DRC hosts first Dallas Regional Days at the top of the Texas Triangle

By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling

Attendees visited the Amazon Air Hub in Fort Worth.

The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) hosted the first-ever Dallas Regional Days: At the top of the Texas Triangle in late November 2024. The three-day event showed off the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region to state legislators ahead of the 89th Texas Legislative Session.

“We work hard every day to get even better and to be the best place in America for everyone, to live, work, and do business,” said DRC President & CEO Dale Petroskey to attending legislators. “When you’re making decisions and casting votes in Austin, we want you to remember what you saw here and to cast your vote to make DFW better because a stronger DFW means a stronger Texas.”

More than 40 elected officials and 72 companies engaged with the event, designed to provide lawmakers experiences unique to Dallas and an in-depth education about the strengths—and needs—of the Dallas Region.

“By the year 2100, it’s expected to have over 30 million people, just in this market. So, imagine what will happen to the rest of the state. And so for the leaders in the room, think big, have vision. Let’s get legislation passed and let’s go way out in the future,” said Ross Perot Jr. at the event’s kickoff. “I don’t see anything that’s going to change our momentum. And the only thing that can slow down is if we don’t continue to be optimistic. Look ahead and get ready for what’s going to happen.”

Legislators and business leaders were welcomed to the University of Texas-Dallas by Temoc, the UTD mascot.

Cynt Marshall, then-CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and 2024 DRC Board Chair, illustrated the Dallas Region’s economic prowess and pivotal role in Texas’ economy.

“Our region is home to 26.6% of the Texas population, but we have 28.7% of the state’s economy. If Dallas-Fort Worth were a nation, our economic output would be ranked 23rd in the world,” Marshall said.

Since 2010, more than 280 headquarters have moved to the Dallas Region and 1.3 million new jobs have been added. Additionally, six Fortune 500 corporate headquarters have moved here in the past eight years, cementing DFW as a destination region for corporate locations and expansion.

The main event of Dallas Regional Days was a day full of educational site visits—five different tours attending a total of 15 site visits chosen to provide a holistic overview of DFW industries, companies, and educational institutions. Host sites included Toyota Motor North America, West Coast University-Texas, Dallas Independent School District, Texas Health Resources, Texas Instruments, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas College, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, University of North Texas, Amazon’s Air Hub, University of Texas at Arlington, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Haynes & Boone, and Pegasus Park.

Before embarking on their site visits, a panel of experts set the scene for one of the most important needs for DFW and the state: water.

“The most pressing water need for the state of Texas and for this region is new water supply. That’s the only way we can get it. We’re not going to conserve our way out of this,” said Kevin Ward, General Manager of the Trinity River Authority.

DFW Airport’s Public Safety Center showed attendees a bomb-detonating device and state-of-the-art facilities.

According to Ward, Texas needs about 19% more water to be able to meet our 2080 needs. Water and other infrastructure needs are top priorities of the DRC’s legislative agenda, and the DRC recently joined a coalition of business leaders urging the Texas Legislature to establish a dedicated revenue source for water projects.

Companies moving to the region are thinking about water supply in the long-term, which means the need must be addressed now.

“It’s starting to impact us now as we think about opportunities for growth and expansion and where we can operate as a business. We have to have consistent, secure, reliable sources of water in order to grow our crops and produce the foods and beverages that we do as an organization,” said David Allen, Vice President of Sustainability at PepsiCo. “We’re making decisions now for growth that we’re going to invest in coming years, and we have to take an honest look at what is possible… We feel it now and we’re making decisions now based on the water projections.”

Solutions will require the cooperation of public and elected officials and the private sector and an increased sense of urgency.

“It’s [for] our grandchildren. What are they going to do without us making these investments today? What does their world look like? Do you have water for them? Do they have the ability to flush a toilet or experience a lake?” asked Sarah Standifer, Director of Dallas Water Utilities. “We’re going to have to get creative. We’re going to have to play in the sandbox together a whole lot more as we move forward.”

Capping off the event, Petroskey led Senator Kelly Hancock in a conversation on what legislators should take back to the Austin.

At UT Southwestern Medical Center, attendees got a peak into a molecular biology lab.

As the Dallas Region continues to excel as an economic powerhouse, it is important for legislators to understand what makes the Dallas Region critical to Texas.

“This is our first year hosting this event. It won’t be the last. We want you to see what’s going on in the DFW area,” said Jim Springfield, President of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and 2025 DRC Board Chair. “It’s exciting to see leaders from across the state come together, share ideas, talk about issues, talk about problems, and work them out. That’s what collaboration looks like. That’s what makes Texas a wonderful state.”

Thank you to our 30+ sponsors who made Dallas Regional Days possible, including American Airlines, AT&T, Bank of America, Baylor Scott and White, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Haynes & Boone, Hillwood Development Company, LLC., Oncor, Texas Instruments, Toyota Motor North America, Wells Fargo, Amazon, Chickasaw Nation, Dallas College, DART, Fidelity, LH Capitol, Lockheed Martin, Southwest Airlines, Texas Health Resources, The, University of Texas at Arlington, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Verizon, Cyrus One, The Dallas Cowboys, Google, MV Transportation, Ryan, LLC, Starbucks, The University of North Texas, The University of North Texas – Dallas, and West Coast University.

The DRC is already looking forward to our next Public Policy event, the Austin Fly-In. On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the DRC will host an exclusive trip to Austin to meet with our state leaders during the 89th Texas Legislative Session and advocate for pro-growth, pro-business policies benefiting the Dallas Region. To learn more about this event, email publicpolicy@dallaschamber.org.

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