The Fort Worth Chamberletter

In the Works

Lockheed Martin Corp and the Pentagon reached an “agreement in principle” to complete a contract valued at about $4 billion for the production batch of F-35 fighters. Signing the contract before the end of the year would mean that the money would not be subject to reduction if the Pentagon is forced to make $52.3 billion in additional cuts during the current fiscal year under sequestration. The F-35 is built at Lockheed’s complex in west Fort Worth, where 6,000 employees are directly involved in its development. The F-35 joint strike fighter is the Pentagon’s costliest program. The Government Accountability Office stated in its annual report that the estimated average procurement cost of each jet had risen to $137 million from the initial estimate of $69 million in October 2001.

Star-Telegram, December 1, 2012

More than half of the work on the new, $25.9 million West Seventh Street Bridge is being done off-site to minimize the impact on traffic. The arches of the bridge each weigh 300 tons and stand 24 feet tall. Seven arches are completed, and 5 more will soon be poured. It takes about 4 days for each arch to dry and about 14 days to cure. At the conclusion of the Stock Show in February, crews are scheduled to begin moving each 300-tonarch from a nearby field to the river – approximately the length of 5 football fields. The new bridge will be painted white, and will feature recessed lighting that will make its arches visible for miles. In addition, the bridge will feature specially designed supports that would make it possible for railroad tracks to be added, if the city later wishes to do so. The bridge is scheduled to open to traffic in mid-November, although final work underneath the bridge will continue through January 2014.

Star-Telegram, December 4, 2012

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, maker of the F-22, the F-16, and the F-35 jets, expects to move about 560 salaried jobs from its Marietta, Georgia facility to the division’s headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. Lockheed has been moving to cut costs in the face of expected reductions to the defense budget in Washington. The relocation effort is likely to save $250 million. Marietta employees affected by the job relocation include engineers, schedulers, and persons in administrative positions. The F-22 Raptor was assembled in Marietta, but one-third of the construction was completed in Fort Worth. Lockheed has about 14,200 employees in west Fort Worth.

Star-Telegram, December 5, 2012

Wise Regional Health System is expected to open its Parkway Surgical and Cardiovascular Hospital in about a year. The hospital will be 29,000 square feet and located on North Tarrant Parkway in north Fort Worth. The surgical hospital plans to focus on minimally invasive spine and cardiac and vascular services. It will include 12 short-term inpatient beds for patients whose procedures require longer recovery times. The facility will also offer plastic surgery and bariatric surgery, as well as an emergency department.

Star-Telegram, December 12, 2012

Silverado Senior Living, an Irvine, California-based company, is expected to open an assisted-living community for people with memory loss conditions, Parkinson’s, and Lewy body at 7001 Bryant Irvin Road in Fort Worth next fall. It is expected to employ up to 100 people.

Star-Telegram, December 17, 2012

Top leaders at American Airlines, US Airways, and their pilot unions are in ongoing meetings to discuss a possible merger between the companies…US Airways has said publicly that it wants a merger with American while it reorganizes under bankruptcy protection. Executive at American Airlines have said that they want to look at possible mergers after the company emerges from bankruptcy. AMR Corporation, based in Fort Worth, is the parent company of American Airlines.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 19, 2012

Expansions and Moves

Fort Worth-based Edmundton Apartments LLC bought The Edmundton, a 20-unit apartment building located on Birchman Avenue in Fort Worth. The distressed asset was sold off market. Financing was obtained through a local bank at 80 percent loan-to-cost. Boyan Radic and Mason Green of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services represented the seller, a Utah partnership. Edmundton Apartments was also secured and represented by Radic and Green.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 9, 2012

Basic Energy Services Inc, a Fort Worth-based oil and gas well-site service provider, acquired all assets of Saltwater Disposal of North Dakota LLC for $43 million. The assets purchase includes 5 saltwater disposal facilities and 8 residential housing units. Basic Energy expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings and contribute about $14 million of revenue in 2013. With the purchase, Basic Energy owns 72 saltwater disposal facilities in Texas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, New Mexico, and Louisiana. Basic Energy employs more than 5,600 individuals.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 20, 2012

Interstate Restoration LLC, a Fort Worth-based firm that provides disaster recovery services, announced the acquisition of fellow industry member InStar and their nationwide operations platform and sales team. The merger of InStar and Interstate Restoration LLC will provide customers with cutting edge technical resources and expertise to cope with any natural disaster, according to an Interstate news release. The transaction price was not disclosed.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 21, 2012

A $2.7 million renovation project for Fort Worth Can Academy’s River Oak campus began and will transform a vacant 22,500 square-foot former automobile dealership into the new home for the River Oaks School. The new campus is located at 2920 Alta Mere Drive in the old West Loop Mitsubishi complex and is scheduled to open in August 2013. The larger, renovated facility will be able to accommodate up to 600 more students. It will include a 3,800 square-foot Early Childhood Education Center with a capacity of 88 children ages 6-weeks to 12 years; 16 classrooms; 2 state-of-the-art computer labs; 2 science labs; a registration classroom; and cafeteria and offices. The project architect is RGM Architects of Dallas.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 22, 2012

On the Dotted Line

Gordon Wayne Davis bought a 22,239 square-foot industrial building at 4709 Lone Star Boulevard in Fort Worth.

Star-Telegram, December 3, 2012

Curves leased 2,400 square feet at 2828 Forest Park Boulevard in Fort Worth for a new location of its fitness and massage studios.

Star-Telegram, December 3, 2012

Hal Allen Family sold 39,000 square feet of industrial space at 4015 East Loop 820 in Fort Worth. Jeff Givens and Amy Baker of Transwestern represented the seller.

Star-Telegram, December 10, 2012

Rally House Texas, a sports apparel retailer, leased a 9,228 square-foot space in the Overton Ridge Shopping Center, which is located at 4920 Overton Ridge Boulevard in Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 14, 2012

Park Tavern leased an 8,111 square-foot space at City Place Center, located at 150 Throckmorton Street in downtown Fort Worth. City Place will be Park Tavern’s second area location.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 14, 2012

Cody Martin, David Wedemeier, and Adam Myers of the new Martin House Brewing Company signed a lease for a 9,000 square-foot space at 220 South Sylvania Avenue in Fort Worth and plan on releasing craft brews to the marker in early 2013. The company currently has 4 year-round beers – the piney, hoppy Imperial Texan; the Day Break 4 Grain Breakfast Beer modeled after a bowl of cereal that offers barley, wheat, oats and rye and is finished with honey; the easy-drinking River House Saison; and There Will Be Stout, a black stout brewed with six pounds of crushed pretzels.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 14, 2012

Jerry’s Express Car Wash bought a 2.32-acre pad site at 4748 Golden Triangle Boulevard in Fort Worth from Alta Vista FW-1 Ltd for a carwash.

Star-Telegram, December 17, 2012

Jack 2199 bought a 34,591 square-foot industrial building at 1800 North Park Drive in Fort Worth.

Star-Telegram, December 17, 2012

JC Craig Properties bought a 10,500 square-foot industrial building at 3213 Ramona Drive in Fort Worth.

Star-Telegram, December 17, 2012

McCart Panther Partners bought a 156,352 square-foot building at 3500 McCart Avenue in Fort Worth.

Star-Telegram, December 17, 2012

Maruyama Manufacturing Co leased 43,125 square feet of office/warehouse space at 4770 Mercantile Drive in Fort Worth.

Star-Telegram, December 17, 2012

Residential Credit Solutions Inc leased 106,500 square feet of office space at 4708 Mercantile Drive in north Fort Worth. By occupying the former Saxon Mortgage space, the move marks a homecoming for many Residential employees because those individuals had worked for Saxon Mortgage when that company occupied the space. All 300 employees based at Residential’s current location at 4282 North Freeway will move into the new space by late February. The company signed a 5-year lease with a 5-year option for the single-floor, light industrial space.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 18, 2012

Rob Cammack bought a 79,190 square-foot building at 5650 Kroger Drive in Fort Worth.

Star-Telegram, December 24, 2012

Tarrant Net, a nonprofit, leased 1,400 square feet for a new location at 1525 Merrimac Circle in Fort Worth.

Star-Telegram, December 24, 2012

Danny Miller bought a 20,000 square-foot building at 2701 East Loop 820 South in Fort Worth. Michael Newsome with NAI Robert Lynn represented the buyer. John Bielamowicz with HSM represented the seller.

Star-Telegram, December 31, 2012

Leeco Steel leased 3,005 square feet of office space at 1300 South University Drive in Fort Worth. Star-Telegram, December 31, 2012

Ronald Alexander bought a 34,840 square-foot building at 201 Northeast 35^th Street in Fort Worth.

Star-Telegram, December 31, 2012

Openings

Magnolia Cheese Co, a locally-owned artisan cheese shop and café, is opening this month at 1251 West Magnolia Avenue. The café offers cut-to-order cheeses, wine, and microbrews along with a small menu of sandwiches, salads, small plates, and desserts. Most of the cheeses offered will be American artisan, and about third will be international varieties. The Magnolia Cheese Co is owned by Elizabeth Northern, who eventually plans to offer classes, including Cheese-101 and wine and beer parings. The 1,400-square-foot shop was designed by Ken Loose of NZ Architects and contracted by Joe Massey Construction. Magnolia Cheese Co will be open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 2, 2012

Dude, Sweet Chocolate, a Dallas-based chocolatier, is opening this month at 2925 Crockett Street in Fort Worth. The gourmet chocolate shop will occupy the former Fig Designers space in the West Seventh development.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 2, 2012

Torchy’s Tacos, an Austin-based taco shop, opened a location near Forest Park Boulevard in Fort Worth on December 20^th. Torchy’s is known for its diablo hot sauce and spicy salsas and quesos. It also serves a selection of breakfast tacos. The restaurant is located at 928 Northton Street.

Star-Telegram, December 7, 2012

Jeff King will open the first Fort Worth office for Northern Trust, a Chicago-based wealth management firm. King will also be President of the Fort Worth region, which extends in to West Texas and represents Northern Trust’s seventh Texas office. Northern Trust caters to people with high net worth, usually people with at least $5 million. Part of the reason for opening an office in Fort Worth is because of the company’s ties to oil and gas. The growth of the Barnett Shale in North Texas and the continuing oil rebirth in the Permian Basin represents the creation of “significant wealth and fast-growing economies,” according to Jeff King.

Star-Telegram, December 13, 2012

Kip’z BBQ reopened on Evans Avenue after having been closed for 2 years. The restaurant originally opened in 2006 and quickly became known for its barbecue, plate lunches with yams and collard greens, and “Better than Mom’s Banana Pudding.” Kip’z BBQ is open Tuesdays through Saturdays for lunch and until 7p.m., and on Sundays from noon until 6p.m.

Star-Telegram, December 19, 2012

Taco Diner, a part of the M. Crowd Restaurant Group, will open a new, 3,000 square foot location at the Westbrook Building in Sundance Square. Taco Diner will offer a “lighter approach to Mexican cooking with a focus on bold flavors found in traditional Mexico City taquerias.” The restaurant will open in 2013.

Star-Telegram, December 20, 2012

Donna Albanese is opening a new family restaurant called Red Door Bistro near Hulen Mall. The new restaurant will be a casual wine café and will serve a new American menu with entrees such as honey-chipotle quail, herb-steamed tilapia, pasta with grilled chicken in a walnut-cream sauce, and black bean-chicken crepes, plus soups and salads. The restaurant will be located at 4938 Overton Ridge Boulevard in Fort Worth. Its official opening date is January 2^nd.

Star-Telegram, December 26, 2012

GE Transportation, a division of General Electric, is scheduled to open its Manufacturing Solutions locomotive factory in north Fort Worth in about a month and is still trying to fill its first 300 jobs. The factory will produce GE’s Evolution diesel-electric locomotives. As of mid-December, GE has only hired 215 workers in Fort Worth, although 12,000 applications were submitted. The facility could employ 875 workers by 2016, with most workers at the factory earning between $18 and $23.50 per hour.

Star-Telegram, December 27, 2012

Around Town

Belfor USA’s disaster recovery facility in Fort Worth is believed to be drying out an undetermined amount of stock and bond certificates from an underground vault in New York that were soaked during Superstorm Sandy. The vault is owned by the Depository Trust and Clearing Corp. Some estimate that as much as $70 billion in stock and bond certificates, as well as bearer bonds are contained in the 10,000 square-foot vault. Security around the building dramatically increased as Fort Worth police officers and other law enforcers wearing SWAT gear and carrying assault weapons were seen in the area. Security cameras were also installed on street-light poles near the facility. Belfor USA helped recover documents from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Some estimate that the project could cost around $2 million.

Star-Telegram, December 1, 2012

AllianceTexas, the 17,000-acre development in far north Fort Worth, surpassed a total of $1 billion in property taxes paid to local governments over the projects 22 years. More development is supposed to be ahead. Hillwood is looking at industrial possibilities and is getting ready to proceed with 2 speculative Class A buildings totaling 230,000 square feet next to Alliance Town Center. A Dick’s Sporting Goods is under construction and is expected to open next summer, launching the second phase of Alliance Town Center. Hillwood’s property taxes go to 8 entities: Fort Worth, Roanoke, Haslet, Westlake, Tarrant, and Denton counties, and the Keller and Northwest school districts. That includes $22 million for Tarrant County in 2011, up from $7 million in 2000.

Star-Telegram, December 3, 2012

Catholic Charities Fort Worth (CCFW) and Atmos Energy launched a new mobile service unit to reach economically disadvantaged people in the 27 counties of the Fort Worth diocese who do not have transportation to the agency’s main campus at 249 West Thornhill Drive in Fort Worth. CCFW’s Mobile Unit is designed to be a portable classroom and will offer the most diverse range of services possible, from financial assistance to case management, counseling and tax assistants.

Fort Worth Business Press, December 9, 2012

Twelve Tarrant County businesses were named finalists for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s annual small business awards. Finalists were chosen from a field of 94 nominees and 38 applicants in 4 categories. Factors considered by the judges included growth and performance, sound business strategies and practices, customer service strategies, business challenges, unique and innovative approaches, and community involvement. The finalists were: Peloton Land Solutions, Shoot Smart, WORN for Peace, Path to Wellness Chiropractic, Red Productions, Village Homes, Composite Cooling Solutions, Perrone Pharmacy/Perrone RX, Texas Jet, Mac Churchill Acura, Multatech Engineering, and Landscape Partners. The awards will be presented at a reception before Mayor Betsy Price’s State of the City address on March 5^th.

Star-Telegram, December 31, 2012

Out of Town Reporting

Jed Kolko, Chief Economist at real estate information site Trulia.com, ranked Fort Worth as the ninth “healthiest” metro for housing in 2013.According to Kolko, “the healthy markets that made the list have strong job growth, which bodes well for housing demand; low vacancy rates – low enough to encourage new construction, but not so low that inventory and sales are restrained; and low foreclosure inventory, since foreclosures tend to hold back recovery.” According to Trulia.com, asking prices in the Fort Worth market were up 5.3 percent from a year ago and rent was up 7 percent. Houston, San Antonio, and Austin were also ranked in the top ten healthiest housing markets in 2013.

MarketWatch, December 26, 2012

A partnership of San Francisco-based DivcoWest and affiliates of TPG Real Estate completed the purchase of the majority of the assets in a Silicon Valley portfolio owned by Mission West Properties Inc, a publicly-traded REIT based in Cupertino, California. The portfolio includes 73 buildings totaling 6.4 million square feet throughout Silicon Valley. According to a news release from Mission West, the joint venture of DivcoWest and TPG paid approximately $400 million in cash and assumed about $398 million in debt for the portfolio. TPG Real Estate is the real estate platform of TPG, a Fort Worth-based private investment firm that has $54.5 billion of assets under management. The partnership’s financial advisers were Eastdil Secured, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Its legal advisers were Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Business Wire, December 27, 2012

Did You Know?

Gifts were handed to 77 local charities during the annual Colonial Country Club Charities Holiday Breakfast. The Crowne Plaza Invitational tournament at the Colonial raised a record $7 million in fundraising, with about $250,000 of that given away at the breakfast. Among the 77 charities represented were the AIDS outreach center, REAL School Gardens, SafeHaven of Tarrant County, the Tarrant Area Food Bank, and the Child Study Center. In the last 15 years, the tournament has generated money and services totaling $53 million for more than 130 organizations, according to the Colonial Charities Committee.

Star-Telegram, December 1, 2012

The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing facility in Fort Worth prints more than half of the 7.7 billion bills of all denominations that will be printed in fiscal 2013. So far, the facility had printed 17.3 million bills a day that value about $1 billion. The facility, located at 9000 Blue Mound Road, has around 800 employees and contractors who are under strict security 24 hours a day.

Star-Telegram, December 21, 2012

In the Works

ATC Electronics & Logistics Inc is likely to win tax breaks in Fort Worth after the city council voted unanimously to designate 2 north Fort Worth parcels as tax abatement reinvestment zones in which property is eligible for a tax abatement. The company already has three separately leased locations in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth Business Press, October 2, 2012

Victory Healthcare, a Woodlands-based, for-profit hospital, announced plans to build a $70 million specialized surgical hospital in Fort Worth.
Dallas Business Journal, October 5, 2012

Amazon.com is considering 2 Dallas-Fort Worth sites for distribution centers. In addition to asking the City of Coppell for tax breaks for a possible distribution center in the city, the company is also looking at a site near Alliance Airport in Fort Worth.
Dallas Business Journal, October 8, 2012

 The Texas Department of Transportation reached a tentative $1.6 billion deal with a private developer to expand Interstate 35W in north Fort Worth, which is the most congested stretch of highway in the state. The project is expected to begin in 2013 and be completed by 2018.
Star-Telegram, October 11, 2012

A 105-bed assisted-living center for the elderly and those with dementia and Alzheimer’s is planned for Fort Worth near Bryant Irvin and Interstate 20 by SRP Medical and Frontier Management. The 100,000 square foot senior living community is expected to open in 2014.
Star-Telegram, October 12, 2012

Baylor Health Care System and United Surgical Partners International Inc are constructing a 77,000 square foot, two-story surgical center in Fort Worth. The center will be located on the north side of Park Place Avenue.
Fort Worth Business Press, October 15, 2012

Flexpipe Systems, a Calgary-based pipeline systems producer, asked Fort Worth for a maximum $2.2 million, 12-year property tax abatement, with plans to open a plant in southeast Fort Worth that would employ as many as 350 people. Fort Worth City Council is scheduled to vote on the abatement plan on November 6^th.
Star-Telegram, October 17, 2012

Expansions and Moves

Cash America International, a Fort Worth-based company, says it has agreed to buy 34 pawnshops in Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Arizona. The final acquisition price is between $68 and $82 million, which will be paid in cash and funded by long-term lines of credit.
Star-Telegram, October 10, 2012

On the Dotted Line

Southside Christian Center sold its facilities to Bethany Church of Fort Worth. Southside Christian also sold its property at 6901 Wichita Avenue to the city of Forest Hill.
Star-Telegram, October 1, 2012

Utopia Graphix leased 12,000 square feet of warehouse space at 814 Blue Mound Road in Fort Worth from Steele Folsom Martin.
Star-Telegram, October 8, 2012

MJ Thomas Engineering, a civil engineering firm, leased 2,700 square feet of office space for a headquarters at 3973 West Vickery Boulevard in Fort Worth.
Star-Telegram, October 8, 2012

Anpeca Corp, a women’s apparel manufacturer, bought a 12,600 square foot building on Montgomery Street in Fort
Worth. The building was previously used by Toby’s Speakers and Blocker Industries.
Star-Telegram, October 8, 2012

Motion Industries, which does business as Hub Supply, leased 9,000 square at 2517 Gravel Drive in Fort Worth and 3,600 feet at 7545 Pebble Drive in Fort Worth.
Star-Telegram, October 8, 2012

LMS Properties purchased 67,700 square feet of industrial warehouse space at 9001 South Freeway in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth Business Press, October 8, 2012

 Total Wine & More leased 27,350 square feet in the Hulen Fashion Center in Fort Worth. For $317 a year, wine drinkers can keep 12 cases of wine in temperature-controlled conditions.
Star-Telegram, October 15, 2012 / Star-Telegram, October 25, 2012

Texas Midstream Gas Services leased 20,648 square feet in the D.R. Horton Tower in Forth Worth.
Star-Telegram, October 15, 2012

Edgepark Medical leased 70,000 square feet of industrial space.
Star-Telegram, October 15, 2012

The owner of Nissan of Fort Worth completed a sale and lease-back of the dealership property as part of a $66 million portfolio sale to an entity of the New York-based investment firm WP Carey & Co.
Star-Telegram, October 18, 2012

ATC Physician Services leased 1,800 square feet of office space at 4770 Bryant Irvin Court in Fort Worth.
Star-Telegram, October 22, 2012

Title Boxing Club leased 5,404 square feet in the Hulen Fashion Center in Fort Worth.
Star-Telegram, October 22, 2012

Dr. Michael Boothby bought 69,020 square feet of land at Edwards Ranch Clearfork in Fort Worth.
Star-Telegram, October 29, 2012

EO Wood Co leased 36,230 square feet of industrial space at 1832 Mony Street in Fort Worth.
Star-Telegram, October 29, 2012

Arnetic Events LLC leased 13,088 square feet of office space at 3000 Race Street in Fort Worth.
Star-Telegram, October 29, 2012

Hunter Chase Capital Partners bought 74,270 square feet of land at Loop 820 and Team Ranch Road in Fort Worth.
Star-Telegram, October 29, 2012

Openings

3 Parrots Taco Shop opened its third location at the Beach Western Commons shopping center in Fort Worth. The Baja taco shop leased a space at 6650 North Beach Street. The other restaurant locations are in Benbrook and Granbury.
Star-Telegram, October 1, 2012

Houlihan’s, a Kansas-based dining chain, opened its first Fort Worth location this month at 9365 Rain Lilly Trail in Alliance Town Center. The restaurant will feature a new menu with items not found at other locations.
Fort Worth Business Press, October 19, 2012

Torchy’s Tacos, an Austin-based taco diner, will open in December at the corner of West Rosedale Street and Forest Park in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth Business Press, October 19, 2012

Frank Kent Cadillac opened a new dealership at 3500 West Loop 820. The dealership is 86,000 square feet and features a café, a children’s play area, a dog park, and a boutique wine shop. The dealership is expected to bring 20 jobs to Fort Worth.
Fort Worth Business Press, October 19, 2012

Tim Love, chef of the Woodshed and Lonesome Dove, says he is opening his Love Shack burger restaurant at Blue Bonnet Circle in Fort Worth. Love Shack is expected to open on November 2^nd.
Star-Telegram, October 25, 2012

Around Town

LaGrave Field, which is home to the minor-league Fort Worth Cats baseball team, was bought by an affiliate of the team’s ownership group for $4.5 million. The transaction guarantees that the team has a place to play.
Star-Telegram, October 3, 2012

The Texas Brahmas, the local hockey team, has been sold to a local investment group that is run by Fort Worth businessman Mike Atkinson. The team also announced that it is changing its name to the Fort Worth Brahmas.
Fort Worth Business Press, October 12, 2012

Catholic Charities took over transportation services for the needy in Fort Worth. The responsibility was previously held by American Red Cross.
Star-Telegram, October 12, 2012

Colonial Savings, a Fort Worth-based regional bank, announced that it is going to be the official sponsor of the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl game, which will be held at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. The terms of the deal were undisclosed.
Dallas Business Journal, October 18, 2012

Out of Town Reporting

UMED Holdings Inc, a Fort Worth-based holding company, acquired a 50 percent interest in Rig Support Services Inc in a stock for stock transaction.
Market News Publishing, October 15, 2012

Fort Worth was one of 5 Texas cities honored with a 2012 Community Economic Development Award from the Texas Economic Development Council. Fort Worth attracted GE Manufacturing Solutions, which purchased a 670,000 square facility in north Fort Worth. The $100 million capital investment is expected to bring more than 500 jobs with annual salaries averaging over $40,000.
US State News, October 23, 2012

Fort Worth Employees Retirement Fund approved a $15 million allocation to BTG Pactual, a Brazilian-based hedge fund. Fort Worth Employees Retirement Fund has $1.8 billion in assets.
Infovest21 News, October 26, 2012

Did You Know?

Cutting Edge Haunted House on 1701 East Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth ranked 5^th on a national list of 31 haunted houses. The list was compiled by HauntedHouseRatings.com. The rankings were determined by customer electronic voting.
Fort Worth Business Press, October 1, 2012

Loan Portfolio Servicing (LPS), a Fort Worth-based company, announced that it is now active as a national third-party servicer of subprime automotive loans. LPS currently manages $50 million in auto portfolios.
Fort Worth Business Press, October 11, 2012

A new manufacturing jobs training program aimed at putting military veterans to work is coming to Fort Worth. As part of the program, some of the nation’s leading manufacturing companies will work with local community and technology colleges to offer training to help veterans become certified in areas such as electronics, welding, and machining. The training center should open sometime in 2013.
Star-Telegram, October 16, 2012

The YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth and the city of Fort Worth agreed to renovate some vacant sports fields at 4230 Alta Mesa Boulevard, near Southwest High School. The new $2 million sports complex is scheduled to open its first phase in May 2013.
Fort Worth Business Press, October 22, 2012

For more economic updates, visit our Economic Development website. 

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

Spire Reality Group in Dallas, the owner of City Place in downtown Fort Worth, obtained building permits to develop the complex’s south tower at Third and Throckmorton streets into a multitenant office building.

Star-Telegram, September 10, 2012

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted $10 million to Fort Worth Alliance Airport as part of the FAA Airport Improvement Program. The grant will help pay for the extension of Alliance’s two runaways to 11,000 feet. The entire project is expected to be complete in 2016.

Federal Aviation Administration, September 7, 2012

Bell Helicopter is investing $235 million in a new headquarters and employee center at its 158-acre Fort Worth campus on Texas Highway 10. The program will increase the employee count at its Fort Worth headquarters from about 3,500 to 5,500, according to company executives.

Dallas Business Journal, September 28, 2012

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance opened on September 19^th. The new hospital is located at Golden Triangle Boulevard near Old Denton Road and Interstate 35W. The new 50-bed hospital will draw residents from Northeast Tarrant County and the new developments along the interstate 35W corridor. According to Matt Zavadsky, MedStar spokesperson, the average emergency medical trip could be reduced by 15 to 20 minutes.

Star-Telegram, September 19, 2012

The Loft, a women’s apparel and accessories store, opened September 21^st in downtown Fort Worth’s Sundance Square. The 5,394 square foot store will be at the corner of Houston and Third streets.

Star-Telegram, September 20, 2012

The Fort Worth City Council voted to reset unpopular parking rates in the lots around the Will Rogers Memorial Center. The Council will lease a 200-car lot to the Museum of Science and History and allow the museum to set its own rates.

Star-Telegram, September 12, 2012

For more economic updates, visit here. 

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

Fort Worth-based FTS International (FTSI) announced that it reached commercial agreement on the company’s second international joint venture, partnering with PETRA Energia SA, which has 20 million acres of unconventional reserves in Brazil.
Fort Worth Business Press, July 10, 2012

Fort Worth-based TTI Inc released a new Android application on July 11, further extending the company’s offerings to smartphone and tablet users. The free TTI Android application is available for immediate download on Google Play and in the Amazon App Store.
Fort Worth Business Press, July 12, 2012

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has landed two new international flights: Asiana Airlines will launch weekly cargo flights to South Korea, and Aeromexico plans to start passenger service to Mexico City if it achieves the necessary government approval.
Dallas Business Journal, July 12, 2012

Downtown Fort Worth Inc, in collaboration with the Fort Worth Transportation Authority and the City of Fort Worth, introduced the launch of FutureDowntown.org, a new online community engagement website which allows both residents and planning experts the ability to learn about the Downtown 2023 Strategic Action Plan, propose ideas for downtown Fort Worth, and provide feedback that will be reviewed and considered for implementation into the project.
Wireless News, July 13, 2012

Fort Worth’s sales tax collections continue to run ahead of the budget. For the year, collections are $109.13 million, 6.7 percent above the adopted budget and 12.1 percent over the same point last year.
Star-Telegram, July 18, 2012

For more updates on expansions, moves and deals, visit our website here.

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

Texas A&M University is planning to buy the Texas Wesleyan School of Law for about $25 million. The school in Fort Worth will be called the Texas A&M School of Law at Texas Wesleyan University.
Star-Telegram, June 27, 2012

RadioShack, headquartered in Fort Worth, is continuing its expansion into Asia by forming a joint venture with Chinese firm Cybermart, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of SMS Marketing Service. The Chinese stores will carry RadioShack’s brand at stores in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Star-Telegram, June 8, 2012

Basic Energy Services, an oilfield services firm, is moving its corporate headquarters from Midland to Fort Worth. The company will move into the 21^st and 22^nd floors of the Burnett Plaza building on Cherry Street. The firm expects to have about 100 employees in Fort Worth.
Star-Telegram, June 15, 2012

FTS International Services LLC of Fort Worth has been named among the mid-nation’s 50 fastest-growing companies by Five Elms Capital. FTS International Services LLC, formerly known as Frac Tech International, provides well-stimulation services for the oil and gas industry.
Fort Worth Business Press, June 11, 2012

Fort Worth recorded the 12^th largest numeric increase in residents in the United States between April 1, 2010, and July 1, 2011. Fort Worth’s population also surpassed 750,000 during this period.
Star-Telegram, June 29, 2012

To read more updates that you may not have seen elsewhere, visit here.

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

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

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth is scheduled to open a $57.7 million emergency department in fall 2013 that will roughly triple the emergency room’s space and boost its beds by nearly 50 percent. The facility will have 90 beds and 75,000 square feet on three floors. The level 2 unit will also include a training floor with a simulation lab for emergency care providers and a clinic for a follow-up care for elderly patients.

Star-Telegram, May 31, 2012

CSDC Systems Inc, a provider of enterprise solutions for licensing, permitting and compliance, grants, courts and freedom of information/access to information, will move its U.S. corporate headquarters to the One West Seventh office tower. CSDC Systems Inc will occupy 4,785 square feet on the east side of the tower’s second floor.

Fort Worth Business Press, May 4, 2012

FTS International LLC, a Fort Worth-based company that provides well-stimulation services for the oil and gas industry, signed an agreement for its first international joint venture by partnering with Summit Technologies Co Ltd through its affiliate, Selected Arabia Ltd. The joint venture, a Saudi Arabian firm called FTS Arabia Ltd, will provide well-completion products and services for onshore conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells in Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Fort Worth Business Press, May 18, 2012

E-tickets can now be purchased for the Heartland Flyer service between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. Customers who buy tickets online will be e-mailed tickets, which they can print or show to the conductor on their smart-phones.

Star-Telegram, May 9, 2012

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority is now sharing its route data with Google Maps. Riders can find out when the next bus or train will arrive by going to maps.google.com.

Star-Telegram, May 16, 2012

For more economic updates and news you may have missed, go here.

Chamber Chairman Whit Smith

Whit Smith, co-founder and president of the human resources consulting firm WhitneySmith Company, takes the helm as FY2012 board chairman for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce – a role that arrives with a full plate of priorities for Chamber board action, internally as well as externally.

Smith shared his outlook in a Q&A with the Chamberletter.  Here are excerpts:

What’s one of the best things about living in Fort Worth?

Fort Worth is one of the most caring and friendly cities in the United States. We are a welcoming community. Our firm has been involved in helping a number of people relocate to Fort Worth from other communities across the United States. I constantly hear how satisfied these people are with their move to Fort Worth.

I also serve on a number of nonprofit boards. I am gratified by the effort, commitment, money and time people put into the various nonprofit organizations across Fort Worth. It really doesn’t matter if the organization is arts-related or human services-related. People in Fort Worth volunteer and put their time, talent and money into action. In that regard, Fort Worth is somewhat unusual because we have a relatively large number of nonprofit agencies that are supported heavily by individuals more so than by corporate and foundation contributions.  That is not to say that corporations and foundations don’t contribute, because they do in Fort Worth, but I still believe that it is the volunteer who makes such a difference in the nonprofit community.

What’s one of Fort Worth’s greatest challenges? What’s one solution the Chamber can offer?

In April, I had the opportunity to participate with the Chamber and the Dallas Regional Chamber in a Joint Congressional Summit in Washington, D.C. Our trip included meetings with both Texas senators and nine members of the House.

These sessions included important discussions on our Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NASJRB), the Trinity River Vision, air quality, water and transportation.

Fort Worth faces significant challenges with regard to increasing our transportation infrastructure, which must be a high priority. I believe the Chamber can help by staying focused and in touch with our representatives at City Hall, as well as Austin and Washington and continuing our push for federal and state transportation dollars.

Recognizing that it took 30 years to begin construction on the Southwest Parkway, we cannot wait that long to improve and widen Interstate 35W and arterial roads that support our community. That is not to say that air-quality and water are not important.  They are very high on the Chamber’s watch list.  We heard some very good news in Washington regarding the NASJRB, which the Pentagon considers to be one of the models in the country, in terms of safety and efficiency.  The partnership between our community and the NASJRB really is paying off.  In summary, the Chamber staff and Board are vital to Fort Worth in addressing these issues if we are to achieve positive outcomes.

You’re known as an innovator. What’s a new priority you’d like to see implemented by the Chamber?

I really am not sure that I ever knew that I am considered to be an innovator.  Yes, Gretchen and I did start The Whitney Smith Company about 24 years ago.  I was laid off during the Texas banking downturn that took place in the mid to late 80’s.  We then started The Whitney Smith Company, our human resources consulting firm.

At our Chamber Board meeting in March, I announced that I am particularly interested in growing the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce membership base during my term as chairman.  We are fortunate to have approximately 2,050 members in the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. I would like to see that number grow.

I believe increasing this membership base by 5 percent per year is not unrealistic.  We also need to continue the initiative that started five years ago with Vision Fort Worth. This program has so much potential in keeping the GenXrs and GenYs involved in Fort Worth.            

How will you focus your efforts on that priority?
At every Board meeting, it will be my priority to encourage our Board members to provide the Chamber with leads for new members and assist our staff in retaining current members. We have established a new process for doing this, and I am sure it will help us to achieve the 5% growth goal that I believe is attainable.  With the enthusiastic Board that we have, I am confident that we will be able to achieve this goal.

From your perspective as an opera fan, if Fort Worth were a famous opera, which one would it be and why?

The answer to this question is a no-brainer: Puccini’s opera, “La Fanciulla del West” (“The Girl of the Golden West”), has Fort Worth written all over it.

Minnie, the heroine, would be sung by our illustrious mayor, Betsy Price. If our mayor can sing like she can give a speech, I know she will be a star.

Sheriff Rance would be cast with former Mayor Mike Moncrief. Without question, our former mayor is a good guy. I am struggling a bit with the bad guy, an outlaw with an alias Dick Johnson. (Maybe the membership has suggestions who to cast in this role.)

The opera is set in The Polka, a small saloon.  Our Mayor, Minnie, finds herself attracted to Johnson, who looks strikingly like a wanted poster hanging on the saloon wall.  Sheriff Rance is after Johnson, but Minnie proposes a poker game and says that if she wins, Johnson goes free.  If Rance wins, he hauls Johnson to jail.

Because this is opera, Minnie decides to cheat and wins the poker game, freeing Johnson, but he is caught by Sheriff Rance, taken to a tree, and is going to be hung by the townspeople.  Minnie rushes in at the last minute and pleads for his life.  Everyone is so touched by her love that they decide to let him go.

Had Puccini only known in 1920 that his opera, “The Girl of the Golden West” would be played in Fort Worth in 2012 by some of our finest citizens, he would be gloating!  Legend has it that a large live oak tree at Shady Oaks Country Club did serve at one time as a hanging tree.  Without a doubt, we should be able to find a decent saloon somewhere in the City.

You’re a licensed private investigator.  What attracted you to that path?

Approximately ten years ago, our firm made the decision to become a private investigation firm.  This decision was based upon the number of requests that we receive to conduct investigations involving discrimination, harassment, and occasionally workplace violence issues.  In addition, a large number of our clients are now requesting criminal background checks, and we provide that service.  As a private investigation firm, we don’t “pack heat.”

Chamber Leadership

Chairman Whit Smith, Vice Chair Susan Halsey and Treasurer Mark Nurdin.

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

TTI Inc, a Fort Worth-based subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, completed the acquisition of Sager Electronics on April 4^th. Sager Electronics will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of TTI.
Fort Worth Business Press, April 5, 2012

ECi Software Solutions, a Fort Worth-based provider of business and e-commerce software solutions, has acquired BlueSky Systems Solutions Ltd, a back office systems supplier for the European office products industry based in Derbyshire, England.
Fort Worth Business Press, April 12, 2012

Lockheed Martin celebrated the delivery of the 4,500^th F-16 jet. Since 1978, over 3,500 F-16 jets have been produced at Lockheed Martin’s plant in Fort Worth, Texas. About 1,600 jobs at Lockheed Martin are tied to the F-16 program.
Star-Telegram, April 2, 2012

 Carter Burgess Plaza, the 40-story green-glass office tower at 777 Main Street in downtown Fort Worth, is being renamed 777 Main.
Star-Telegram, April 12, 2012

 Sales of existing single-family homes in North Texas continued to trend upward in March, improving 13 percent from a year ago.
Star-Telegram, April 10, 2012

Site Selection magazine named the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce one of the Top 20 Economic Development Groups in the United States for 2011. This is the fifth time the chamber has received this designation in the past eight years.
Fort Worth Business Press, April 24, 2012

 For more economic updates and news you may have missed, go here.