A look at the pipeline, wins, and strategy driving Fort Worth’s growing standing with corporate decision-makers in 2026.
The first half of 2026 has reinforced something we have been building toward for several years: Fort Worth is earning its seat at the table in the discussion about where sophisticated corporations choose to invest. The project pipeline activity, the quality of companies we are engaging, and the wins we have closed are not coincidences—they reflect a deliberate, community-backed strategy that is producing measurable results. This mid-year update is an opportunity to share what that looks like in practice and share some projections about Fort Worth’s trajectory.
A Pipeline Built on Quality
In the first half of 2026, the Fort Worth EDP pipeline has worked about 125 leads, inquiries, and projects, about 80% of which first crossed our desks in 2026. Each year, we carry over active projects from the end of one year to the next, as many economic development deals take well over a year to work from initial inquiry to final site selection. Approximately 30 percent of 2026 inquiries have come from companies in electronics manufacturing or aerospace and defense companies—two industries with strong macroeconomic significance this year and unique relationship to Fort Worth’s legacy industries and economic strengths.
And just as Fort Worth’s industrial strengths continue to be an asset in today’s economic environment, we have also seen a notable increase in direct outreach from site selection consultants and companies evaluating headquarters and office-based relocations that are interested in Fort Worth. While several of these projects originate from companies in the manufacturing and products sector, they represent a wide range of industries— that tells you our talent base is winning.
A Robust Pipeline Leads to Organic Growth in Strategic Industries
One recent win shows what this kind of pipeline can produce. In 2025, Wistron chose Fort Worth as the home of its first North American electronic component manufacturing operation, in partnership with NVIDIA. And we didn’t have to wait long to see the payoff: in just the last few months, the decision has netted billions of dollars in follow-on capital investment for the Fort Worth region, and even before its official opening this summer, the company has already signed another lease to expand operations.
Fort Worth’s sophisticated manufacturing environment, central U.S. location, and strong workforce continue to drive this kind of investment from companies in strategic industries — and the economic opportunity that comes with it for Fort Worth residents.
Looking Ahead: Strong Closing Opportunities in Q3 and Q4
In the latter half of 2026, expect to see headline wins for Fort Worth. In my opinion, the segment of active projects we are working right now is one of the strongest I have seen in my time here: high-scoring projects with great job creation and investment figures in target industries that will really move the ball for Fort Worth. Top drivers of projects continue to be real estate and talent availability, and with one of the strongest metro talent bases in the country. The strength of interest in Fort Worth is promising, and the on-the-ground operation to continue that momentum is in full force.
Three Wins That Tell a Broader Story
While that pipeline builds toward future wins, several have already crossed the finish line in 2026 — and together, they say something important about Fort Worth’s positioning across industries, geographies, and workforce profiles.
Celestica is an advanced manufacturer of products critical to the electronics and energy sectors. Their decision to grow in Fort Worth will create more than 1,000 jobs, directly strengthening the workforce pipeline in one of our most-targeted industries, and an investment nearing $1B. This is exactly the kind of project that future-proofs Fort Worth’s industrial base for advancements in the manufacturing industry.
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services chose Fort Worth as the national headquarters. That decision reflects organic, earned confidence in Fort Worth as a home for corporate operations and talent — and it is a meaningful signal of our city’s competitive standing in the financial and corporate services sector.
Weir is a retention win with significant strategic weight. Their decision to invest in a divisional headquarters in downtown Fort Worth in the energy sector is a vote of confidence in both our urban core and our long-term business environment. It reflects the dual strength of Fort Worth as a market: compelling for manufacturing and industrial growth, and equally compelling for office and headquarters investment.
Add it up, and that’s three wins in our target industries, in two of Fort Worth’s key office nodes. They represent an advanced manufacturing story and two distinct corporate office stories, making a compelling case for the depth and versatility of the Fort Worth economy. And winning the Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development for the second year in a row gives measurable validation to the strategy and the successes that we’re seeing on the ground.
What This Means for Fort Worth
The project pipeline and record of wins in 2026 are a teaser of the growth and momentum building in this city. It is difficult to fully measure how much Fort Worth’s national position has improved over the last three years, but the evidence is clear: Fort Worth is increasingly better positioned for consideration by corporate decision-makers today across a variety of industries, sizes, and asset types.
That improved positioning is the product of deepened relationships with economic development professionals and site selectors who influence which cities make the short list, increased visibility with commercial real estate experts who shape where companies look first, and meaningful national press attention that elevates the Fort Worth business case with audiences who previously had limited exposure to what this city offers.
This spring, the Fort Worth EDP launched a targeted marketing campaign designed to put Fort Worth directly in front of corporate decision-makers. The campaign does not shy away from the gaps in Fort Worth’s national brand. Instead, it addresses them directly — making the case for why Fort Worth deserves serious consideration and engaging the decision-makers who have the authority to act on it. While our project management work closes deals with companies already in the market for a new location, this marketing campaign really explores the art of the possible: putting Fort Worth top of mind before companies even reach that stage to proactively enrich our pipeline with strategic business interest.
That two-track approach of active project management paired with proactive market positioning is what makes the growth trajectory we are building both durable and scalable. We are not done for 2026.
The strategic, community-backed effort is bearing fruit, but the growth trajectory we are aiming for will require even more expertise, involvement, and support from the Fort Worth corporate community as we continue to build. The momentum is real. The foundation is strong. And I am confident that the second half of 2026 will demonstrate just how far Fort Worth has come.
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The Fort Worth EDP works directly with companies, site selection consultants, and corporate real estate professionals who are interested in moving or expanding to Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and the surrounding areas. If you’d like to learn more about Fort Worth, please schedule a meeting with us or check out our Why Fort Worth page.