The Fort Worth Chamberletter

For 129 years, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce has partnered with local businesses to grow a more economically vigorous community with exceptional quality of life. In 2010, the Chamber focused on that mission with a wide range of initiatives. Here are highlights from a great year.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Fort Worth saw a wide array of companies either moving, expanding or launching operations here in 2010. Eleven projects secured 2,200 jobs with a $127 million payroll, $180 million in capital investments and more than 1.6 million square feet of space. At the forefront were major relocations, including software maker Solera’s headquarters move to Solana from San Diego and vegetable packing giant Allens’ move into the former Ranch Style Beans plant. Pratt Industries, the sixth largest paper and packing company in the U.S., opened its high-tech box factory at RiverPark Business Park.

Site Selection magazine recognized the Fort Worth Chamber as one of the Top 20 Economic Development agencies of 2010. This the fourth time in the past seven years the Chamber has received this designation.

International activity focused on exploring trade relations with companies in Lower Saxony, Germany, and business and cultural possibilities with Fort Worth’s eighth Sister City, Guiyang, in China.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Fort Worth Chamber staff provided oversight and technical assistance for GO Centers in all 13 of the Fort Worth Independent School District’s high schools and three alternative campuses as well as schools in other area ISDs.  A new satellite (community) GO Center was established at the Presbyterian Night Shelter. On average, 7,500 students visit the centers annually where they can research careers, college plans and financial aid while working with mentors.

As part of the Fort Worth ISD’s Project Prevail, aimed at increasing the number of high school graduates, Distinguished Employers of Fort Worth Teens connected 53 employers in 233 locations with nearly 2,000 FWISD students in a collaborative program that helps students build job experience and career/college readiness while helping employers strengthen skills in managing teen workers.

Job Links EXCELerator helped employers to quickly fill openings. Presented by the Chamber and AT&T, the monthly program partners with Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County and local chambers to bring businesses and placement experts together in monthly business-to-business gatherings. Average attendance is 70, with 500-1,200 jobs presented.

GOVERNMENT AND URBAN AFFAIRS

With 275 attendees, the Coalition of Tarrant County Chambers gathered in Austin for Tarrant County Days at the Capitol, March 2-3, with a reception at the Omni Austin and breakfast with elected officials at the Austin Club.

Members of the Chamber’s Vision Fort Worth program for young professionals (YPs) headed for Austin and the 82^nd Legislature on a day trip that marked the first-ever Vision FW Day at the Capitol, sponsored by BNSF Railway and the Open Channels Group. On March 1, 55 YPs networked with counterparts in the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce program and met with local lawmakers.

The Chamber’s second annual Health Care Summit, presented local, state and national experts who focused on spiraling health costs, potential solutions and effects of federal health care reform on local business. Topics for the 200 attendees included an update on health care legislation, tax issues and the overall state of health care.

MEMBER PROGRAMS

Vision Fort Worth, the Chamber’s program for young professionals, completed its fourth year, introducing a mentorship initiative that pairs YPs with Chamber board members who share their expertise and networks. The initiative helps YPs develop connections and community involvement. Bell Helicopter was presenting sponsor of six Night Vision events and two luncheons featuring Fort Worth South President Paul Paine and Robert Earley, CEO of JPS Health Network. Additionally, a Community Action subcommittee was formed to identify charitable service involvement opportunities.

Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Melody Johnson presented her sixth annual State of Education event, presented by Southwest Bank. She discussed a number of FWISD advances, including the district’s new Gold Seal Programs of Choice and Schools of Choice that tailor students’ education to meet their career aspirations. Johnson also provided insight into a $43 million federal grant for resources to strengthen the Public Educators Accelerating Kids (PEAK) program at 15 challenged schools. And she shared information about the Rainwater Charitable Foundation’s $1.5 million gift to allow FWISD to partner with Teach for America, a program that trains college graduates and professional educators to teach in urban and rural public schools.

The Chamber’s Leaders in Business luncheon series presented by Weaver brought members together with exceptional business leaders, including David Bonderman, cofounder of private equity giant TPG, XTO Energy President Jack Williams and Cash America CEO Dan Feehan.

Women Influencing Business, presented by Executive Health Program at Texas Health Fort Worth, focused five events on raising awareness of and opportunity for women’s involvement in Tarrant County business leadership. They included two luncheons, one workshop and two networking events. Luncheon programs featured U.S. Air Force Col. (Ret.) Kim Olson and sisters Alyce Jones of Adair Eyewear and Dr. Marie “Doc” Holliday.

Women Influencing Business launched a “Best Places to Work for Women” recognition program with a research study conducted by an undergraduate marketing research class from Texas Women’s University.  Dr. Pushkala Ramen, associate professor of marketing, Texas Women’s University  worked with the class to moderate focus group discussions and administer community surveys to business women in varying life stages.

A recognition program will be launched in the fall of 2011 and the best practices research will be available to local companies to use in recruitment and retention of women employees. The program is a collaboration of the Fort Worth Chamber, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber and Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber.

The 24th annual Chamber Golf Classic, presented by GDF Suez at Ridglea Country Club, provided fun for 223 golfers, and the Taste of Tarrant event and competition, presented by Coors Light Distributing Company, attracted 14 restaurants.

Mayor Mike Moncrief focused on one of Fort Worth greatest strengths — public-private partnerships –during his eighth annual State of the City address presented by Southwest Bank. This was his final such address as he announced he would not seek a fifth term.

Many mourned the passing of Charles Simmons, chairman of guest speakers for the Petroleum Club of Fort Worth, who partnered with the Chamber’s Leaders in Government series. Presented by Kelly Hart and Hallman LLP, these luncheons brought members face-to-face with key political leaders and public policy experts, including Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a local state legislators panel discussion of issues, and presentations from Scott McCown, Center for Public Policy Priorities executive director, and Dale Craymer, president of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association.

The annual Colonial Preview luncheon, hosted by the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, featured CBS Sports Producer Lance Barrow and PGA TOUR golfer J.J. Henry, a TCU graduate and Fort Worth resident. And Tony Stewart, a NASCAR star, revved up attendees at the Chamber Day at the Speedway presented by Office Depot.

Area Council luncheons presented by Teletouch Hawk Electronics presented a diverse group of notables. Texas Christian University’s head football coach Gary Patterson huddled at lunch with combined Area Councils membership. J.D. Granger, Trinity River Vision Authority executive director, addressed the North Area Council. Fort Worth City Council members Kathleen Hicks, Danny Scarth and Frank Moss addressed the East Area Council. Van A. Romans, president of the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, briefed the West Area Council. Tarrant County College Chancellor Erma Hadley addressed the Central Area Council.

Getting to Know Your Chamber, sponsored by Alexander Chandler Realty, benefitted members with personal and professional strategies to maximize business growth. More development and connections were shared through programs such as Impact Your Business presented by Sandler Training, Business After Hours, Leads Explosion, Leads Groups and Gold Member Breakfasts presented by Reliant Energy.

AROUND FORT WORTH

The U.S. Department of Transportation approved $34 million for the Tower 55 Multimodal Improvement Project, which will increase rail capacity at one of the busiest and most congested at-grade railroad intersections in the United States.

Construction began on the North Tarrant Express, a $2 billion public-private project that will significantly improve and add toll lanes to 13 miles along I-820 and SH 121/183 from I-35W to the SH 121 split.

Veterans welcomed the new VA Fort Worth Outpatient Clinic and its advanced health care resources on southeast Loop 820. The expanded facility is the largest VA outpatient clinic in the United States.

Football powerhouse Texas Christian University scored worldwide applause when the Horned Frogs won the 97^th annual Rose Bowl, defeating Wisconsin, 21-19.

Metroplex sports fans were delighted when the Texas Rangers brought home their first American League Pennant after besting the New York Yankees in six games, and then advanced to the 2010 World Series, becoming the first Texas MLB team to win a World Series game.

Fort Worth’s warm hospitality greeted thousands of Super Bowl XLV fans during an icy Super Week. Cowtown melted thousands of hearts as the American Football Conference (AFC) host city. At the forefront were the Fort Worth Ambassadors – volunteers trained well in helping visitors experience Fort Worth. Meanwhile, ESPN broadcasts from Sundance Square gave millions of viewers and listeners around the world a daily dose of Fort Worth.

Among Fort Worth’s greatest strengths is the public-private partnership that has consistently kept the city in a growth mode even during recent economic crises.

Mayor Mike Moncrief’s eighth State of the City Address will focus on that partnership Feb. 23 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Presented by Southwest Bank, the Fort Worth Chamber’s annual event will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom and is expected to sell out. Go to the Chamber’s Events and Registration Calendar online to register.

The State of the City Address has annually drawn 1,000 or more attendees and is the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s largest event of the year. It’s also the most anticipated as winners of the Small Business of the Year Awards are announced.

“ The Fort Worth private sector, including the Chamber membership, has a celebrated history of partnering with the public sector, resulting in big wins for the city on challenges including public safety, development and other community issues,” said Jason Lamers, media and public affairs manager.

“These partnerships have also thrust Fort Worth to the forefront for major events such as those related to Super Bowl XLV. As Fort Worth leads the way out of the national recession, the mayor will challenge the community to use our partnerships to continue our progress, strengthen our economy and create jobs.”

Related Link:

City of Fort Worth website.
http://www.fortworthgov.org/

After two years of extensive collaboration, Fort Worth’s public and private sectors have scripted a massive Super Week playbook aimed at winning the world’s heart.

Plans cover a vast range of operations in effect Jan. 31 through Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6 and two days after.

From hospitality, security and entertainment to measures preventing counterfeit products, beefed-up public transportation and trained Ambassadors dedicated to helping visitors, the playbook’s packed with Cowtown’s best proactive thinking, said members of Fort Worth First (FWF) – a City-led public-private alliance.

Scores of stakeholders from throughout the business community and government departments comprise 10 FWF committees focused on making sure that Fort Worth soars to star status as the AFC host city while keeping services to residents as top priority.

“This is a classic way of Fort Worth doing business,” said former Assistant City Manager Libby Watson, who retired in 2008 but agreed last fall to serve as FWF coordinator, reporting to Tom Higgins, interim city manager. “The city has a history of coming together, bringing all stakeholders to the table and working on issues.

“But (Super Week planning) is kicking it up a notch,” she said. The two-year effort is an unprecedented length of public-private time spent on one event, she added, “and it has gotten stronger and stronger” with increased participation among business leaders and government officials.

Diversity of experience among participants has paid off handsomely, Watson said. “There’s a lot of cross-pollination” in brainstorming sessions during monthly and weekly meetings at the Fort Worth Police Department’s Central Division headquarters downtown.

“We all learn a lot from each other,” said Fort Worth Media and Public Affairs Manager Jason Lamers, who chairs FWF’s Communications Committee. The group benefits greatly from such an exceptional mix of expertise, including that of young professionals “who are all-digital,” he said, as they have mapped strategies focused on issues ranging from how to best serve visitors’ needs to crisis communication, traffic control and instant-messaging networks.

Visitors will be warmly welcomed and helped by a special group of trained volunteer ambassadors from across this area.

“Mayor Mike Moncrief and Interim City Manager Tom Higgins wanted a strong volunteer corps to act as hosts for out-of-town visitors and turned to the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Fort Worth Chamber to assemble that group,” said Marilyn Gilbert, the chamber’s executive vice president of Marketing.

“With the help of Jay Downie and Downtown Fort Worth Inc., we have recruited and trained a volunteer corps of over 250 people to help guests navigate Fort Worth and metroplex offerings, including transportation, cultural amenities, entertainment and all the activities related to Super Week.”

Anticipating such needs mirrors how Fort Worth “seizes opportunities,” Lamers said.

There’s no greater opportunity than forging strong relations with national and international print and electronic media that will give Fort Worth global exposure. That’s a challenge tailor-made for FWF’s Promotions Committee chaired by Kelly Campbell, Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau’s vice president of marketing communications.

Committee members are “results-driven professionals who are passionate about Fort Worth,” Campbell said, and who have lavished news outlets with information, including an online Idea Book filled with story ideas, contacts and more.

“An e-blast announcing the Idea Book was sent to a list of approximately 600 sports, travel, features and business media contacts across the country and some internationally,” Campbell said.

“Our great city knows how to get things done right and on time,” she said.

“Mayor Mike Moncrief and First Lady Rosie Moncrief had the brilliant vision to understand that Super Bowl XLV would present an unprecedented opportunity for Fort Worth on a global scale.

“Under their guidance, leadership across all levels in various organizations went immediately into action, and Fort Worth is now benefitting from the results.”

Related Links

City of Fort Worth’s complete guide to Super Week.
http://www.fortworthgov.org/superweek/

Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau guide to Super Week.
http://www.fortworth.com/visitors/superweek/

Mobile Super Week site
m.fortworth.com

Eleven Tarrant County businesses have been named finalists for the Fort Worth Chamber’s annual Small Business of the Year Awards, presented by American National Bank of Texas.

The finalists will be honored at a Chamber Business After Hours event Thursday, January 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel downtown.  The four winners’ awards will be presented by Mayor Mike Moncrief at a reception prior to the Mayor’s State of the City luncheon February 23 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Finalists by Category:

Emerging Business

Edward Jones – William E. “Bill” Fairley — financial advisor

Studios 121, Inc. – video and audio production studios

ZS Pharma, Inc. – specialty pharmaceutical company

1-10 Employees

IFC Benefit Solutions, Inc. – insurance brokerage firm

JODesign, LLC – advertising, design, marketing and public relations agency

Teneo Linguistics Company, LLC – translation services

11-50 Employees

Aerospace & Commercial Technologies Inc. – F-16 sustainment products and services

Quorum Architects, Inc. — architectural planning and design

Renfro Foods, Inc. – gourmet relish and salsa manufacturer

51-150 Employees

Caffey Group, L.L.C., — lease acquisition and title completion for oil and gas industry

Speed Fab-Crete – design-build general contractor

Finalists were chosen from a field of 45 nominees and 28 applicants in four categories based on number of employees. They were judged on written applications describing business growth and performance, sound business strategies and practices, customer service strategies, business challenges, unique and innovative approaches, and community involvement.

The second phase of judging will entail on-site visits from a group of business professionals, past Small Business of the Year award winners, and MBA or Entrepreneur Center students at TCU’s Neeley School of Business.

More than 90 percent of the Fort Worth Chamber’s membership is made up of small businesses with fewer than 100 employees.

Additional sponsors for the 2011 Small Business of the Year Award program are TCU’s Neeley School of Business Entrepreneurship Center, Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Staples, and the Fort Worth Business Press.

Mayor Mike Moncrief

Mayor Mike Moncrief will give Fort Worth a wide-ranging assessment of Cowtown’s health and outlook when he delivers his annual State of the City address at noon Feb. 12 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

He shared some advance thoughts with the Chamberletter in a Q&A.

What’s the good news to bear in mind?

Thanks to its low cost of living, a strong and diverse business environment and a fiscally responsible local government, Fort Worth is holding its own against a great national economic uncertainty. While we are not immune to these economic trends, we are faring much better than other major metropolitan areas.

What are a couple of your top concerns?

Improving mobility, maintaining our standing as one of the safest major cities in the nation, continuing to build an economy that churns out good-paying jobs and ending chronic homelessness.

What will make the difference in meeting those challenges?

An engaged public. The city staff and council can work on these challenges until they’re blue in the face, but without an engaged public, we will be hard-pressed to accomplish our goals. Fortunately, the people of Fort Worth continue to be very active. They work hard. They volunteer. They look out for their neighbors. Our success with respect to our homelessness initiative is a perfect example.

What’s in store regarding Fort Worth’s relationship with urban drilling?

As I’ve said time and time again, the Barnett Shale has been both a blessing and a challenge. Countless citizens are benefiting from their minerals. And, let us not forget how much the Barnett Shale has done to cushion Fort Worth ‘s economy from the national financial crisis. Nevertheless, the production of natural gas must be done in a manner that respects the safety and sanctity of our neighborhoods. To that end, I’m proud to say that the City Council recently adopted changes to the drilling ordinance that will better protect neighborhoods, our environment and our quality of life as we head into 2009.

What are a couple of other top issues the City Council must address?

Mobility, public safety, homelessness, air quality and the health of our economy are all top issues. Probably the most pressing and difficult challenge is mobility. Even with all the money in the world, we could not build enough roads fast enough to meet the demands of our growing region. Rail is the future people mover of North Texas , and this will be a major priority for the council, our region and our state.

What’s a key essential for effective action on those issues?

Again, the people of our city are the key. If you’re tired of sitting in traffic, call your state legislator and let them know they need to give us the tools we need to fund modern commuter rail and/or roads.

What may be expected regarding improvements in the city’s infrastructure?

The people of our city will soon begin to see work begin to improve I-35 and North Loop 820. Additionally, we will soon move forward to construct the Southwest Parkway , a major thoroughfare that will create a direct link between downtown and Johnson County . We also increased funding in this year’s budget for street maintenance and the newly adopted transportation impact fees will ensure adequate roads in high growth areas. Our aging infrastructure has been a major priority, and it will continue to be as we move forward in the New Year. However, simply building more roads for more cars is not the answer. We must find alternative means of moving people to and from job centers. I believe a safe, clean and efficient regional commuter rail system-someday combined with a modern street car system-is the answer.

What can business and industry expect from the Council?

They should rightfully expect a council that understands its role in promoting the growth of our economy while protecting the quality of life that makes Fort Worth so attractive to potential businesses and those who want to work or live here.

What’s the Council’s chief strength for dealing with 2009s challenges?

Our strength lies in the chemistry and the special respect we have for one another. Each council member is a true professional, and they are clearly focused on, not only what is in the best interest of their respective districts, but the greater good of the city and the region. Moreover, this council is supported by the best municipal staff in the country.

Overall, as you consider the ’09 outlook, what pleases you most?

What pleases me the most is the momentum we’ve built over the past few years. Fort Worth has become a world destination. Furthermore, as we add the Omni, the Sheraton and others to our already wonderful inventory of hotels, we will host bigger conventions and draw larger groups of business travelers and tourists. Tarrant County will even play host to a Super Bowl, with the AFC Champions setting up camp at the Omni! The visitors who come to Fort Worth will dine in our restaurants, frequent our shops and visit our museums and entertainment centers. This flurry of activity creates jobs, and the sale tax generated by these tourists offsets our property taxes, which helps us maintain a relatively low cost of living. Fort Worth is home to a diverse economy supported by a strong workforce and high growth centers like Alliance Texas , the Cultural District and our burgeoning downtown. The stage is set for a very bright and exciting tomorrow, and I can’t wait!

More links:

• City of Fort Worth’s legislative program.
• Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
• Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Homelessness.