The Fort Worth EDP celebrated its inaugural annual meeting, highlighting 18 months of achievements and partnerships shaping the city’s future. Key moments included economic development wins and honoring visionary leaders. With the guiding principle “It doesn’t build itself,” the evening underscored Fort Worth’s momentum and collaborative progress.
By Katie McConnell, Associate | November 20, 2024
After 18 months of impactful work, the Fort Worth EDP held its inaugural annual meeting last week. Hillwood hosted the evening at the beautiful Texas Barn at Circle T Ranch.
Mayor Mattie Parker kicked off the evening with an inspiring welcome, telling the story of the Fort Worth EDP’s founding in April 2023. “The formation of the Fort Worth EDP marked a turning point for our city, creating the foundation for bold economic growth and collaboration,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. “This organization represents what Fort Worth deserves—a dedicated, strategic approach to attracting new opportunities and securing a thriving future for our businesses, workforce, and families.” Robert Allen, President & CEO of the Fort Worth EDP, recapped the establishment, strategy, and tactics of the EDP, as well as laying out some of the economic development wins that Fort Worth landed in 2023 and 2024, which generated $3.2 billion in capital investment and more than 5,700 new jobs for the Fort Worth Region.
The evening was spent recognizing partnerships that will shape the future landscape of Fort Worth. Guests first heard from Frank Stevens, vice president of Embraer MRO Services Global, and Robert Isom, CEO of American Airlines. Embraer is the third-largest manufacturer of commercial aircraft in the world, and the newest resident of Fort Worth with its announcement of a maintenance, repair, & overhaul (MRO) facility at Perot Field Alliance Airport. Embraer highlighted the importance of DFW’s robust aerospace workforce in its site selection decision, in addition to the synergies offered by locating near the largest operator of Embraer aircraft—American Airlines.
Next, John Hall, vice president of Administration and Economic Development, from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and Ryan Dickerson, CEO of the WALSH Companies, were recognized for the forthcoming UTA West campus at the WALSH development in Fort Worth. This partnership between WALSH and UTA marks a momentum-building endeavor that will strengthen Fort Worth’s educational infrastructure for generations. Dickerson explained how projects like this position Fort Worth for sustainable, strategic growth, and thanked Robert Allen for his consistency and leadership on this project, among others, that WALSH has worked on with the Fort Worth EDP.
Lastly, Allen called Mike Berry and Marianne Auld to the stage to recognize them for their vision and leadership in forming the Fort Worth EDP and serving as its inaugural Board chair and vice chair. Referring to the audience of business leaders sitting before him, Mike explained that “this is what we envisioned almost two years ago.” Their catalytic leadership has strategically positioned Fort Worth EDP for early success and their vision for Fort Worth is attracting generous support from business leaders of all industries and sizes.
It was a quote from Marianne Auld that carried the night, resurrected from her first speech to EDP investors — “A great city doesn’t build itself.” Each partnership was recognized with a brick from the original paving of Main Street in Fort Worth with that saying engraved—“IT DOESN’T BUILD ITSELF”—as a reminder of the work yet to be done, and as a thank you for each organization’s work in building the foundation for a prosperous Fort Worth.
As we celebrate the achievements of the past 18 months, we invite you to join us in building Fort Worth’s next chapter. Together, we can continue to create a dynamic and prosperous future for our community. If you’d like to learn more about Fort Worth, please schedule a meeting with us or check out our Why Fort Worth page.
If you’d like to see more images from the EDP’s inaugural Annual Meeting, view the full gallery.
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Katie McConnell is an Associate with the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership. 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.
