The Fort Worth Chamberletter

The Fort Worth Chamber announced today that it has launched a suite of three related websites for Chamber members, young professionals and economic and workforce development executives.

The new sites, which went live August 9, boast striking photography showcasing Fort Worth’s business and community assets, and more than 250 pages of data, resources and chamber program information.

The URLs for the three sites are:

Chamber – www.fortworthchamber.com;
Economic Development http://fortworthecodev.com/ ;
and Vision Fort Worth (young professionals) – http://visionfw.com/

New or improved features include RSS feeds for newsletters and news releases, a live Twitter feed and social media “share buttons,” customized or predefined listings for property searches, public school SAT scores and private school tuitions, and more local and regional maps.

For the Chamber’s 2,000 member companies, improved benefits include prominent logos of upper-level members and Controlling Our Destiny investors, and more links throughout the site to Chamber members in categories like hotels, restaurants, realtors and banks. Members, who are all listed in the online business directory, may also post their events on the Chamber’s online calendar, offer discounts and coupons, and purchase banner advertising for specific pages.

“We’ve put together a group of sites that connect and inform our existing members about how to boost their business success, as well as targeting site selection executives, newcomers and YPs,” said Bill Thornton, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Chamber.  “As Fort Worth continues to be eyed nationally and internationally as a place for relocating families and companies, the Chamber websites provide a spectacular first impression of our city for those who are exploring their options.”

Chamber member AM Design, a Tarrant County-based web development and design company, won the bid for the overhaul in 2011. The customized, web-based CMS allows multiple staffers to update content remotely when necessary.

ABOUT THE FORT WORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, with 2,000 member businesses, is the second-largest chamber in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.  Through business-to-business marketing, educational events, economic development, workforce development and government advocacy, the Fort Worth Chamber assumes a leadership role in making Fort Worth, the 16^th-largest city in the U.S., a premier location in which to live, work and do business.  For more information, please contact the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce at (817) 336-2491 or visit www.fortworthchamber.com.

Business is Thriving in Fort Worth

If 2011 and the first half of 2012 are any indication of things to come, then business will continue thriving in Fort Worth through the remainder of 2012 and beyond. Last year was tremendously successful for economic development in our community. The Fort Worth Chamber participated in 39 site visits and secured 15 new business and retention deals – an extraordinarily high conversion ratio for a non-regional economic development organization. These business opportunities represented 3.2 million square feet of real estate space, $600 million in capital investment and approximately 3,500 jobs.

The significance of our 2011 deals was reinforced by an economic impact study at the end of 2011, which reported that these deals will yield an estimated $1.2 billion in economic output for the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and Fort Worth and Northwest ISDs. Prepared by Austin-based Impact DataSource, the report projected direct and indirect figures related to economic output, job creation, salaries, and taxable spending as a result of these companies’ construction and expansion activities. The report also determined that the Fort Worth Chamber’s $1 million annual budget, which supports local business development and retention, national business recruitment and retention, international business development and workforce development, returned $17 million in new tax revenues.

Fort Worth’s ongoing economic development growth would not be possible without the strong partnership between the Fort Worth Chamber’s economic development team, the City of Fort Worth and Tarrant County. A January cover story in the Fort Worth Business Press detailed the unique nature of this partnership and how it has resulted in successful recruitment and retention in this highly competitive economic development environment.

This year, the Chamber’s recruitment efforts have been more targeted to specific geographic areas. The pro-business atmosphere we have fostered at the local, regional and state level is highly attractive to businesses located in states that have implemented rigid business regulations related to the environment and labor issues. Fort Worth has been the beneficiary of several significant expansions and relocations from these and other states; we see that trend continuing.

In addition, we remain focused on retaining our current businesses. Cities across the nation have been severely impacted by the economic downturn, and they are actively recruiting in an attempt to increase their tax revenues and bring much-needed jobs to their communities. Fort Worth’s global brands are top targets for recruitment, and we must be equally aggressive at retaining these companies.

These strategies have already helped us secure two new deals so far this year. LinkAmerica Corporation, a regional asset-based transportation and logistics services provider, opened a 24,000-square-foot corporate office and training center in CentrePort Business Park. The office will house the company’s executive team and will include a new corporate training center. LinkAmerica’s expansion to Fort Worth created approximately 140 jobs.

In addition, an industry-leading biopharmaceutical company will be announcing a campus expansion, representing $30-35 million in capital investment and 40 new jobs.

In the life science arena, Dr. Scott Ransom, president of the UNT Health Science Center, convened a group of industry CEOs at the request of the Chamber to conduct a strategic analysis of the market – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats – in Fort Worth and the larger DFW region. The result was a diverse, 10-point plan that will not only aid in recruiting and retaining companies, but will also broaden the footprint of the healthcare and life science industries and their many ancillary providers.

Although 2011 will be hard to beat, 2012 has already given us many reasons to be optimistic about the opportunities for job creation, capital investment and additional gains in existing square footage absorption and new construction. We are especially excited about the expansion of space in Sundance Square through the construction of three new office buildings and a public plaza by developer Ed Bass. This project will add 221,000 square feet of office space and 41,500 square feet of retail space to Fort Worth’s thriving downtown community. In addition to bringing new tenants to Fort Worth, this project will create 200 construction jobs.

We have started this year off on a strong note. With many more deals in the pipeline and the continuation of our recruitment and retention efforts, we are confident that we will continue to experience economic growth in 2012.

GE Manufacturing Solutions Locomotive Plant Collecting Top Real Estate Honors

One of the most significant deals for Fort Worth in 2011 was GE Manufacturing Solutions’ selection of a site in north Fort Worth for its newest locomotive manufacturing plant. The company, formerly known as GE Transportation, purchased an existing 670,000-square-foot building and is expanding the size to approximately 900,000 square feet in order to accommodate production of 250-300 locomotives each year. When it opens at the end of 2012, the GE facility plans to create about 500 high-tech positions, and may create an additional 250 positions through 2016.

The locomotive plant project represents a $100 million capital investment in Fort Worth and Denton County. The State of Texas was a strong partner
in this expansion project, providing support through the Texas Enterprise Fund. The City of Fort Worth and Tarrant County also participated in the public-private partnership.

The size and impact of this deal on the North Texas community has garnered national attention. In May, Site Selection named the GE Manufacturing Solutions locomotive manufacturing plant as one of its Top 10 North American Deals in 2011. Area Development also recognized the facility as one of its “Projects of the Year” in the publication’s June 2012 issue. Locally, the Dallas Business Journal recognized the facility as the winner of its “Industrial Deal of the Year” during the 20th annual Best Real Estate Deals celebration in April.

In addition to collecting top national and local real estate honors, Fort Worth’s GE Manufacturing Solutions plant continues to generate media attention. The Erie Times-News is paying special attention to its development since Erie, Pa. is home to GE’s headquarters. Jim Martin, the business editor of the Erie Times-News, visited Fort Worth in January to talk with the economic development team about why Fort Worth has been so successful at recruiting new businesses. The resulting multi-part series, which appeared in the publication at the end of January, talked about the lessons that Erie could learn from Fort Worth.

We’ve Got a New Look

Recently, the Fort Worth Chamber’s economic development division introduced a new marketing piece to assist with national and international business development efforts. The new marketing piece is a comprehensive package that describes the wealth of assets Fort Worth has to offer any business seeking to relocate or expand in North Texas. The piece is composed of a colorful four-page brochure that graphically depicts life in Fort Worth and nine inserts providing details about the city’s major employers, culture, workforce and quality of life.

The new marketing piece was designed to elevate the Fort Worth brand, particularly in today’s highly competitive economic development environment. It also balances Fort Worth’s Western heritage with its current position as a thriving, modern business community. By doing so, readers more clearly see a premier business destination with a solid presence in a wide range of global industry sectors that have been fostered in Fort Worth for generations.

The piece was launched in March, and preliminary feedback has been extremely favorable. We have already started using the piece during prospect meetings with positive results.

In the coming months, the Fort Worth Chamber will also launch a new website. Design elements from the marketing piece will be carried over to the new site, and the economic development section will supplement the information provided in the printed package.

If you would like to receive one of the new Fort Worth marketing pieces, please contact Lacy Kreger at (817) 338-3392, or go here for the PDF.

Forging Relationships in China, Easing Access to the Middle East

In December 2011, the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce had the honor of leading a delegation of elected officials and energy business leaders from across the nation to Beijing, China for the “Clean Energy for Sustainable Cities: Sharing Best Practices and Technologies” conference.

The event was hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, the U.S. Department of Energy, Sister Cities International and the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development for the People’s Republic of China. This was an historic conference for all participants because it was the first time representatives from the United States were invited for an open dialogue with senior Chinese government officials about issues related to energy production and sustainability.

Since the Barnett Shale is known throughout the world as the center for development of natural gas drilling technology, the Chinese want to partner with Fort Worth and North Texas companies that are on the cutting edge of gas extraction methods. These new partnerships could open the door for several local businesses and may create new jobs and opportunities for American employees to gain a new perspective on business with China.

In addition to strengthening Fort Worth’s ties with China, a new air carrier is making it    easier for local travelers and businesses to access the Middle East. In January,Emirates Airline launched the first nonstop flights between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Previously, travelers to Dubai had to go through Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Frankfurt or Houston. The direct flight eliminates these stops and reduces travel from North Texas to Dubai by four hours – from 20 hours to 16 hours.

Dubai International Airport is the fastest-growing transit hub in the world, and having a direct route to this destination opens a new gateway for North Texas to the Middle East. Through Dubai, travelers can easily move to other locations throughout the Middle East, India and Africa.

Fort Worth Chamber Named a Top 20 Economic Development Agency

For the fifth time in eight years, Site Selection magazine named the Fort Worth Chamber as one of the nation’s Top 20 economic development agencies. Each year, Site Selection names the top-ranking organizations based on total capital investment, investment per capita, total jobs created, jobs created per capita, contribution of the local or regional economic development organization toward attainment of these numbers, overall economic vitality, depth and breadth of economic strength, diversity of industry, ability to generate breakthrough deals and the ability to provide documentation for all projects.

Recognizing Excellence and Opportunity

Fort Worth, the DFW Metroplex and the State of Texas continue to receive

national recognition:

• Texas was identified as the top state for growth and business development by CEO Magazine. (2012)
• Fort Worth was ranked as No. 4 on the list of “Best Large Cities in U.S. for Jobs” by NewGeography.com. (2012)
•  The Fort Worth Chamber was named a Top 20 Economic Development organization in the U.S. by Site Selection magazine. (2012)
• Fort Worth is the fastest-growing city in North Texas according to the North Central Texas Council of Governments. (2012)
• The Dallas-Fort Worth area was named America’s fourth-best market for corporate relocation and expansion by Site Selection magazine. (2012)
• Texas ranks 2nd among top states for corporate relocation and expansion by Site Selection magazine. (2012)
• The Dallas-Fort Worth area ranked 3rd in the nation for adding private sector jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2011)
• Fort Worth ranked No. 24 on the list of “2011 Best-Performing Cities” by the Milken Institute. (2011)
• Fort Worth ranked No. 7 on the list of “Top U.S. Downtowns” by Livability.com. (2011)
• CNBC ranked Texas 2nd among the best states in the nation for business. (2011)
• Fort Worth is the fastest-growing major metropolitan area in the U.S. according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (2011)
• The Fort Worth region is home to two of the top three fastest-growing communities in the U.S. – the City of Haslet and the City of Keller – according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2011)
• The Dallas-Fort Worth region was named No. 1 in job gains among U.S. metropolitan cities from January 2010 to January 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau Labor of Statistics. (2011)
• The Dallas-Fort Worth area was recognized by Builder as one of the “Top 20 Healthiest Metropolitan Housing Markets.” (2011)

The Fort Worth Chamber is proud of the many accomplishments achieved over the last six months that have brought new jobs, capital investment and revenues to our city and have helped drive a strong economy in the region. These would not have been possible without the support of our partners at the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County and Workforce Solutions, as well as our “Controlling our Destiny” investors. Your support of our economic development program has been critical in ensuring we maximize opportunities for growth and position ourselves for long-term economic vitality. We sincerely appreciate your investment, and we look forward to providing you with further updates on our economic development successes.

David Berzina, CEcD
Executive Vice President
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

Richard King and Molly McCook

Richard King and Molly McCook knew they were setting a risky table when they opened Ellerbe Fine Foods in June 2009 – their first-ever business venture.

Friends since childhood in Shreveport, La., they were intent on partnering with local farmers to serve the freshest, seasonal farm-to-table fare available within a 150-mile radius of their restored 1920-era gas station on trendy Magnolia Street in Fort Worth’s Near Southside. They expected challenges, particularly from North Texas’ longtime crop threat – the weather.

But worries melted like butter in a hot skillet. In short order, Ellerbe quickly sizzled as a Cowtown darling and an award-winning gem among American restaurants, earning state, national and international  acclaim. In 2010, Bon Appétit magazine named Ellerbe as one of the 10 Best New Restaurants in America.

“It’s been quite a ride,” said General Manager King, who co-owns Ellerbe with Executive Chef McCook. Ellerbe’s honors include the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 Small Business of the Year Award in the Emerging Business category.

The award was presented Feb. 23 during a reception prior to Mayor Betsy Price’s State of the City presentation at the Fort Worth Convention Center. “It was a blessing,” King said. “It’s opened doors for us.”

Ellerbe’s menu changes daily as McCook, reared on cooking garden-to-table food and classically trained in California, creates elegant fare with the freshest produce, dairy and meats available. King, a Texas Christian University alum and former restaurant consultant, selects wines and runs the front operations.

The three-room restaurant, which was debt-free in a year and a half, offers valet parking and an atmosphere that’s refined but casual and family-friendly. Catering is available.

Constant staff training assures customers are lavished with thoughtful service and timely expertise in food, wine and details about partner farmers. The Ellerbe Fine Foods Market at the entrance offers many boutique wines, foods and gifts.

Careful planning went into Ellerbe, King said, which was named after a Shreveport street on which McCook’s grandparents lived. “It took us about a year to write our business plan. So we knew exactly what numbers we had to hit every month – and what numbers we had to hit if we were going to fail. You’ve got to know your failing point.

“We know the failure rate is highest in small businesses among restaurants. We were very tight. We didn’t get a check for about a year and a half, because we wanted the money to go to our employees and back into the restaurant.”

Ellerbe’s commitment to “local” extends to business relationships and community involvement. Support is shared with a number of charitable organizations, and staff is encouraged to take time off for volunteer work.

Whatever’s next for King and McCook, one thing’s for sure, King said: “Ellerbe will be our only baby. There’ll be no other Ellerbe restaurants.”

They’re savoring success, he said, “but we have to be humble about it. We got a good, moral education from our parents. We want to show them they raised good kids who can do business on their own.”

Joel Kotkin

By 2050, the United States’ record growth and 400 million population against declines in population and workforces elsewhere will shape the U.S. into the world’s most diverse and competitive country, according to Joel Kotkin, a recognized authority on the global evolution of cities, towns and rural locales.

Kotkin, a columnist and author of The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050, will explore aspects of that outlook when he keynotes the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s 130^th annual meeting June 6 at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel downtown.

“Mr. Kotkin is an inveterate fan of suburbs, too,” The Economist wrote of him. “He sees them as places of endless opportunity, and reckons that telecommuting as well as the rising cost of petrol will invigorate many of them as more and more people opt to work from or near home.”

The annual meeting, one of the Chamber’s largest annual events, is presented by Dannon.

Wells Fargo will receive the Spirit of Enterprise Award, given annually to honor a local organization that has demonstrated commitment to business growth and community development.

Kotkin is a Distinguished Presidential Fellow in Urban Futures at Chapman University, a private, non-profit university in Orange, Calif. He is an adjunct fellow of London-based Legatum Institute, an independent non-partisan public policy organization whose research, publications and programs advance ideas and policies in support of free and prosperous societies.

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

Q: What are some key forces that will be in play over the next 40 years that will spur a vibrant American economy and job market?

A: The main factors in the U.S. economic recovery, and particularly higher-wage jobs, are diverse. The drivers will include the essentials such as food, medical care, energy and manufacturing.

Technology will be an enabler of these but limited as a stand-alone wealth creator for the vast majority of people.

            Q: In a recent column, you mentioned two Americas – the coasts and the heartland. What are some developments in those two areas that will impact Fort Worth?

A: The Interior has huge advantages, and overall the Great Plains now have faster growth in both population and jobs than the country, particularly in Texas.

Tarrant County and the DFW area have both outperformed the nation for well over a decade. Tarrant County has a very favorable migration balance than both coasts.

            Q: As you consider the future of the relationship between suburbs and the core city, how will they balance their needs in order to maintain a healthy relationship? How can the city core be sustained while supporting suburbs?

In reality you really need both, but the suburbs — including single-family, moderate-low density areas inside the city — will have the vast preponderance of jobs and population.

The urban cores, and closer-in areas, are important for attracting certain kinds of business and skilled workers.

They are also important for suburbanites who want to visit them on occasion.

The two areas really work in tandem, and one should not be the primary focus, but the suburbs are where the families, and thus the future of the region, lie.

            Q: What’s one demographic shift in Texas that will carry the strongest impact in years to come?

A: There are really three: the shift to greater Hispanic and Asian population, the aging of the boomers, and the rise of their children, the Millennials.

These three groups will shape the future. Texas is a high-immigration state with higher than average birthrates, which makes the Millennials and immigration more important than elsewhere.

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Joel Kotkin’s website

Join the Fort Worth Chamber in China October 1-9, 2012 for a trip of a lifetime

The Chamber is launching a Chamber travel program that offers member discounts on low-priced tours to destinations worldwide.  More than 50 people have already signed on for the China trip and there is still room. Join us at an orientation meeting, Tuesday, April 10, 2012, 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the Chambers offices and learn more about our inaugural trip to China this fall. Space for the orientation is limited to 35 people so make your reservation today. Contact Brenda Dyer at 817-338-3399 to make your reservation.

Details:

Visit seven of the top ten travel destinations in China: Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. Stay in 4 and 5 star hotels, includes all meals, air travel from LAX to Beijing and back, English speaking tour guide and comfortable bus transportation to all cities. Go to http://www.fortworthchamber.com/china2012.html for more information.

• The special Chamber-member early-bird price of $2,199 and non-member early bird price of $2,299 is guaranteed with a $300 non-refundable deposit and application form received by  May 1, 2012.
• Non members add $100
• After May 1: member price $2,299 and non-member price $2,399 with $300 non-refundable deposit.
• Final payment due by 5 p.m. June 29, 2012

The Fort Worth Chamber Nominating Committee puts forth the following community and business leaders as nominees for incoming directors to serve three-year terms beginning April 2012, which coincides with the Chamber’s fiscal year. The Nominating Committee consists of the present chair, president, past three chairs as well as three at-large members of the board with the immediate past chairman serving as chair of the committee.

If there are no signed petitions received from at least 25 Fort Worth Chamber members within 10 days of publication of this Chamberletter (by April 9, 2012), the aforementioned nominees, as presented by the Nominating Committee, will be elected to the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors at the next board meeting April 19, 2012.

Nominees are:

Dale Kesteloot
Director of Operations
Sundance Square

Cindy Milrany
Chief Financial Officer
Freese and Nichols, Inc.

Riche Goode
Chief Financial Officer
Cook Children’s Health Care Systems

David White
President and CEO
First Command Bank

David Klein
Chief Operating Officer
Baylor All Saints Medical Center

Patty Williams
President
Roger Williams Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Sprinter/Airstream

Eric George
Senior Vice President, Supply Chain
DynCorp International

Patrick McFarlin
Manager of Operations
Jacobs

Mike Guyton
Vice President, Customer Relations
Oncor Electric Delivery

Tim Petrus
Acquisition Consultant
XTO Energy Inc.

Bob Ginsburg
Shareholder and Director
McDonald Sanders, P.C.

Brett McClung
President
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital

Jay Ewing
Manager, Completion/Construction
Devon Energy Corporation

Nina Hutton
Vice President, Environmental, Health and Safety
XTO Energy Inc.

Jill Goff
Executive Director
Goff Family Foundation

Dennis Weese
President and Chief Operating Officer
Cash America

Explore China’s scenic beauty October 1-9, 2012, with business associates, friends and/or family through a unique arrangement: traveling with the Fort Worth Chamber.  Whether you have made the trip yourself or you’ve just heard from those who did, this is a rare opportunity to visit one of the world’s most fascinating and economically vibrant countries, rich in culture and history.

The trip includes visits to Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou. You will see seven of the top 10 tourist attractions in China, including the Great Wall and Forbidden City. And, you will develop new contacts with a variety of tour participants. Don’t miss this inaugural trip!

Trip includes :

• Round trip transportation from LAX to Beijing
• 4-and 5-Star accommodations
• Three meals a day
• All in-country transportation
• Fluent English-speaking tour guides
• Entrance fees the tourist attractions
• Post-departure insurance

Fort Worth Chamber members — $2,299 per person, double occupancy  

Non-members – $2,399 per person, double occupancy.

China trip briefings are being planned. If you’re interested, sign up for more information at http://www.fortworthchamber.com/china2012.html. Or contact Marilyn Gilbert, executive vice president of marketing, 817-338-3330, mgilbert@fortworthchamber.com .

Paul Andrews (photo courtesy of TTI)

Following is the Chamberletter e-interview with Paul Andrews, founder and CEO of TTI and recipient of this year’s Business Executive of the Year award.

Q: What’s your reaction to being honored as Business Executive of the Year?

A: I was truly surprised and honored to be recognized. I’m not sure I am in the league of many of the past recipients, but I am greatly appreciative of this honor.

Q: Looking back to 1971, what did you have in your apartment to help start TTI? Is there any object you have kept from those times?

A: Our apartment was about 1,000 square feet. I set up a desk and phone in the corner of the living room. Not even sure it was big enough to be called a living room. We did not have a spare bedroom. I still have the old ‘Red’ phone that I started with. Thanks to Mr. Dan Carey (a manufacturer’s representative), I was able to move into a spare empty office in the old Ridglea Bank building. I still have the old original “Tex-Tronics” sign from that office.

Q: Some entrepreneurs have difficulty in balancing a desire to control their enterprise with the need to share control with others who bring vital expertise. How were you able to reach that balance?

A: The old saying is true: “Hire your weakness.” In my case, that was just about everything. I’ve always considered myself as strong in operations/purchasing, so my first additions were excellent people with high sales experience. Through the years, I sold part of the company to many managers and employee. At the time of our sale to Berkshire Hathaway, over 300 people had some equity position.

Q: You consistently focused on your niche. Some entrepreneurs risk moving beyond their niche. What advice would you give to them?

A: Stay focused on what you do best. In my case the electronics industry had and is continuing to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of over 15% a year. This may not be true in other fields, so it may not apply to others, but I have seen others who spread themselves too thin and lost their way. Certainly there are other examples of people with multiple skills and have been successful.

A wise Fort Worth Businessman (Mr. Jack Williams) told me years ago to follow these rules: Make decisions where you are going. Earn more than you can spend; “create margin.” Sell what others are not selling. Share your knowledge. Be in control.

Q: Would you describe Fort Worth as entrepreneur-friendly? Why?

A: Fort Worth would not be described as a ‘hot-bed’ in the electronics field. Certainly this honor belongs to many companies on both the East and West Coasts, but Fort Worth has been successful for TTI because of both its central location in the U.S., and because Fort Worth has exceptional banking, legal, and local governmental expertise that is friendly to business.

Data provided by Strategic Insight Group
Intelligence Research Partner of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

GE Transportation announced plans May 12 to open a 900,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Fort Worth that will ultimately bring in 500 new jobs and the potential for another 275 jobs. GE Transportation is a global technology leader and supplier to the railroad, marine, drilling, wind, and mining industries.  The project represents an investment of approximately $100 million. Fort Worth Business Press, May 20, 2011

Brightpoint Inc of Indianapolis announced May 17 plans to relocate its Touchstone Wireless operations from Bristol, Tennessee to its facilities in Fort Worth and Plainfield, Indiana. The announcement will add 200 jobs in Fort Worth. Fort Worth Business Press, May 20, 2011

The number of people who tuned in to watch the 2011 Crown Plaza Invitational at Colonial this year spiked 22 percent on Saturday and 110 percent on Sunday, according to preliminary television ratings.

According to the early numbers, television ratings for the Fort Worth golf tournament came in 22 percent higher than last year’s on May 21 and 110 percent higher than last year’s on May 22. Fort Worth Business Press, May 24, 2011

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce received an honorable mention as one of the economic development groups of the year by Site Selection magazine. Fort Worth Business Press, May 2, 2011

The Botanical Research Institute of Texas is opening a state of the art headquarters at 1700 University Drive in Fort Worth. Guests are coming from around the world to mark the opening on May 21. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 20, 2011

See all the business news and updates online here.

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce is pleased to once again be working with the cartographic and marketing firm of Target Marketing to publish an up-to-date, full-color Fort Worth Area Street Map and Resource Guide. This publication will be the only official map endorsed and distributed by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.

In addition, we are excited to introduce My Chamber App, a free interactive mobile application that allows smartphone users to carry the chamber member directory in their pockets.  The free application is available for iPhone, Droid and Blackberry.  All chamber members will be included, but participating map advertisers will receive their logo, company profile and link to their website on My Chamber App for no additional charge.

The Business and Professional Showcase Directory of Members section will classify participating businesses by category, including a brief description of products and/or services. Advertising space on the back cover and a limited number of interior display panel ads are also available. Participating advertisers will receive a complimentary supply of the folded maps with a counter-top display dispenser.

Accurate, user-friendly maps are a popular item for our newcomers, potential commercial relocation candidates and even our lifelong residents.

According to statistics published by Speedeondata.com:

• 1 out of 5 people in the United States relocate per year.  That’s over 40 Million Consumers and nearly 20% of the overall population.
• New movers spend more money during the initial three months in their new surroundings than non-movers spend in five years.
• New movers spend an average of $8,500.00 on a variety of goods and services in the first months of a new move.
• And according to a February 2010 Harris Poll, Print Media scored the highest percentages among US adults as the advertising medium most used to find products.

Advertising rates are reasonable, and more than 14,000 maps will be printed and available for the next 12-14 months.

Act now by filling out the information here and faxing it to (866) 603-4133. Remember, the limited space is allocated on a first-response basis.  Or call Target Marketing at (800) 933-3909.