Insights from the Site Selectors Guild conference highlight key factors driving corporate expansion and relocation—workforce readiness, infrastructure access, and trade policy impacts. Fort Worth’s strengths in each area make it a top contender for business investment. Learn how the city is staying ahead in a rapidly evolving site selection landscape.
By Jessica Heer, Executive Vice President | Monday, April 7, 2025
Fort Worth is no stranger to growth, but as the economic landscape evolves, so do the factors that drive business location decisions. Insights from the recent Site Selectors Guild conference last month highlighted three critical themes shaping corporate location decisions today—access to essential infrastructure like power and water, workforce availability, and the impact of tariffs and trade policy changes. These are not just temporary trends; they are critical factors for companies making long-term decisions about where to expand or relocate. Fortunately, Fort Worth is well positioned in each of these areas, making it a top contender for future investment.
The Foundation of Economic Growth: A Strong Workforce
Site selectors at the Guild conference highlighted that the shrinking labor force is a national and global concern, with labor participation decreasing since 2010 due to increased retirement and a declining birth rate. Additionally, the future workforce is shifting, with AI-related jobs surging by nearly 40% and demand for skilled trades, such as industrial mechanics and welders, remaining strong. Site selectors noted that these challenges also present an opportunity for cities that are prepared. The Fort Worth region is well positioned in this area with a large, highly educated talent pool. A pipeline of more than 58,000 new graduates annually earning a bachelor’s degree or higher and strong local workforce training programs at Tarrant County College further strengthen the city’s appeal to companies seeking top talent.
“Projects today are chasing power.”
This statement from site selection experts underscores a growing challenge—companies need reliable and abundant electricity, and they need it fast. Data centers, pharmaceutical plants, and automation-heavy manufacturing projects are driving record-breaking power demand, and any delay beyond two years is seen as a major obstacle. Texas’ deregulated electricity market offers consumers flexibility in pricing and services, while the region’s connection to the independent ERCOT grid ensures strong reliability.
For company executives and site selectors, time is often more critical than cost when it comes to infrastructure. Companies need assurances that essential services like water, wastewater, and gas will be in place when they need them. Water is becoming a major factor in site selection, with some data centers requiring over a million gallons per day. Our area’s numerous lakes and the abundance of natural gas reserves through the Barnett Shale ensure that DFW will have access to these resources in the decades to come.
Tariffs and Trade Policy: The New Cost Factor
As global trade dynamics shift, tariffs and trade policies will play a growing role in corporate site selection. Many site selectors stated that FDI inquiries have picked up in the last few months and that companies are doing a lot of scenario building. In some cases, if companies already have been building a business case for the U.S., new tariffs may push the timeline faster or they may consider opening a small operation in the U.S. to provide a short-term, more cost-effective solution for imported goods. Fort Worth is well-positioned to mitigate these risks due to our central location, strong logistics network and proximity to major transportation hubs, including DFW International Airport and AllianceTexas.
Why This Matters to Fort Worth Economic Development
Fort Worth has long been a leader in creating the conditions for business success, and today’s challenges only reinforce its strengths. With a business-friendly environment, strategic central location, and commitment to infrastructure and workforce development, Fort Worth is not just keeping pace with national trends—it’s setting the standard for what a thriving, future-ready city looks like. Companies seeking certainty, speed to market, and long-term growth potential will find Fort Worth and Texas to be an ideal location for expansion or relocation.
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Jessica Heer is the Executive Vice President of 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. If you’d like to learn more about Fort Worth, please schedule a meeting with us or check out our Why Fort Worth page.
