Texas.
