economic development

Dallas Is Spending Almost $4 Million on Economic Development Consulting Fees With HR&A Advisors

By April Towery / March 1, 2024 /

The Dallas City Council recently tacked on $1.58 million to an existing contract with HR&A Advisors for consulting work related to the city’s Economic Development Policy. The action extended HR&A’s contract one more year to June 30, 2025, increasing the total amount from $2.3 million to $3.9 million.  The contract almost sailed through with no discussion…

How Much of Dallas’ $1.25B Bond Will be Used For Housing? That Depends. 

By April Towery / February 8, 2024 /

The Dallas City Council talked briefly about the May bond election during a Wednesday council meeting, but not much has changed since elected officials agreed to an outline of allocations by category and doled out their preferences for $75 million in discretionary funds.  The only point of clarification in Wednesday’s meeting was related to bond…

Dallas Leaders Expand Underperforming Fort Worth Avenue TIF District to Include New Sprouts Grocery

By April Towery / November 10, 2023 /

Dallas is moving forward with plans to expand the Fort Worth Avenue Tax Increment Financing District to fund more housing and commercial development in North Oak Cliff and West Dallas. Dallas City Council members voted Wednesday to expand the district to include a planned Sprouts grocery store, so they can funnel the tax increment from that…

Dallas Economic Development Corporation Board to Hire First-Ever CEO to Recruit New Business, Jobs

By April Towery / October 8, 2023 /

Some might be surprised to learn that the ninth-largest U.S. city doesn’t have a person solely responsible for recruiting new development. That’s about to change as the Dallas Economic Development Corporation is advertising a position for its first-ever CEO.  Dallas does have an Economic Development Department with a council-approved policy and Director Robin Bentley leading…

Does Kayaking Ever Cross Your Mind? Fort Worth Gets Candid About $1B Panther Island Project

By April Towery / June 16, 2023 /

Fort Worth could soon have its very own Riverwalk, and the residents who live near the Trinity River might want to invest in a boat, canoe, or kayak.   Community leaders gathered Thursday for a candid conversation on the challenges of navigating $403 million in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ flood control projects while implementing a…