News Seton to purchase property in Hays County

Jan. 4, 2007 (Austin, TX) -- In a move that signals interest in providing complex health care services to the exploding population south of Travis County, representatives with the Seton Family of Hospitals today announced they have signed a contract for the purchase of a 205-acre tract of land in Hays County. Seton, the region's largest healthcare provider, is exploring the development of a major medical center at the site to add to its growing family of hospitals across Central Texas.

"As a community ministry with more than 100 years of service to Central Texas, the Seton family has always considered it our responsibility to provide health care services to all the people of this region," Charles Barnett, President and CEO of Seton explained. "As Central Texas continues to grow, we have a responsibility to be accessible in Hays County and to provide the same level of care that is delivered throughout the Seton Family of Hospitals.

The population of Hays County and the surrounding area is expected to grow to 185,000 by 2010 and then to 285,000 in 2020, a more than 50% growth rate in 10 years.

The property under contract was selected because of its excellent north/south access via IH-35 and Hwy 1626, and east/west access via Hwy 150. It is located in Kyle, on Interstate 35, just east of the intersection of I-35 and Highway1626, which is also known as the Kyle Parkway at that intersection.

"We are honored that Seton is considering Kyle as part of its future and we look forward to being a partner with them," said Tom Mattis, Kyle City Manager. "Our City is the epicenter of the most significant growth corridor in Texas and we continue to demonstrate to potential developers that Kyle provides the best opportunity to reach the widest range of new people and customers. An exciting project of this scope, with such a reputable organization as Seton, will be a huge step forward in accomplishing our goal to become a full-service community where citizens can live, play and work."

Seton intends to work with a developer to plan and develop the entire tract of land to include not only healthcare facilities, but also possible retail, commercial and multi-family uses.

While Seton representatives look forward to becoming an integral part of the Hays County community, the purchase of land is only a first step. Any final decision on actual development at the site is dependent upon approval of both the Seton Board of Trustees and the Board of Trustees of Ascension Health, of which Seton is a member. Ascension Health, based in St. Louis, Missouri, is the nation's largest Catholic and largest nonprofit health system.

This announcement comes on the heels of other recent Seton announcements regarding new facilities. The healthcare provider is building the new Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas at the former Mueller airport site in Austin, and the new Seton Medical Center Williamson located at the corner of University Blvd. and FM 1460, east of I-35. Seton is also developing several joint venture healthcare facilities including the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center in Cedar Park, in partnership with Triad Hospitals, Inc., and a new freestanding facility in Austin that will house an inpatient rehabilitation hospital and a long-term acute care hospital, in partnership with the RehabCare Group, Inc.