By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling
Opportunity-rich Southern Dallas County took center stage at the Dallas Regional Chamber’s first-of-its-kind Opportunity Summit on Wednesday, June 11, at The Shops at RedBird.
The half-day event, presented by Ernst & Young LLP (EY) and Regions Bank, touted the opportunities for and advantages of doing business in Southern Dallas County and the economically imperative need to invest in the historically under-championed area.
In front of an audience of more than 300 business leaders and community advocates, DRC President and CEO Dale Petroskey detailed the booming growth of the Dallas Region as a whole, as it leads in corporate projects and boasts record job growth.
“That’s all good news, but it’s not enough if everyone, everyone, doesn’t have an opportunity to share in that prosperity,” Petroskey said. “We won’t be the community we want to be, we should be, we know we can be, until everyone has a chance to reach their full potential, and that’s what today is about.”
Read on for the key insights shared by the day’s speakers.
Major development is building now
Southern Dallas County stands at an exciting inflection point.
“People don’t really understand yet that Southern Dallas is really on the edge of major development,” said Cynthia Figueroa, Managing Attorney at The Figueroa Law Group and Dallas Economic Development Corporation Board Member. “It’s not an if, it’s a when. And it’s a short when.”
Southern Dallas County delivers what businesses need most: one million residents, five colleges and universities, and 486 square miles of available, affordable land across 12 cities. The region’s strategic location—minutes from Downtown Dallas with direct access to multiple interstate highways, rail lines, and airports—positions companies to serve the entire North American continent.
“An investment in Southern Dallas County is good for your companies,” Petroskey offered to the business decision-makers in the room.
Peter Brodsky, CEO of The Shops at RedBird, experienced these advantages firsthand.
“I saw a very rare opportunity to do well and do good at the same time,” he said. “This area is so much more than I’ve been told.”
As part of the Summit, the DRC convened a Developers Expo of 25 businesses and organizations leading groundbreaking projects in Southern Dallas County to showcase opportunities and strategies helping to drive prosperity in the area.
Strong communities create strong business outcomes
Keynote speaker John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, & CEO of Operation HOPE Inc., the nation’s largest financial literacy organization, illustrated how driving financial empowerment and economic opportunity in Southern Dallas County supports a prosperous future.
“70% of all gross domestic product for the 30 trillion-dollar economy across the US is consumer spending,” he said. “70% of Americans are living from paycheck to paycheck.”
This economic reality underscores the importance of regional development that strengthens entire communities.
“We’re only as strong as the weakest of us,” said Tyrus Sanders, Regions Bank Executive Vice President and Dallas Market Executive. “If we want to be a strong Dallas and be proud forever, we have to make sure that we’re investing in all parts of our city.”
The region’s educational infrastructure supports this growth.
“In a changing economy with technology evolving, we’ve got to make sure that wherever people are, in whatever stage of life, that they see the path of opportunity,” said Dr. Justin Lonon, Chancellor of Dallas College, which has several campuses throughout Southern Dallas County.
Share Southern Dallas County’s success story
A bright future for Southern Dallas County starts with reshaping how the area is perceived and discussed.
“When you talk about Southern Dallas County… talk about opportunities, the vibrant community, and the beautiful land,” said Michelle Vopni, EY’s Dallas Office Managing Partner.
In order to make Southern Dallas County the “center of tomorrow’s success,” DRC Senior Vice President of Opportunity & Impact Latosha Herron Bruff called on attendees to “change old perceptions” and “rethink what’s possible.”
In an effort to reshape conversations about Southern Dallas County, the DRC is leveraging its Say Yes to Dallas campaign to help connect consumers and future business decision-makers with the often-overlooked gems of the region through a series of videos highlighting the region’s restaurants, businesses, culture, and entertainment.
“Dallas thrives when every part of our region is valued, represented, and included in our shared future,” Herron Bruff said.
With its strategic location, educated workforce, affordable land, and development momentum, Southern Dallas County offers businesses the chance to grow alongside one of the region’s most promising markets. Visit the Southern Dallas County Economic Development Guide to see opportunities for your company.