By Erica Flores, Manager, Economic Development
Fall is in the air and we’re finding it to be one of the busiest seasons in our economic development group at the Chamber. We’re gearing up for our big office move next week, hosting projects, handing out awards, taking marketing trips, and expanding our ED family. As always, we are all working hard to support the Dallas region’s economic growth. Read on to see what we’ve been up to.
Mike Rosa and Erica Flores attended the TEDC Annual Conference in Austin last month. The Texas Economic Development Council is the largest state association of economic development professionals, volunteers, and elected officials that share one common goal — bringing new investment and jobs to Texas.
The Dallas Regional Momentum Awards were held on October 10th at the Hilton Anatole. This year’s event brought record numbers in our application process and event attendance. Thanks to all that applied and came out to celebrate our nine deserving award recipients. A full event breakdown can be found here.
Mike Rosa, Erica Flores, and Tiffany Bryan attended CoreNet Global Summit in Orlando earlier this month. The group hosted a booth on behalf of the DFW Marketing Team.
Sara Carabias-Rush and Jessica Heer will travel to Chicago, IL this month for an Area Development Women in Economic Development Forum that brings together women from economic development, corporate real estate and site location consulting backgrounds to discuss the unique issues, opportunities and challenges facing women in economic development today.
Nancy Davis and Duane Dankesreiter have been hard at work organizing our upcoming move to Lincoln Plaza. The DRC will be closed Friday, October 26th and will re-open in our new location on Monday, October 29th. Come visit us in our new digs at 500 N. Akard Street, Suite 2600, Dallas, TX 75201. A BIG thanks to our members for their gracious donations and support.
The Dallas Regional Chamber and the City of Dallas Office of Economic Development will participate in next week’s Society of Industrial and Office Realtors Fall World Conference in Los Angeles. SIOR is the premier conference for commercial real estate brokers. If you’re in the area, stop by and give us a “Howdy” at booth 11A.
The Dallas Regional Chamber, in partnership with the Center of American and International Law, will host a one-day seminar focused on IP attorneys and other professionals who wish to learn more about the North Texas Entrepreneurial Community. The “Entrepreneurial Engagement Program” will be held at the CAIL office (5201 Democracy Drive, Plano, TX) on November 14th.
The Dallas Regional Chamber and Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce will travel to New York this week to visit with local site selectors and consultants to spread the word about all the great business opportunities the Dallas/Fort-Worth region has to offer.
TEAM NEWS
Tara Vornkahl joined the Dallas Regional Chamber’s economic development team as program coordinator in September. Tara’s 12-hour drive to Dallas started from the Village of Morton in the “Land of Lincoln”. (That’s Illinois for those that didn’t play the license plate game as a kid.) She attended Illinois Central College and Bradley University, receiving two associates’ degrees in Liberal Arts and Marketing as well as a Bachelors of Science in Marketing and Social Media. Her background includes marketing sunglasses in Mexico, being a ‘sample lady’ in local grocery stores and most notably, her work with the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois. We’re excited for you all to meet our newest music-loving, piano-playing, antique-hunting team member!
Jessica Heer was selected to join The Real Estate Council’s Associate Leadership Council (ALC). The ALC program is an intensive 10-month commitment by 25-30 young professionals who will meet monthly, organize and build a team, research, design and implement a renovation project, create a record of their activities by producing a video, and participate in a weekend retreat and 8 monthly topical programs. Congratulations to Jessica for making the cut!
CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS
“Restoration Hardware DC planned in Grand Prairie” – Dallas Business Journal, October 2012
Restoration Hardware plans to build a $22 million, 850,000 square-foot distribution facility in Grand Prairie.
“Hair Products maker L’Oreal plans Dallas Hub “– Dallas Business Journal, September 2012
L’Oreal plans to build a $17 million, 513,000 square-foot regional distribution hub in southern Dallas County, which will break ground on October 1, 2012.
“TopGolf moves headquarters to Uptown Dallas – Dallas Business Journal, September 2012
TopGolf plans to move into its new Uptown Dallas headquarters from Illinois in November, after announcing in June the golf entertainment complex would set up its U.S. corporate offices at 17Seventeen McKinney in Dallas.
“U.S. Commerce Department to Open Four Regional U.S. Patent Offices That Will Speed Up the Patent Process and Help American Businesses Innovate, Grow, and Create Jobs.” – U.S. Commerce Department, July 2012
For the First Time, USPTO Will Expand Operations Outside Washington, DC, to Dallas, Denver, and Silicon Valley, in Addition to Detroit.
“Extend Health Inc. Opens Second Center in Richardson; Plans to Hire 200 Employees, Bringing Local Total to 500+” D Healthcare Daily, July 2012
Extend Health Inc., which operates the country’s largest private Medicare exchange, has opened a second service center in Richardson. It plans to hire another 200 employees, bringing its total local jobs base to more than 500.
“San Diego Company to Build $225 Million Proton Therapy Center in Dallas” – D Magazine, July 2012
Advanced Particle Therapy is building a 100,000 square-foot, $225 million proton therapy center in Dallas. Construction will get under way in early 2013.
NEWS AND RANKINGS
New Data Shows Dallas-Fort Worth Exports Exceed $25 Billion for the 1st Time
Dallas Morning News – Link
Texas Ranks the #2 State for Migration from California
Manhattan Institute – Link
About the Dallas Regional Chamber Economic Development Group
The Dallas Regional Chamber’s Strategic Plan, launched in 2010, identifies the DRC’s primary role: economic development. Every DRC initiative will support the Dallas region’s economic growth, thus fulfilling our mission:
Together, we will lead the Dallas region to become the most economically prosperous region — and the most desirable place to live and work — in the United States.
The DRC’s economic development team works vigorously to help support that mission. Each month we’ll provide an update on these initiatives and projects that support our strategic plan goals.
