Ribbon Cutting: Career Tracks Innovation Center

The City of Smithville is excited to announce the groundbreaking ceremony for the Smithville Innovation Center, a cutting-edge facility designed to provide the space needed for entrepreneurs seeking to take their businesses to the next level, to provide new opportunities for education and training in a variety of business topics, and to support the local rural economy. The City of Smithville and SWTC Career Tracks are deeply grateful to the Texas Department of Agriculture for over $1.2M towards the construction of this facility with funds allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Community Development Block Grant Program. Cutright & Prihoda, Inc, the Architects for this project, designed a terrific space for the needs reflected in the Innovation Center mission. Langford Community Management Services, the grant administrators, have been
instrumental in managing the grant process to ensure the project & success. Local contractor Hodges Construction will do the work over the next several months. This team is building an amazing facility designed to enhance Smithville’s capacity to support our local economy by supporting people in business for themselves.

The ceremony will take place:
Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: 400 Fawcett Street, Smithville, TX

The Innovation Center will serve as a vital resource for local business owners and members of the workforce in our rural area, offering training programs, career development opportunities, and pathways to success for entrepreneurs in skilled trades and computer-based work. This initiative is a significant step toward addressing workforce needs while fostering economic growth and innovation in this region.
Mayor Sharon Foerster expressed her enthusiasm for the project: The Innovation Center represents Smithville’s commitment to investing in our people and our future. By providing support for our local entrepreneurs and access to workforce training and education, we are creating opportunities that will benefit generations to come & the groundbreaking ceremony will feature remarks from city officials and program partners and an overview of the Center’s mission and long-term benefits. A light reception will follow the event. Elected officials, community leaders, business owners, and residents are invited to join the celebration of this exciting step forward for Smithville.