Ascension Seton Bastrop, which opened its state-of-the-art facility in Bastrop mid-December will have a ribbon-cutting and open house Thursday, Jan. 23 from 4-6 p.m.

After much anticipation, Bastrop’s Ascension Seton Neighborhood Hospital has opened its doors to a $30 million medical facility the city can now add to its growing list of achievements in the bio/life science and healthcare sector. Seton joins MD Anderson and other global companies that have opted to set roots amongst the lost pines. Bastrop and Bastrop County offer the highest number of individuals needing primary care physicians and dentists of the 11-county area. This is expected to increase over the next 5-10 years, which will create the demand to continue to brand Bastrop as a medical destination for this area.

Tucked into the heart of three major metropolitan areas, Bastrop offers economic value, prime real estate and small-town charms amongst idyllic views. The 40,000-square-foot hospital sits at the Texas 71 and Texas 304 intersection, providing easy access for residents of Bastrop and surrounding communities including La Grange and Smithville.

In addition, the U.S. Census Bureau marks Bastrop as one of the 50 fastest-growing counties in America. The population in Bastrop County was 80,306 per American Community Survey data for 2013-2017, a number expected to skyrocket. 

The hospital is the first project on 30 acres Seton has earmarked for a new medical campus. As Bastrop grows the hospital can expand into a full-service regional hospital, evolving with the community’s needs. The neighborhood hospital will have seven emergency department bays, seven inpatient beds, and will have CT scan and X-ray capabilities. The hospital expects to employ 20 people by the end of the first year and 35 by the end of the second. The second floor will house medical office spaces for high-quality primary and specialty care.

This project included two major developments: a 0.4-mile extension of Agnes street to create transportation ingress/egress and a stormwater drainage channel constructed under a partnership with the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation, Seton, and developer Moran Capital. 

The new hospital augments the city’s vibrant healthcare and bio/life science community. Bastrop is at the forefront of cutting-edge research and development and has attracted investment from leaders in the field. Life science companies, not including healthcare, employ approximately 750 people, and M.D. Anderson and Agilent are two of the top employers in the Bastrop area. The cluster features the Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Agilent Technologies, Caligor Coghlan, and ARQ Genetics.

Agilent Technologies, a leading producer of reagents specializing in cancer diagnostics, made an outpost in Bastrop in the nineties. The company saw revenues of $4.47 billion in 2017 and employs thousands globally. The Bastrop campus employs over 200 people and occupies a 100,000-square-foot facility on 42 acres. 

UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center chose to place its animal resources facility, the Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, in Bastrop. The center works on cancer research. 

Caligor Coghlan provides pharmaceutical services, including clinical commercial drug sourcing, storage, packaging, and distribution, in addition to consulting services. The campus sits in Bastrop’s Business and Industrial Park, 263 acres of wooded hills and lush flats located at the juncture of State Highways 71, 95, and 21. The park is zoned commercial/industrial and ready for more businesses. 

ARQ Genetics provides gene expression data and offers custom-designed gene panels for clients. Doctors John and Shannon Repass have said they located ARQ Genetics in Bastrop in 2001 because of the quality of life, combined with the close proximity to big cities. All of the research staff hold a Ph.D. in molecular biology or a related field. 

The Bastrop EDC touts a pro-business mentality and has worked to build infrastructure to promote growth across all sectors, especially bio/life science and healthcare. The EDC offers assistance to businesses looking to relocate or expand to Bastrop.