DRC Expert: 2024 recap and 2025 plans

By Mike Rosa, Senior Vice President, Prosperity & Economic Development

The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) has kept a record of notable corporate location announcements in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region since 2010. To put a bow on 2024, I am unable to resist sharing some of the year’s numbers, notes, and trends.

Our region continues to win. In 2024, we recorded 97 corporate announcements in the region, up from 67 in 2023 and passing the previous one-year high of 94 in 2021.

Success is shared across the region. Fifteen regional cities had multiple announcements, and 31 cities had at least one. Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Irving, and Lancaster were the top five cities for the number of announcements. This does not happen without outstanding communities and great local economic development leadership.

Our region is attractive for all kinds of companies and functions. In 2024, there were 32 headquarters announcements—20 manufacturing, 19 logistics, 17 corporate offices, and nine technology or data projects. The region’s 97 corporate announcements spanned across 32 different industry types like aerospace, auto, business services, finance, food and beverage, life sciences, and technology. Due to the work of many, including the DRC and new gems like Pegasus Park, it’s great to see the life science brand of our region rising to join our other established brands – like headquarters, financial services, technology, and advanced manufacturing – adding to the unmatched diversity of our regional economy.

With Gov. Abbott on an international mission

DFW is a global region. Of the 97 announcements, 24 were made by international companies, representing 12 countries. Canada, Mexico, and Germany were leading source countries. Last year, the DRC joined several regional cities alongside the State of Texas team and Governor Greg Abbott on two international missions; one to India and another to East Asia with visits to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan – all countries with prominent companies located in DFW.

Finally, California is still golden for DFW, as 16 California companies moved or expanded here.

We are in a great position with many opportunities for 2025. The relationships and work we enjoyed with our community economic development allies and state partners in 2024 positioned DFW—and Texas—at the top. Looking to 2025, the DRC team will focus on a few things this year to enhance our ability to lead and support economic development for our region.

We will continue to pursue companies. We have just completed an updated list of potential headquarters relocations and life sciences companies to engage with and attract to the Dallas Region in 2025.

We are refreshing our pitch to talent. Our “Say Yes to Dallas” talent attraction campaign first launched in 2017. In 2025, we will roll out a redesign promoting the message of unlimited opportunity in the Dallas Region.

We will update an international study. In 2016, a DRC study identified countries where we should focus efforts to recruit foreign companies and investment. This year, we will update our data, information, and presentations on DFW’s international corporate base, global trade, and assets for international corporate locations. These updates will guide us to effectively join international missions and build DRC-led missions with our regional allies and partners in 2025 and beyond.

We will inform the Texas legislature on critical issues. We know infrastructure is now a critical win/loss factor for Texas because we work in real-time with companies and location advisors. We will use our first-hand knowledge to inform the DRC’s advocacy efforts in the 89th Texas Legislative Session.

2024 was a successful and interesting year for economic development in our region. We look forward to continuing our work in 2025.

To learn more about the work the DRC is doing in Prosperity & Economic Development, visit our website.

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