From Y’all Street to Wall Street: Dallas Delegation Will Make Its Case in New York
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Dallas is taking its Y’all Street pitch to Wall Street next week, with an official delegation led by Mayor Eric Johnson and City Manager Kimberly Tolbert heading to the Big Apple to tout the Big D’s pro-business bona fides and court more investment and corporate relocations.
At a press conference at City Hall on Thursday, Johnson said it’s now undeniable that Dallas has become a serious competitor in the financial services sector since the advent of Y’all Street. While the financial scene down here is more diffuse than in New York City and has yet to be anchored by say… a new financial district, big-ticket company relocations and expansions, and an effective branding exercise are raising Dallas’ profile.
“Three stock exchanges are headquartered right here: the New York Stock Exchange Texas, NASDAQ Texas, and, of course, the Texas Stock Exchange are all opening for business this year,” Johnson said. “Goldman Sachs is finishing its new 800,000-square-foot campus in Victory Park for 5,000 employees, and just a short walk from there, Scotiabank will soon be opening their regional headquarters.”
The NYSE Texas opened in March 2025 after the NYSE’s parent company relocated the old Chicago Stock Exchange to Texas. NASDAQ Texas is a new dual-listing venue with headquarters that is targeting a first-quarter 2026 launch pending regulatory approval. The Texas Stock Exchange, first announced in 2024, is a new Texas-based national exchange that is also expected to begin trading in the first quarter of 2026.
Rather than just patting themselves on the back, Johnson said local officials and business leaders are going to work to keep the momentum going by traveling to New York City to “personally invite more New York-based businesses to take part in this exciting new chapter of the Dallas story.”
The delegation will include president and CEO of Communities Foundation of Texas Wayne White, developer Ray Washburne, founder and CEO of Pinnacle Group Nina Vaca, chair of the Dallas Economic Development Corporation Gilbert Gerst, president and CEO of Marshalling Resources Cynthia Marshall, president and CEO of Visit Dallas Craig Davis, AT&T Performing Arts Center executive Chris Heinbaugh, president of SMU Jay Hartzell, and founder and managing partner of HN Capital Partners Vipin Nambiar.
The delegation will leave next Wednesday and spend the following two days meeting with local business executives. According to a press release, members of the delegation will cover their own expenses.
Johnson has been vocal about wanting to recruit companies away from New York City in recent months, particularly following the city’s mayoral election of Zohran Mamdani last fall. In public comments and on social media, Mayor Johnson has contrasted Dallas’ tax and regulatory environment with ongoing policy debates on taxes and public spending playing out in New York. Critics of the new mayor have cautioned that his willingness to hike taxes on businesses and property owners could lead to more corporate flight to states like Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina.
As previously reported by CandysDirt.com, the Lone Star State has been on a tear in recent years when it comes to corporate relocations — and D-FW has certainly gotten its share. A survey conducted by Site Selection Magazine last year put the city at the top of the list for corporate site scouts looking for new headquarters locations.
“When investors look at Dallas, they see stability, they see opportunity, and they see growth, and most importantly, they see alignment, where we work together with our private sector partners to move this city forward,” Tolbert said. “This trip will allow us to deepen relationships with key financial leaders and demonstrate that Dallas is prepared not just for growth but for leadership on the national and international stage.”
