Growth at Texas A&M means growth for College Station

September 20, 2024

Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan's 360° Listening Tour is taking her to communities all around the Eleventh Federal Reserve District. The tour is helping deepen her understanding of the region’s people and economy by adding color and perspective that go beyond official statistics.

Texas A&M spirit infuses nuclear research lab

The Aggie spirit was palpable on a recent trip to College Station, where Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan met students who showed great enthusiasm for the cutting-edge research that could impact the future of Texas. On a tour of the university’s Center for Advanced Small Modular and Micro Nuclear Reactors, she learned about research on a new generation of reactors.

Students at the lab are working on small, modular reactors that many energy industry insiders say could hold great promise for the Texas electrical grid. Their commitment to the work was evident as they showed President Logan simulators built from scratch in the lab. The simulators are used to study the effects of accidents or natural disasters on reactors, and the students conducted an earthquake simulation to demonstrate how they’re gathering data in order to make new reactors as safe as possible.

Find Dallas Fed research on potential for advanced nuclear to have a larger role in powering the Texas electric grid.

Region feels A&M’s growing pains with more traffic, demand for housing

As Texas A&M University continues to thrive, the Aggie hometown of College Station is growing quickly. In a recent meeting with leaders from the Brazos Valley area, President Logan heard about the effects of this growth on the area.

The university has grown significantly over the past decade, with total enrollment this year above 71,000. That means more traffic on the roads and more students looking for housing, boosting costs and limiting availability for permanent residents in the Bryan-College Station area. Throughout her visit, President Logan heard from community and business leaders who said they are working to keep up with the university’s growth and ambitions. As one participant said: “The train has left the station, but everyone is now trying to catch up.”

Texas A&M remains a valuable and crucial partner for the region

President Logan also heard about the value of partnerships as community leaders grapple with some Aggie growing pains. And one partnership remains valuable and critical for community, that with Texas A&M.

The university is a major employer, and growth in the student population not only increases demand for goods and services but also provides a young, educated workforce. But recent graduates often leave for jobs in the Austin, Dallas and Houston metro areas, and regional leaders are exploring ways to keep Aggie talent in Aggieland. As one leader said: “Our biggest export is our students.”