By Elizabeth Koestler, Vice President, Economic Development
Estimated reading time: 1.5 minutes
Of the many ways the DRC team works to attract companies to DFW, one of our least-publicized efforts is often the most promising: going straight to companies and building relationships in person. Sometimes, planting those seeds years in advance is exactly how a prospective business eventually becomes a corporate neighbor. That’s the idea behind our marketing trips—and why we make them a regular part of our work.
Planting the seeds: Why the DRC travels for DFW
A few times each year, we travel to major U.S. markets to bring the DFW story directly to the companies writing the next chapter of their own. Our most recent trip took us to New York City.
We met with businesses considering relocations or expansions, some that already have a presence in DFW—and are weighing whether to grow it—and others that haven’t yet planted roots in our region at all. Our goal is to make DFW impossible to overlook when those decisions get made.
Most of the meetings we take are confidential. Companies exploring location decisions aren’t ready to go public with that process, so our role is to be a trusted resource in those conversations and help them navigate the entire DFW region from their current home.
When we have the opportunity to bring along DRC investors and regional economic development partners, the impact multiplies. There’s a meaningful difference made when a DFW business leader shares what our region has to offer right alongside us. These peer-to-peer moments give prospective companies a real peek into the DFW business community—and for the companies that aren’t yet familiar with our region, that perspective can be comforting and persuasive.
Forging partnerships from Wall Street to Y’all Street
On this trip, our meetings covered a wide range of industries—from financial services to life sciences—to reflect DFW’s diverse economy. We also took part in two iconic moments: closing a day with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and kicking off another with Nasdaq.
DFW has become a major hub for financial services activity, and the region is now home to three stock exchanges: the Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE), NYSE Texas and Nasdaq Texas. Getting to see two of them up close in their home bases was an exciting reminder of what’s to come and already happening in our region.
NYSE Texas hosted our group for the NYSE closing bell at their headquarters on Wall Street, and the following morning, we headed to Nasdaq for their opening bell. Coincidentally, the company ringing the bell that day was YESWAY, a Fort Worth-based company marking its Initial Public Offering (IPO)—a powerful testimony to the scale and success of businesses across DFW.
Fostering DFW’s growth, both within and outside regional bounds
By keeping DFW on the radar of business decision-makers, we’re building a foundation for long-term relationships that could pay off in a major announcement years later.
While our region’s growth speaks for itself, that growth doesn’t happen on its own—it’s forged through dedicated partnerships and collective efforts. And we’re grateful to the partners who help us maintain and further our region’s growth by supporting our work—both within DFW and beyond.
We’ll be back on the road before long, and we’ll keep bringing the DFW story with us so that our region can continue to grow together. Visit our Prosperity & Economic Development webpage to learn more.