Dallas Entrepreneur Center Update

By: Tara Vornkahl, Manager of Innovation

Like the Dallas startup scene, the summer season is moving along quickly and the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC) is busier than ever! A few activities in the works include introducing the fall class of DEC Ambassadors and gearing up for VentureSpur’s next accelerator class. Read on for more information on all that has been going on at the DEC during the month of August and check out the events that are taking place throughout the startup community here in DFW.

Infographic of the Week: Market Tapestry

By: Ryan Tharp, Director of Research and Economic Development

Companies, agencies, and organizations often measure and predict consumer purchasing habits. Segmenting markets allows businesses to target specific audiences and potentially have a more direct effect on behaviors.

Esri’s Tapestry Segmentation system highlights the “who” of lifestyle demography with the “where” of local neighborhood geography to create a model of various lifestyle classifications or segments of actual neighborhoods with addresses—distinct behavioral market segments. To create this map, U.S. residential areas are divided into 65 distinctive segments based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics to provide an accurate, detailed description of U.S. neighborhoods. These segments are then grouped into the 12 Tapestry Segmentation LifeMode Summary Groups, which are characterized by lifestyle and lifestage, and share an experience such as being born in the same time period or a trait such as affluence.

The tapestry map most certainly does not categorize every person living in these areas, and it is not intended to misrepresent any one area. This fun map does however highlight where some of these summary consumer and lifestyle groups are located. When we look at lifestyle and lifestage groups, birds of a feather generally do flock together.

Click to Enlarge

Infographic of the Week: Major Expansions and Relocations

By: Ryan Tharp, Director of Research and Economic Development

In the 19^th century, financial hardship and uncertainty led many people to seek opportunity elsewhere, thus coining the phrase “Gone to Texas.” That message was as clear then as companies are realizing today. Doing business here in Dallas-Fort Worth brings opportunity for growth and success.

Dallas-Fort Worth is experiencing a considerable number of companies relocating to, or expanding within, the metropolitan area. Recent projects have brought thousands of new jobs for North Texans and millions of dollars in new investment to our communities. Many recognizable companies such as Toyota and State Farm have recently chosen North Texas as their new home, and there are many more on the way. Companies from a wide variety of industries are recognizing that Dallas-Fort Worth’s skilled labor force, its low cost of doing business, and easy access to global markets solidify its position as a major economic hub.

Infographic of the Week: Industrial Clusters

By: Ryan Tharp, Director of Research & Economic Development 

DFW is building for the future. According to recent research by CBRE, DFW is approaching 20 million sq. ft. of industrial space under construction – the most of all major Texas markets. The new space under construction is adding capacity to the millions of square feet of existing industrial space already here. There are dozens of industrial park clusters throughout the area, and they are home to hundreds of distribution and manufacturing facilities and global logistics firms.

The North Texas region easily surpasses other markets given its central location and the accessibility to markets via rail, air, or truck. The low cost of real estate, availability of a skilled and competitive workforce, and low taxes allow businesses to thrive in an increasingly competitive economy.

Blueprint Awards Applications Now Available

Now through Sept. 5, 2014, the DRC is accepting applications for the 2014 Blueprint Awards. Apply now!

Exemplifying best-in-class growth. Creating jobs. Expanding operations. Igniting innovation. Making a regional impact. The Blueprint Awards celebrate companies and organizations that hold these characteristics that make the DFW region a strong economic environment.

Companies and organizations are invited to nominate themselves or another organization for a Blueprint Award in the following categories:

• Workforce Growth
• Corporate Headquarters Location
• Corporate Facility Location
• Community Catalyst
• Innovation Catalyst
• Education Catalyst
• Small Business

Membership in the DRC is not required to apply.

Winners will be presented during the DRC’s annual Blueprint Awards luncheon on Nov. 13, 2014. Click here to register for the luncheon.

Learn more about the criteria and guidelines by visiting www.dallaschamber.org/awards. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 5, 2014. If you have questions, please email Penny Lynch at plynch@dallaschamber.org or call 214.746.6739.

Presenting Sponsors

  

2013 Blueprint Awards Winners:

• Encore Wire Corporation, Workforce Growth
• Conifer Health Solutions, Corporate Headquarters Location
• Amazon.com, Corporate Facility Location
• George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Community Catalyst
• Bottle Rocket Apps, Innovation Catalyst
• University Crossroads, Education Catalyst

Remote Workforces Key to Dallas Business Growth

By: Lane Sorgen, General Manager, South Central District, Microsoft Corp.  

If you’re anything like me, you’ve walked into White Rock Coffee or another local coffee shop on a weekday morning and been surprised by the number of businessmen and women occupying tables, sipping caffeinated concoctions, and working on laptops, tablets and cell phones.

These “mini offices,” adorned with well-dressed workers, are representative of a shift in the workplace. They’re leaving behind the corner office in favor of the quiet corner of a coffee shop or their favorite chair at home. A recent survey by the Flex+Strategy Group found that nearly one-third of full-time employees do most of their work outside of a traditional office setting.

This is a sharp contrast to the workplaces of the past where staffers gathered around the communal coffee pot and were contained in cubicles. Understandably, some business leaders are skeptical of this transition in the work environment and are hesitant to implement remote work policies. They cite everything from reduced productivity to increased costs as potential reasons to resist. The truth is, if your company has yet to offer telework opportunities, you’re already at a competitive disadvantage.

Today’s workers, especially millennials, are looking for more flexibility in how, where and when they work. Study after study shows the telework trend isn’t going anywhere. Employers must become more, not less, flexible in order to thrive as workers continuously seek out the elusive work/life balance.

Infographic of the Week: Traffic Counts

By: Ryan Tharp, Director of Research & Economic Development

When it comes to choosing the perfect location for a business, traffic patterns are one of many factors that come into play. The DFW region offers multiple locations that are easily accessible for both customers and employees.

In the infographic below, the color-coded dots represent 24-hour traffic counts along the major arterial roadways in DFW.

Interstate 635, Interstate 35, and Highway 75 are three of the most traveled roadways in the area. They see between 100,000 and 144,000 vehicles every day. A large number of major retail and office centers are located along these major roads or along connected corridors, making them popular locations for customer access.

Additional arterial routes that provide high visibility include Preston Road in Collin County, Collins and Cooper Roads in Arlington, and Northwest Highway in Dallas. In general, between 38,000 and 110,000 vehicles pass along these roads each day. DFW’s roadways provide multiple options for businesses looking to pick the perfect place to build a successful company. This is another reason for “Why Dallas.”

A Dallas Entrepreneur Center Update

By: Tara Vornkahl, Coordinator-Innovation

July has been a month of continued growth and partnerships for the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC). The DEC has settled into its new home in the West End and has even expanded into a second location in Addison. The application process is well under way for “The Dallas Entrepreneur Center’s North Texas Business Pitch Presented by Comerica Bank,” and the DEC has also opened applications to put together its next group of ambassadors. The DEC also has an impressive lineup of community events taking place throughout the summer!

Available Now: Dallas-Fort Worth Real Estate Review

By: Lexi Smith, Communications Coordinator

The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC), The Real Estate Council, and D Custom have teamed up to bring you a redesigned quarterly outlook on the state of commercial real estate throughout our region. The new and improved Dallas-Fort Worth Real Estate Review will give you a visual representation of commercial real estate like you’ve never seen before.

New in this issue, readers will get a firsthand look at the expanding DFW business community from the publication’s interactive map: “The Crane Report.” This feature allows you to take a look at the largest new developments in the region.

Readers can access the publication via print or through a digital experience. Visit www.dfwrealestatereview.com to check out the digital flip book, online bonus content and videos, and interactive maps.

 

Infographic of the Week: Labor Supply

By: Ryan Tharp, Director of Research & Economic Development

Talented workers and capital contribute to the success of businesses. Companies and organizations within Dallas-Fort Worth enjoy the ability to hire their employees from a well-educated and skilled labor force.