‘Excited for this new step’: Fort Worth business groups announce change in organization
In early 2023, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce spun off part of its business and industrial recruitment duties to a new organization, the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership.
They still shared some back-end resources as the partnership got off the ground. But now, it’s time for the Fort Worth EDP to stand on its own, leaders say.
The chamber and the partnership will officially begin operating independently on Jan. 1. Both organizations informed investors of the move in a joint letter sent Oct. 10.
“We believe that today’s move will help create a more vibrant tomorrow for all of Fort Worth,” said the letter, co-signed by Robert Allen, the partnership’s president and CEO, and Steve Montgomery, the chamber president and CEO.
The split comes as the economic development partnership grows. Since its inception, the group has raised $3 million of its $5 million goal for annual investments.
Though both organizations are legally independent, they have shared services like human resources and legal teams since the EDP’s creation in March 2023. The chamber focuses on workforce development and advocating for local businesses, while the partnership works to attract and retain companies relocating to Fort Worth.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership and for the chamber,” Allen said, “and I’m excited for this new step in our journey. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so this is just one more step in that marathon.”
The partnership has helped bring projects to Fort Worth, including a planned Dick’s Sporting Goods distribution center and new Big Ass Fans manufacturing facility.
The partnership’s board of directors includes executives from many of the city’s biggest companies, including Mike Berry of Hillwood, Rusty Reid of Higginbotham, Lisa Atherton of Bell, David Endicott of Alcon, Robert Isom of American Airlines, John Goff of Goff Capital, Greg Ulmer of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Katie Farmer of BNSF Railway, Marianne Auld of Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP, Dan Berce of GM Financial and Elaine Agather of J.P. Morgan Private Bank.
Allen said business leaders like Fort Worth’s authenticity.
Companies operating in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing and mobility are particularly interested in the market. The economic development partnership is focused on adding businesses that will have positive impacts on the community and add high-paying jobs.
“I want to bring business to town that’s here in 50 years,” Allen said.
As the city grows, Allen said it’s important to maintain fundamental services like infrastructure, transportation and education. Fort Worth’s future is bright, he said.
“You look around the community, you look around our region, and there’s projects everywhere you look,” he said.
Before leading the partnership, Allen was president and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Corp.
