SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION // GREAT PLACES
TEXAS
WHERE BUSINESS IS MOVING
PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
BY SUSAN BURNELL
Business is simply stellar in the Lone Star State. Low taxes, reasonable regulations, tort reform and
workforce readiness are a big part of the story. Those four components of the Texas model make
the state resilient in the face of the recession’s ravages and keep it rich with opportunity.
“Texas is proud to be the nation’s
leading example of how to foster an
economic climate that creates jobs
and opens the door to opportunity,”
says Governor Rick Perry. “Month after
month the Lone Star State tops business rankings for business climate, job
growth and thriving communities.”
The Texas success story rises from
14,000 feet below ground at the Eagle
Ford Shale development in South Texas
to heights of 330,000 feet above the
earth via reusable launch vehicles developed in Midland. It will reach far into the
solar system with the new James Webb
Space Telescope, set for testing at Johnson Space Center in 2014.
Activity Spans the State
Shining examples of economic growth,
opportunity and achievement can be
found in expected—and unexpected—
places in Texas.
San Antonio, strong in bioscience,
healthcare and aerospace, is gaining
momentum as a cybersecurity hub. General Motors announced plans to build an
IT innovation center in Austin, tapping the
area’s wealth of talent, including graduates of the University of Texas’ highly
touted computer science program.
Oil and gas giants continue to exhibit
strong growth. Irving-based ExxonMobil
opened new facilities in Northeast Texas,
and Phillips 66 selected Houston as its
global headquarters.
Allen: A Textbook Example
of Livability
“Texas has demonstrated its probusiness environment through its tax
policies, commitment to education,
transportation, infrastructure and abundant, reliable power,” says Harry C.
Whalen, executive director and CEO,
Allen Economic Development Corporation (AEDC). “Some other states don’t
‘get it,’ but we do. Texas has everything
business decision makers look for. We
know how to create, develop and move
business forward to make a profit here
in Texas and in Allen.”
CEOs and C-level executives are
choosing to live in the Dallas suburb
of Allen for its livability and attractiveness to business, Whalen says: “We
have taken a textbook community and
enhanced it.”
Experian was one of the first companies to recognize the tremendous
potential of this city, says Carlos Medina,
senior vice president, strategy and global
operations: “Our positive and collaborative relationship with the city influenced
our decision to move additional components of our business here.”
Cisco Systems Inc. has a $1 billion
green data center in the works, its largest to date. Also new to Allen is outfitter
Cabela’s. AEDC helped expedite zoning
for both companies, a process that took
less than four weeks apiece.
The AEDC also was instrumental in
helping video gaming company Zynga,
the world’s leading provider of social
game services, relocate to Allen from
Dallas in January 2012. “Most of our
employees live in the Allen, McKinney,
PHOTO BY JIM WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY
PROMOTION 2 // TEXAS
The first game at the Allen Eagles Stadium
Plano and Frisco areas,” says General
Manager David Rippy, Zynga Dallas.
“We considered many factors, including
distance from our employees’ homes,
quality of the schools and amenities that
are attractive to our workforce. Allen was
really the ideal fit. Our out-of-town visitors also like our location because of its
easy access to the Dallas/Fort Worth
(DFW) International Airport via State
Highway 121.”
Frontier Communications cites the
city’s abundant labor pool, training
assistance and quality of life for helping
it attract individuals skilled in technology.
Other recent expansions include Billings
Productions, which produces animatronic dinosaurs for zoos and museums;
and bank automation provider Jack
Henry & Associates Inc.
When fiber optic and optical systems
technology firm Amphenol Fiber Systems International moved to the heart of
the area’s telecom corridor, the AEDC,
the City of Allen and the Texas Workforce
Commission stepped up to assist with
training grants. “This assistance confirmed that our decision to expand in Allen
was the correct choice,” says Amphenol
General Manager Bill Guernsey.
Wells Fargo
This year marks the 160th anniversary of
Wells Fargo. On March 18, 1852, Henry Wells
and William G. Fargo created the company
that would take banking and express services to the West. Our history has been a
strong, stable platform that we are proud to
build upon.
In Texas, we have built the state’s largest
retail banking network. With our other lines
of business—such as commercial, energy,
mortgage, brokerage, insurance, corporate
banking and call centers—we are 19,000
team members in 800 locations, serving over
2 million households and holding more than
$50 billion in deposits.
But numbers never tell the whole story. We
reached this historic milestone for two reasons: First, we work with our customers and
communities to help them succeed financially.
Second, we stay true to our values and put our
customers first. That is the true history of Wells
Fargo and the only measure of success that
really matters.
Chip Carlisle, President,
Texas Region of Wells Fargo
wellsfargo.com
Call, click, or stop by to start a conversation today.
W E L L S FA R G O . C O M
|
1 - 8 0 0 -T O - W E L L S
© 2012 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.
Member FDIC. (734916_06224)
PROMOTION 4 // TEXAS
Midland: Clear Path to Success
Midland’s business climate, as well
as its weather, is excellent for aviation
and aerospace companies, says Laura
Roman, who chairs the Midland Development Corporation board. “When
combined with the very predictable
regulatory climate of Texas, tort reform
initiatives and incentive programs at the
local level through the Type A Sales Tax
for industrial development, we have a
very attractive location.”
Midland International Airport’s clear
flight paths were very enticing to XCOR
Aerospace, which announced earlier
this year that it would be locating its
research and development headquarters at the airport.
“The weather, surrounding landscape, airport, and local and state
government environment are ideally
situated for the future growth and the
ultimate realization of a fully reusable
orbital system,” says Andrew Nelson, chief operating officer of XCOR
Aerospace. “With future suborbital
operational sites on the East and West
Coasts of the United States and around
the world, plus a manufacturing and test
facility geographically separate from our
R&D facility, Midland will truly be at the
heart of XCOR’s innovation engine.”
The area’s existing infrastructure and
educational assets have great appeal for
other technology-intensive firms. “Midland has been a leader in technology
An oil pump and wind turbine at dusk
for the oil and gas industry for over 100
years,” says Pam Welch, Midland Development Corporation executive director.
“With that comes a natural openness
to new technologies and a strong base
of skilled workforce—essential for R&D
and prototype development.”
Midland’s colleges offer aviation maintenance courses, and the University
of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB),
located just 20 miles from Midland, has
plans to expand its mechanical and
petroleum engineering programs. “We’re
seeing a lot of engineers come to UTPB,
and we expect enrollment to soar this
year,” says UTPB Provost Bill Fannin.
Midland is poised to capitalize on its
location in the heart of West Texas, halfway between Fort Worth and El Paso.
This prime position is coupled with a
thriving Central Business District consisting of corporate headquarters and
financial institutions. It is easy to see
why Midland was ranked number one
in the nation in terms of average annual
growth rate from 2001 to 2011 in the
U.S. Metro Areas Economy Report.
McKinney: Sustainable
Neighborhoods, Diverse Economy
Located just 30 minutes north of Dallas,
McKinney is a community set apart from
Allen Economic Development Corporation
What impresses people most about Allen is
that everything is right here. That includes
well-planned neighborhoods, business parks,
medical, retail, dining, performing arts and
recreation. We have quality infrastructure, reliable electricity and city services. Enhancing
that is good community leadership, a highly
skilled workforce and excellent schools. Our
high school graduation rate is 98.7% and
nearly half of our residents have a bachelor’s
degree or higher.
The quality of the Allen community attracts
residents with a high level of spending power
and disposable income. This makes Allen a
prime location for restaurants, shopping centers and other retail venues with new retail
Harry Whalen, Executive Director
and CEO, Allen Economic
Development Corporation
amenities of over 3 million square feet for our
citizens in the past five years and over 250,000
square feet of new office just in the past year.
The Allen Economic Development Corporation is both aggressive and cooperative, eager
to recruit new companies and help existing
industries grow. Incentives are available with
consideration given to the type of industry,
capital investment, annual payroll and number
of jobs.
We welcome you to learn
more about Allen and its
uniquely livable, businessfriendly style.
allentx.com
“13
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HAVE YOU MET ALLEN, TX?
Just north of Dallas.
The Perfect Place for Business.
– ALLEN, TEXAS –
ALLEN, a high-tech suburb with a premiere workforce, was recently
named one of the Top 20 ‘Best Places to Live’ by CNN Money Magazine.
With the addition of PFSweb, Cisco Systems, a Cabela’s retail store, and
the regional office of Frontier Communications, momentum for business
in Allen is stronger than ever. See how cost-saving incentives can make Allen
the place for YOUR business.
972.727.0250 | [email protected]
Visit us online at www.AllenTX.com
PROMOTION 6 // TEXAS
will include its corporate headquarters,
a research and development facility, a
car museum and a remote-control
racetrack attraction. Zynga acquired
homegrown mobile game developer
Newtoy, which got its start in McKinney’s public librar y in 2010, for a
reported $53.3 million. The Zynga With
Friends group is now housed in the
city’s historic Cotton Mill building.
McKinney is home to Collin County
Regional Airport and is just 37 miles
northeast of DFW International Airport.
McKinney has room to grow, with several business parks like the Craig Ranch
Corporate Center attracting corporate
relocations and office developments.
Plano: Smart People.
Smart Place.®
Construction cranes are a common
sight around Plano, with expansion and
new high-profile development projects
under way. “Companies recognize it’s a
smart choice to locate here,” says Sally
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of the nation’s top communities.”
Among its impressive list of national
accolades, McKinney was cited by
4VUL`magazine as No. 2 on its 2012
“Best Places to Live” list, up from No. 5
in 2010 and No. 14 in 2008. The city was
also recognized by the America’s Promise Alliance as one of its “Top 100 Best
Communities for Young People.”
McKinney’s diverse economic base
includes top employers Ray theon,
McKinney Medical Center and Encore
W i re. Em e r s o n Pro c e s s M a n a g e ment, part of the McKinney business
community for more than 50 years,
is moving its Regulator Technologies
headquarters to a high-profile, 90-acre
development. That site is already home
to the Collin Higher Education Center, a
partnership among five universities and
Collin College.
Notable new additions include Traxxas,
maker of radio-controlled cars, trucks
and boats. The company broke ground
this year on a new 12-acre spread that
Beltway 8
the typical suburban environment. “Our
mix of hometown charm and big-city
convenience attracts people in droves,”
says Mayor Brian Loughmiller. “McKinney is a great place to live, and has
created a competitive environment that
supports entrepreneurs and businesses
of all sizes.”
McKinney is recognized by the U.S.
Census Bureau as one of America’s
fastest-growing cities. Its population
increased 141% between 2000 and
2010.
“We don’t aspire to be the fastestg r ow in g c i t y in th e n a ti o n,” s ay s
Loughmiller. “Our desire is to be the
ILZ[ city in the nation. McKinney’s
well-preser ved historic downtown,
dynamic business community, extensive educational opportunities, safe
and sustainable neighborhoods and
wide-ranging amenities offer people
a wonderful place to build a life and
grow a business. That’s why McKinney
is consistently nationally ranked as one
288
GREAT PLACES // PROMOTION 7
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David Bettner, co-creator of Words With Friends, at a Zynga event in McKinney
and an attractive talent pool of people
from diverse backgrounds. Plano has
quick accessibility to airports and to
major highways, which makes it easy
for travel. Plano maintains a high level of
services to its citizens and offers several
parks, leisure activities, sports programs and a vibrant arts community.”
Software developer Tyler Technologies has a new corporate and divisional
headquarters under construction on a
26-acre campus. Independent oil and
gas producer Denbury Resources is
expanding at the Campus at Legacy,
where it already occupies 500,000
square feet. In July, Encana Oil & Gas
(USA) moved into its 13-story office
towe r in the Le gacy Town Ce nte r
North. Power electronics manufacturer
Eltek is building a 107,000-square-foot
facilit y to house its Nor th A me rican headquar ters, production and
re search labs. T he brisk demand
for Class-A office space along the
Sam Rayburn Tollway in Plano is also
Dallas North Tollway
new headquarters here in 2007,” says
Mark Speese, Rent-A-Center chairman
and CEO. “The city offered incentives,
an excellent quality of life for its citizens
Preston Rd.
Bane, Plano Economic Development’s
executive director.
“Rent-A-Center has called Plano
home since 1998 and chose to build its
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PROMOTION 8 // TEXAS
spurring speculative development.
Sugar Land: Doing Business
With the World
The award-winning master-planned City
of Sugar Land, 20 miles southwest of
Houston, is home to a growing number
of regional and international corporations. Minute Maid, Schlumberger,
Bechtel EO, Yokogawa, Tramontina
USA, SABIC Americas and Aetna are
among the high-profile firms with a
Sugar Land presence.
Sugar Land’s low ta x structure,
availability of Class-A real estate, community infrastructure, quality of life,
strong workforce and business incentives attract corporate relocations in
such industries as engineering, construction, technical services, energy
exploration and production, technology and research, electronics and
communications.
The Sugar Land Office of Economic
Development recently reported that Noble
Drilling Services and Fluor Enterprises,
Inc., are expanding their operations in
Sugar Land. Newcomers moving to the
area include Team Industrial’s corporate
headquarters, Atos Origin, Money Management International and OptumRx, a
division of UnitedHealth Group.
Premium shopping, dining and entertainment venues draw visitors and fans
from across the region. Sugar Land’s
new minor league baseball stadium,
A park in Sugar Land
Constellation Field, opened in the spring
of 2012 with sellout crowds. The $36
million, 7,500-seat facility was funded
with local sales tax revenues designated
for economic development.
“Sugar Land is recognized for its safe
environment, quality of life, financial
stewardship and public-private partnerships,” says Mayor James Thompson.
“Our economic development achievements, enter tainment venues and
excellent quality of life make us a destination of choice.”
Cedar Hill: Easy Access
to Work and Recreation
It’s only a 20-minute drive from Cedar Hill
to downtown Dallas, a 40-minute drive to
downtown Fort Worth, and a 30-minute
drive to DFW International Airport. That
easy access to the Metroplex is attractive to businesses looking for the right
blend of small- and large-city amenities.
Cedar Hill offers a diverse and plentiful
workforce pool, says Allison Thompson,
director of economic development. “The
sectors that are the best fit for Cedar Hill
McKinney, Texas
As one of the fastest-growing cities in the
country, McKinney continues to grow and
attract companies like Emerson Process Management, Raytheon, Encore Wire, Traxxas,
Tong Yang Group, Torchmark and Zynga With
Friends, as well as a mix of entrepreneurships
of all sizes.
Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex,
McKinney is just a quick 30-minute drive to
DFW International Airport and home to Collin
County Regional Airport. McKinney offers the
perfect mix for successful business development: a highly educated workforce, proximity
to major markets, availability of land, competitive incentives, excellent schools and a
nationally acclaimed quality of life.
Consistently ranked on the annual “Best
Places to Live in America” list in Money magazine, the city was ranked No. 2 in 2012, up
from No. 5 in 2010. And the America’s Promise Alliance recognized McKinney in 2012 as
one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for
Young People.
McKinney is a community where businesses
thrive and employees want to call home.
Brian Loughmiller,
Mayor, McKinney, Texas
mckinneyedc.com
Our Unique Nature makes us
one of the Best Places to Live
Among a host of national accolades, McKinney ranks No. 2 on the 2012 Best Places to Live in America list published
by Money Magazine. As one of the fastest growing cities in the country, it’s no wonder McKinney attracts companies
like Emerson Process Management, Raytheon, Encore Wire, Traxxas, Tong Yang Group, Torchmark and Zynga with
Friends. If you want to be close to Dallas/Ft. Worth, but based in a city where your business can thrive and your
employees will want to call home, come see what makes McKinney so unique.
1-800-TEX-MCKY
www.mckinneyedc.com
PROMOTION 10 // TEXAS
are professional offices, education, light
industrial and corporate campuses. The
restaurants, hotels, business services,
and housing, recreation and retail are
here to support those business sectors.”
Access to the great outdoors is
another Cedar Hill asset. The city is
18% parkland. Cedar Hill State Park is
within the city limits, as is the Dogwood
Canyon Audubon Center. Cedar Hill is
known for being the highest elevation
in North Texas, and it offers waterfront
residential property overlooking 6,469acre Joe Pool Lake.
Frisco: Diverse Economy
With Thriving Industries
Frisco is located in Denton and Collin
Counties, approximately 25 minutes
north of downtown Dallas, the DFW
International Airport and Dallas Love
Field. Frisco is one of the fastest-growing
communities in the United States; its
population has expanded 250% since
2000 and there is plenty of room to grow.
The Frisco Economic Development
Corporation is focused on supporting
business formation, creating massive
infrastructure for business attraction
and maintaining progressive business
retention and expansion programs.
Significant 2011 projects facilitated
could amount to more than $152 million in new investment and create
a potential of over 2,034 jobs, says
James L. Gandy, President of the Frisco
Uptown Cedar Hill
Economic Development Corporation.
“We take great pride in building partnerships with our existing industries and
prospects looking to locate in Frisco.”
In May, Greatbatch, Inc., announced
that it would establish a new global
headquarters in Frisco, with an eye
toward growing its medical device
business. “Frisco offers us proximity to
an established medical device cluster,
surrounded by a business community
that includes leading medical technology firms, as well as access to talent
and key industry opinion leaders,” says
Thomas J. Hook, President and CEO of
Greatbatch, Inc. “As we take the next
step in our strategic evolution, we are
confident that our relocation to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area will help us achieve
greater growth.”
Wells Fargo: Investing
in Texas Communities
Wells Fargo has a network of 690 banking stores and 1,069 ATMs in Texas, and
employs 19,000 statewide.
Midland Development Corporation
Midland’s superb business climate has evolved over the past
century as the community grew to be the regional headquarters
for the West Texas oil and gas industry.
With a projected 12% population growth
this year, companies in all industries can
benefit from the business climate and
natural advantages the Midland region
offers.
The Midland Development Corporation (MDC), a Type-A Sales Tax
Corporation, has the ability to structure incentive packages to qualified
new and existing employers who create
and retain diversified jobs. With an I-20
location, Union Pacific rail service and a
Foreign Trade Zone, Midland is a prime
location for distribution and manufacturing. The Midland International Airport has many sites available to meet the needs
of the aerospace/aviation industry, as
shown with the recent announcement
of XCOR Aerospace R&D Headquarters.
The importance of education in Midland is reflected in the percentage of
its population with a completed bachelor’s degree—well above the national
average. Engineers, geoscientists and
financial professionals make up much of
Midland’s workforce.
www.midlandtxedc.com
Explore the endless possibilities in Midland, TX.
Whether you are looking to relocate or expand your
business, Midland’s exceptional assets promote
sustainable growth when other parts of the country
are struggling.
x #1 in the nation in average annual growth from
2001-2011 (U.S. Metro Economies Report-2011)
x Highly skilled workforce
x Business friendly climate
x Incentives available –
Type A Sales Tax Corporation
x Available sites on Interstate 20 and at
Midland International Airport
x Thriving Central Business District with
development opportunities
x Emerging commercial space industry with the
new XCOR Aerospace R&D center and Midland
International Airport seeking FAA certification as
a spaceport
“We are pleased to be establishing our R&D
center in Midland, Texas, where the weather,
surrounding landscape, the airport and the local
and state government environments are ideally
situated for the future growth and the ultimate
realization of a fully reusable orbital system.”
- Andrew Nelson, Chief Operating Officer,
XCOR Aerospace
109 North Main
Midland, Texas 79701
1.855.824.6435
Pam Welch
[email protected]
www.midlandtxedc.com
www.makemidlandhome.com
PROMOTION 12 // TEXAS
The company has made $3.6 billion in community development loans
and investments in projects that support affordable housing, community
services, and economic development,
revitalization and stabilization. Texas’
share of that is more than $259 million.
The nation’s number one small business lender bank (based on 2011 Small
Business Administration federal fiscal
year-end data) has invested more than
$137 million in Texas.
Education is high on the list of Wells
Fargo priorities. “Education is critical to
our future as a state,” says Chip Carlisle,
president of the Texas Region for Wells
Fargo. “We have to help students—and
their parents—understand the importance of graduating from high school
and going to college. Wells Fargo is
creating good jobs in Texas, and we
need a steady flow of educated, motivated people to take advantage of those
career opportunities.” The company has
invested $50 million in 8,000 educational
programs and schools around the U.S.,
with $18 million in matched educational
donations from team members. In Texas,
A typical Texas residential neighborhood
the investment exceeds $2.3 million.
Home owner ship is another top
Wells Fargo priority. Nationwide, it has
GREAT PLACES // PROMOTION 13
contributed $33 million in grants to nonprofits supporting home ownership, with
$1.3 million in Texas alone.
Wells Fargo Securities economists
recently commented on the Texas
economy and the Eagle Ford Shale
development. “The effects of the Eagle
Ford Shale development can be found
in the number of jobs, income levels and
wages, as well as in the rate of increase
of retail sales compared to other regions
in the state,” repor ted Eugenio J.
Alemán, senior economist, and Kaylyn
Swankoski, economic analyst. “Retail
sales in the counties that have grown the
most since the Eagle Ford Shale development started grew at an impressive
55.1% per annum rate. Furthermore, if
we include the 23-county area benefited
by the Eagle Ford development, retail
sales have increased at a 15.4% annual
rate. Meanwhile, during the same period
of time, retail sales rose by only 7.2% in
the rest of the United States.”
Wells Fargo continues to invest in technology for the benefit of its customers. In
August, the company was named “Best
Corporate/Institutional Internet Bank”
and “Best Consumer Internet Bank in the
United States” by .SVIHS-PUHUJL magazine for the third consecutive year.
with local communities to promote job
creation and significant private investment that will assist economically
distressed areas of the state. Approved
projects are eligible to apply for state
sales and use tax refunds on qualified
expenditures.
Business in Texas has every reason
to thrive. “We continuously work to
strengthen the pillars that have built
our economy: low taxes, reasonable
regulations, a legal climate that discourages frivolous lawsuits, and a
hardworking and equipped workforce,”
says Governor Perry.
Those star qualities keep companies moving to Texas, and keep Texas
business soaring skyward.
Ŷ
YOU ARE
THRIVING
Incentives for Expansions
and Start-Ups
In Texas, new ventures and expanding
firms don’t have to move heaven and
earth to get past red tape. The Texas
Economic Development Corporation
(TEDC) makes it even more enticing to
do business in the state, with incentive programs like the Texas Enterprise
Fund (TEF), Texas Emerging Technology
Fund (TETF) and Texas Enterprise Zone
Program.
Caterpillar, for example, received two
TEF awards and has grown its workforce to 3,000 statewide. The company’s
$200 million state-of-the-art hydraulic
excavator facility in Victoria opened in
August. Samsung likewise continues to
invest billions of dollars following its initial TEF award.
The TETF, created seven years ago,
promotes and finances technological
innovations across multiple industries,
including biotechnology. The Texas
Enterprise Zone Program par tners
YOU ARE HERE.
You are part of a thriving community located 25 minutes
from Downtown Dallas, D/FW International Airport and Dallas
Love Field. You have grown more than 250% since 2000,
and you have more than 127,000 neighbors and friends
within the city limits alone. You are supported by a massive
infrastructure of businesses from almost every industry.
Your city is on the rise, creating jobs, opportunities and an
extraordinary quality of life. Your address is Frisco, Texas.
You are here.
Frisco Economic Development Corporation
6801 Gaylord Pkwy. Ste. 400 · Frisco, Texas 75034 · 972-292-5150 · FRISCOEDC.COM