SPONSORS

CHAIRMAN'S CLUB SPONSORS

Accrisoft Corporation provides a finely tuned blend of technology and services that empower your economic development organization to accomplish your goals and better serve investors. Accrisoft Freedom™ is a comprehensive software solution that spans across your organization's operations, finance, marketing, and sales departments, allowing your entire team to work together harmoniously on a single platform.

Amazon’s Economic Development team supports worldwide expansion by building relationships with economic development organizations, policymakers, permitting agencies, and community stakeholders. We directly support Amazon’s investments and we help integrate our businesses into the communities in which they locate. Our engagement is not transactional. We build long-term, collaborative partnerships with economic development organizations to advance job creation and economic growth.

DCI is “The Leader in Marketing Places." Since 1960, we have worked with more than 500 cities, regions, states, provinces and countries, helping them to attract investors, visitors, and talent. We specialize exclusively in three areas of place marketing: economic development, talent attraction and tourism including websites, branding, public relations, social/digital media, research, prospect development, travel trade, and special events. Current clients include a range of states (Michigan, Florida, North Dakota, Vermont, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey), cities/regions (Charleston, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Columbus, Houston, Research Triangle Region, and Jacksonville) and countries (Netherlands, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Georgia), to name a few. With a team of more than 60 place marketers, DCI is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Denver, Los Angeles and Toronto.

Specializing in Economic Development; Community Development; Strategic Planning; Disaster Recovery; Emergency Management; and Hazard Mitigation activities, GRANTWORKS has secured and managed over $6 billion in state and federal funds. Through a team of over 300 professionals, whose combined experience exceeds 2500 years; our deliverable service capacities include: Grant Writing, Project Management, Reporting, Environmental Reviews, Income Surveys, Labor Standards, Buyouts and Acquisitions

Placer.ai is the leader in location analytics, instantly generating foot traffic insights for any location in the U.S. Commercial real estate, retail, and economic development professionals are using the product daily to optimize their decision-making. Placer.ai provides a range of easily accessible reports on-demand including true trade areas, visit trends, customer journey data, demographics, cross-shopping, property rankings and more. The breadth of perspectives empowers local governments to understand consumer behavior, attract the best-fit business and enhance local business performance to drive economic growth.

SIGNATURE SPONSOR

Recognizing that the jobs of the future are rooted in a thriving tech economy, Tulsa Innovation Labs is building a tech hub in Tulsa that expands opportunities for Tulsans and catalyzes inclusive growth. We make programmatic investments in four interconnected ecosystems. Collectively, we refer to these “right to win” opportunities as “Tulsa’s Tech Niche:” advanced aerial mobility; virtual health; energy tech; and cyber. Through a diverse coalition of public and private partners, led by the George Kaiser Family Foundation—a $5 billion philanthropic organization—TIL is creating an inclusive tech community in the American Heartland.

CO-SPONSOR

At the intersection of career and community, only one group provides the opportunity to impact the lives of others while developing the leaders of tomorrow. The Real Estate Council provides the road map for success and the platform to Build the City You’ve Imagined. As the largest and most influential organization of its kind in Texas, TREC represents more than 2,000 members, 625 member companies and 95% of the commercial real estate industry in North Texas. TREC members are developers, builders, brokers, attorneys, architects, accountants, finance professionals, title professionals, and more. 

TREC cultivates relationships in the commercial real estate industry to catalyze community investment, influence policy, propel careers and develop the leaders of tomorrow.

We believe relationships are the lifeblood of career success, civic responsibility, and community investment.

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Within a compact 4.4 square mile area, the Town of Addison is a vibrant urban oasis in North Texas that offers companies an unparalleled business-friendly environment with a highly educated labor force. Companies such as Mary Kay Cosmetics, Concentra, Wingstop, Hitachi Vantara, Occidental Chemical, Supreme Lending, and Google, to name a few, maintain their headquarters or regional offices here. Addison has been ranked as the #1 city in Texas to start a business and the #1 suburb in Texas for young professionals. Major festivals, over 200 restaurants, 22 hotels and the state’s busiest general aviation airport add to the rich, vibrant amenities found here. We invite you to visit us!

Over the past 5 years (between 2018 and 2022), AT&T invested more than $100 billion in its U.S. wireless and wireline networks. We’re investing in cities, towns, states and people to connect more Americans to high-speed internet and a brighter future. We need to prepare our communities for the digital future ahead of us. To help get all communities ready for what’s ahead, we are working to deliver the high-speed internet and resources needed to thrive in a digital world. We’re focused on making internet access, affordability and adoption easy so more Americans can tap into the potential of the internet. Because connection doesn’t happen by accident – it takes effort.

Bank of Texas is a financial services partner for consumers, businesses and wealth clients alike. While our origins are humble, we’ve grown alongside our clients for more than a century. We have unwavering confidence in our ability to build strong relationships, provide diverse expertise and services, and invest in the communities we serve. We believe delivering peace of mind is an important part of your financial growth. This is why we build relationships around a holistic view of your financial world and provide sound advice you can rely on. We’re as strategic about how we give back to our communities as we are about managing our clients’ financial futures. Our goal is to be best-in-class and make an impact, not simply check a box.

BNSF Railway is one of North America’s leading freight transportation companies, with a rail network of 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states and also operates in three Canadian provinces. It is one of the top transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur coal and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food and beverages. BNSF’s shipments help feed, clothe, supply and power American homes and businesses every day. Its employees have developed one of the most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy and environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve.

BNSF’s Economic Development team works closely with companies, communities and consultants to establish transportation and distribution solutions that are customized to their enterprise. With our

knowledge and expertise, we can help bring businesses and jobs to locations where our network operates by expediting rail development and increasing businesses’ speed to market. For more information, visit bnsf.com/rail-development.

Downtown Dallas, Inc. (DDI) is the primary advocate, champion, and steward for Downtown Dallas. DDI mobilizes resources that help stimulate a vibrant and sustainable Downtown environment, improve infrastructure, enhance economic competitiveness, create a culturally inclusive urban center, position the area as a global destination, and foster innovation and technology in all aspects of the urban experience.

The heart of one of the fastest growing regions in the nation, Downtown Dallas has it all….an entrepreneurial spirit, robust infrastructure and the largest, most highly educated and skilled workforce in the region. Downtown Dallas combines the affordability, accessibility, and diversity that businesses need to thrive, now and tomorrow. Visit Downtowndallasnow.com to see why Downtown Dallas is the premier destination to live and work.

Business Facilities  is the leading full-service media brand specializing in the site selection marketplace. In print, online, and face-to-face, Business Facilities has created a dynamic community that connects corporate site selectors with economic development organizations from across North America and around the world. Business Facilities magazine is read by C-Suite executives, corporate real estate professionals, site consultants and other business leaders. Published six times a year, each issue profiles state, regional and international locations. BusinessFacilities.com is the share of market leader among all site selection websites, providing up-to-the-minute site selection news and industry-specific features. Business Facilities LiveXchange is an invitation-only matchmaking event that connects corporate executives and site consultants that have active projects with economic development organizations from across North America. 

GIS WebTech provides the most advanced technology solutions available for economic development and site selection. The company’s technology helps economic development organizations attract, retain, and expand businesses within their communities and helps corporate site selectors identify and analyze ideal locations. GIS WebTech is the fastest-growing provider, and serves economic development organizations of all sizes, from small, rural communities to large states, provinces, and national governments, across North America and Europe. GIS WebTech’s solutions are built natively on the Esri ArcGIS platform, the world’s most powerful mapping software, and include the most accurate demographic and workforce data available.  For more information, please see https://giswebtech.com/.

As the largest energy delivery company in Texas, Oncor has a long tradition of serving the people of the Lone Star State. With more than 139,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines serving more than 400 communities and 98 counties, we do more than simply keep the lights on. Each year, we invest billions in state-of-the-art infrastructure and advanced technologies to create a safer, smarter, more reliable power grid. Through our investment, we leverage the power of predictive analytics to monitor dangerous storms, identify problem areas before they happen, and restore service more quickly. We champion an electric superhighway that delivers wind and solar power. And most importantly, we partner with the people of Texas—working with communities, businesses, government representatives, and non-profit organizations to nurture the quality of life and economic well-being that makes Texas an incredible place to live and do business. Contact our Economic Development team at EcoDev@oncor.com

The world is changing; are you?

Resource Development Group (RDG) was established in 1995 to provide experienced fundraising counsel to economic and community development organizations. RDG has worked with a wide variety of clients including Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Corporations, Community Improvement Corporations, and Regional Partnerships. Our specific expertise includes managing multi-faceted fundraising initiatives in complex regions comprised of multiple political jurisdictions. We build organizations that build communities! We have managed more than 200 economic/community development funding projects generating over $2 billion in operating revenue for our clients. In addition, we also consult in areas designed to improve your organization’s ability to provide crucial solutions for your communities.  Our products range from “turn-key” capital campaigns to specific consulting solutions, all designed with your unique challenges in mind. 

The world is changing; are you?

The Richardson Economic Development Partnership was established by the City of Richardson and the Richardson Chamber of Commerce in 1984. REDP is dedicated to building a vibrant, local economy by growing new investment and jobs by working with employers. Richardson is known as the Telecom Corridor, the high tech suburb of Dallas. In 2013, REDP was recognized as an AEDO by IEDC and reaccredited again in 2017 and 2020. Richardson is the first entity in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to earn this accreditation and stands apart as the only community in Texas - and only the second nationally - to have achieved dual honors through AEDO accreditation and the five-star accreditation by the US Chamber earned by the Richardson Chamber of Commerce in 2011, 2016 and 2021.

GOLD SPONSORS

Positioned at the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Arlington is among the U.S.’s major hubs for freight, air and ground transportation. Whether it’s convincing GM to build an assembly plant or recruiting an MLB team to Arlington, we are the place where big ideas become a reality. After all, it’s our competitive, can-do spirit that makes Arlington, The American Dream City.

The Allen Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) is a nationally recognized organization that achieves its core mission of recruiting quality jobs and commercial investment to the City of Allen, a suburb of Dallas with a population of 107,000. The organization has received numerous accolades, most recently winning Best Real Estate Deal from the Dallas Business Journal for a mixed-use development.   

AEDC efforts helped create many of the mixed-use amenities that make Allen a vibrant city and contribute to Allen’s superior quality of life, recognized by Money Magazine with #2 rankings for Best Place to Live (2017) and Best Place to Launch a Career (2018).   

Since its inception, the AEDC has supported 155 projects and supported numerous public-private partnerships. These projects have accounted for 18,542 direct jobs within the city, comprising 51% of the total jobs in Allen and added $46 billion to the city of Allen and the wider regional economy.  

Chmura Economics & Analytics is an applied economic consulting firm specializing in delivering advanced economic analysis. Our core competencies include economic consulting, economic impact studies, and our labor market software and data solutions. Our core audiences are corporations, economic development, workforce development, site selection, education, and staffing organizations. Chmura has the experience and expertise to transform data into information that drives effective strategy. Our premier technology platforms - JobsEQ®, and LaborEQ® - are in widespread use across the United States. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Chmura was founded in 1999 and operates a regional office in Cleveland, Ohio.

Plano Economic Development offers an integrated approach of programs and services to support the creation of new businesses, expansion and retention of existing businesses and the attraction of companies that offer high impact jobs that share values of the community. Located 19 miles north of Dallas, Plano boasts world-class business parks and amenities demanded by global firms, an educated workforce, a pro-business climate and superior accessibility.

EcoMap was founded based on a simple premise: it should be easy to access information about what's happening in the ecosystems all around us. Whether we're dealing with a local business community or an entire industry, we think that everyone should be able to easily navigate every ecosystem, everywhere. At EcoMap, we're on a mission to build more equitable & accessible ecosystems through technology. We developed powerful technology that lets us digitize them at scale, so that any ecosystem building organization can use our products to understand, showcase, and engage their ecosystems.

Lightcast provides labor market data and analysis to help professionals make sound decisions in their regions. We tell stories with individual-level LMI data that are unmatched in the market. Our data, software, and consulting services help economic development professionals understand and communicate their communities’ workforce strengths, quickly respond to business inquiries, benchmark their regions against their peers, and boost their business services.

Livability Media is a full-service media and content marketing company and a recognized authority in talent attraction and best places to live. We work with economic development organizations, chambers of commerce and governments around the U.S. to tell their stories of why they are outstanding places to locate to, live in, work in and invest in. Best of all, we leverage the power of Livability.com, with millions of annual users, to help attract talent, business investment and visitors. Livability Media combines outstanding content and compelling design with targeted distribution and extensive promotion to reach the audiences that matter most to you.

The race is on…for jobs, talent and capital investment. Is your organization ready? We can help. Founded in 2010, POWER 10 is a national capital campaign management firm specializing in campaigns to fund economic and community development programs at the city, county, region, and state levels. Our staff has managed more than 100 campaigns coast to coast and raised hundreds of millions of dollars. We are equally adept at managing first-time campaigns and “renewal” campaigns to fund second and subsequent programs. Founder and CEO Sean Mikula leads the firm together with Executive Vice President Amity Farrar and a team of professional Development Directors and Planners. We play the role of “quarterback” in the capital campaigns we manage, provide on-site management of day-to-day campaign operations, and “make the Ask.” What distinguishes POWER 10 in the marketplace? It is the talent and tenacity of our team, the consistent quality of our services, and the fresh ideas we bring to each client. We do not rent out campaign directors, we do not “pop in” to our clients’ offices once per month and dispense counsel - we are “hands on,” all in and focused on WINNING.

Founded in 2010, ResearchFDI is a specialized investment attraction consulting firm widely recognized within the economic development industry for its accomplished lead generation programs that have yielded over $50 billion in new investments for its clients worldwide. In addition, ResearchFDI offers a suite of strategy, business intelligence and research reports that act as precursors to any investment attraction campaign such as developing economic development plans, FDI strategies, marketing plans, benchmarking reports, sector profiles, industry reports, investor pitches, pitch deck development and investment attraction training.

TIP Strategies is a privately held Austin-based consulting firm committed to providing innovative strategy solutions for public and private sector clients since 1995. The firm’s core competencies are strategic planning for economic development, talent strategies, organizational development, resiliency planning, and equity initiatives. Specific topics in which TIP has deep experience include entrepreneurship, target industries, workforce analytics, and defense industries/communities. During our 27 years in business, we have worked with more than 300 clients throughout the country and around the world to develop innovative, publicly supported economic development strategies. Community leaders across the country have embraced the TIP model of Talent, Innovation, and Place to achieve successful and sustainable economies. Our approach places a premium on well-informed decision-making, sound planning practices, and a commitment to an equitable future.

SILVER SPONSORS

The North Texas Commission is a unique public-private partnership that drives large impactful projects and legislative issues benefiting a robust 13-county region. The organization tackles the region’s greatest challenges with subject matter experts who provide resources to market the region and educate future leaders. The Commission also manages the region’s unified advocacy voice at the state and federal levels.

Named as the National Chamber of the Year in July 2022, the Dallas Regional Chamber is one of America’s most established business organizations and serves as the voice of business and the champion of economic development and growth in the Dallas Region. We work with our member companies and regional partners to strengthen our business community by advocating for pro-growth public policies, improving our educational system, attracting talented workers from around the world, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and enhancing the quality of life for all. Our goal is to make the Dallas Region the best place in the United States for all people to live, work, and do business.

Plano Economic Development offers an integrated approach of programs and services to support the creation of new businesses, expansion and retention of existing businesses and the attraction of companies that offer high impact jobs that share values of the community. Located 19 miles north of Dallas, Plano boasts world-class business parks and amenities demanded by global firms, an educated workforce, a pro-business climate and superior accessibility. www.planotexas.org

NAS is an award-winning 75 y-o recruitment marketing firm that partners with clients to help them bring qualified candidates into their talent pool and increase their ROI. NAS achieves that by focusing on 3 main pillars: Storytelling, Technology & Strategy. Our products and services include a proprietary SaaS candidate attraction platform, employer branding, and programmatic, social & digital media services.

The Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation that provides leadership and vision for the Town of Little Elm's economic future. The EDC is charged with attracting new commercial businesses, new tourism opportunities, and new jobs to Little Elm. Our mission is to advance economic development in Little Elm while capitalizing on our lakeside character and sense of community.

Our Goals:

• Market Little Elm’s strengths and increase awareness of the Town’s investment opportunity and job creation potential.
• Partner with the Town to facilitate the vision and manage the progression of the Town Center development.
• Attract job-creating entities to provide new investments in, office park development, planned mixed-use developments, and tourism.
• Continue to stimulate retail development and investment.

Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service is a leading public service college in Ohio, nationally recognized for its commitment to partnering with the region and state to provide solutions to challenges facing communities, the economy and the environment. Ranked as the 39th Most Innovative Public Service School in the nation and 64th U.S. News and World Report Best Public Affairs Grad School, the Voinovich School’s educational approach involves students, professionals and faculty working together to apply their knowledge in making a difference in the lives of the citizens in Appalachia and the state of Ohio. The Voinovich School’s distinction among public service schools is its ability to build public-private partnerships with nonprofit organizations, government and businesses to create public value by leveraging the expertise of its 47 faculty and adjuncts and 84 professionals and executives-in-residence.   The college integrates services, investment and talent development to grow companies, build community collaboratives and non-profit organizations, and improve government delivery of services.  Home to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Science in Environmental Studies and Master of Sustainability, Security and Resilience degree programs and certificates, along with the George V. Voinovich Academy for Excellence in Public Service, the Voinovich School engages nearly 200 students and many more public service professionals in hands-on learning opportunities and networking to enhance their careers and bring their ideas to life. For additional information about the Voinovich School and its impact across the region, state and nation, visit ohio.edu/voinovich-school.

BRONZE SPONSORS

Bonham Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO) invests in infrastructure projects for our fast-growing city just north of Dallas, such as water and wastewater lines, and improvements and support facilities for Jones Field Airport. In addition, we are making strategic investments in commercial and industrial development to expand job opportunities.

BEDCO also has a commitment to downtown Bonham and has established a program to assist downtown business owners in improving their properties by offering 50% matching grants.

Convergent Nonprofit Solutions is a national fundraising consulting firm that specializes in managing feasibility studies and capital campaigns for chambers, economic development organizations, community colleges, and other nonprofits. Capital campaigns can play a key role in community development efforts, including those related to both business and talent retention and attraction. Thanks to our extensive background in chamber, economic development, and workforce development fundraising throughout the country, we are able to provide your organization with valuable insights and customized solutions as to how a capital campaign can help you reach your goals.

To remain competitive and to keep up with the ever changing business climate, the Denton Economic Development Partnership expands the City’s tax base and supports the creation of jobs by marketing the City, developing strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors, and educating key stakeholders on the value of economic development. The Partnership supports prospective companies considering Denton as a market in addition to existing businesses looking to grow. The EDP is supported by stakeholders from a diverse array of industries who have a critical interest in Denton’s business and workforce development. To learn more about having a role in the future of Denton, please call (940) 382-7151 or visit dentonedp.com. 

Since 1996, the Sherman Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) has focused on a mission to grow and diversify the economy of Sherman, Texas and the surrounding area through the addition of new jobs and investments of primary employers. A city of 44,000 plus residents located in North Texas, Sherman has experienced an acceleration of growth over the last 18 months after the city landed two multi-billion-dollar deals – Texas Instruments and GlobalWafers. These mega projects, combined with existing companies GlobiTech and Coherent, have secured Sherman’s place as the tech hub of North Texas, also known as “Silicon Prairie.” In addition to recruiting new business and assisting existing industries with their expansion projects, SEDCO is passionate about building programs that support workforce development, entrepreneurs, and women- and minority-owned businesses. Learn more at sedco.org.

MEDIA SPONSOR

Site Selection magazine, the leading publication covering global corporate real estate strategy and economic development, is in its 69th year of publication. It is mailed every other month to a qualified circulation of more than 42,000* corporate end users in print, in addition to publishing all of its material at www.siteselection.com. 

Global corporate expansion experts Conway Data Inc., publisher of Site Selection, state economic development guides under its Custom Content Publishing Division, and the Site Selection Investor Watch newsletter, has been a trusted source of business intelligence to corporations, government economic development and investment promotion agencies around the world since 1954. 

Conway Data owns and manages Conway Data Events, organizer of the World Forum for FDI and FDI training seminars. Conway Data also manages the Atlanta-based Industrial Asset Management Council, a professional association of 600-plus corporate real estate executives, economic developers and commercial real estate service providers.

*December 2021; all circulation information is publisher’s own data unless otherwise specified.

For 27 years, Business Xpansion Journal magazine has delivered insightful, educational and other useful information to assist companies and their legal representatives with the expansion and relocation process. This process is complicated with so many variables, tangibles and intangibles. BXJ offers comprehensive tools to help understand incentives, workforce development, real estate, education, job training, transportation and much more. Each issue of the print and digital magazine, newsletter and complementing social media tackles geography state by state, industry by industry, along with the myriad of tax, legal and intellectual property issues that follow these decisions. Its editors get to the heart of economic development coverage and understand the categories of information and insight executives need in making informed relocation decisions. For more information please go to www.bxjmag.com. 

Business Xpansion Journal is published by King Publishing, Inc. headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. 

The partnership of fDi Intelligence and GIS Planning makes us the world’s leading online investment promotion service, with the most powerful and comprehensive portfolio of online products and services to help you to drive investment into your location.