Record-Breaking Attendance
At the annual Frisco Chamber of Commerce State of the City luncheon, one thing was clear: Frisco is a city like no other! While many cities across the U.S. are at a standstill, Frisco is a beacon of growth, continually attracting new businesses and visitors and offering an unparalleled quality of life for its residents.
Over 580 business and community leaders gathered at the luncheon on June 18, 2024, to hear from Mayor Jeff Cheney; Wes Pierson, Frisco’s City Manager; Jason Ford, President of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation; and Marla Roe, Executive Director of Visit Frisco. The event was moderated by Frisco Chamber President/CEO Christal Howard.
Challenge Accepted!
As part of the event, Mayor Cheney’s challenge was to recap all of the great things happening in Frisco in only 20 minutes prior to the panel discussion. In any other city across the U.S., this might not have been a challenge, but something like this is hard to do in Frisco with the magnitude of projects in the pipeline. From Grand Park to a performing arts venue, to PGA Frisco, and the Mix, better known as the “hole in the ground,” which sits at Lebanon Rd and DNT. And that’s not all, Frisco is attracting the first of many Fortune 100 companies by welcoming TIAA and has the goal of being the “Venture Capital Capitol of the Region.”
In 2023, Visit Frisco broke records with both the PGA Sr. Championship and year one of the Academy of Country Music Awards. Roe talked about the impact of this May’s ACMs, with an estimated $21M economic impact on Frisco, highlighting the importance of tourism, which decreases a resident’s tax bill.
In addition to attracting new businesses and helping existing companies to expand in Frisco, the Frisco EDC is leaning into the Rail District reinvestment, including a grant program for businesses in that area. In addition, Ford announced a new downtown liaison position that will serve businesses in the Rail District, especially during construction.
City leaders agreed that everything we do in Frisco is for the residents first. Where else can you play football as a high school student at Toyota Stadium and The Ford Center at the Star or operate state-of-the-art AV equipment to cover these events? And where else can you attend a country music awards show or major golf tournament in your own backyard?
There’s no doubt it takes great partnerships to do great things! It takes the work of all of the community partners to keep the city moving forward. “I can’t overstate this enough,” shared City Manager Wes Pierson. “Most communities are afraid of the future, and the fact that this community has leaned in and embraced and said we’re going to meet our future is enormous.”
The Near Future
The immediate future will be busy! Nearly a billion dollars worth of projects in Frisco are slated to be completed by World Cup 2026, when the entire DFW region will attract an unprecedented number of visitors. The nine matches that will take place in Arlington will have a regional economic impact equivalent to nine Superbowls or over an estimated $400 million dollars. Frisco will very likely play a role as a host city. In additonal, soccer fans from all over the world won’t want to miss a visit to the National Soccer Hall of Fame located at Toyota Stadium.
The panelists also had a little fun with the name of the DFW region, which was suggested in a news report earlier this year to be DFFW, with the additional F being Frisco. It was pointed out in fun that it should be Frisco DFW, which is truly a great testament to all that is happening in Frisco.
City Manager Wes Pierson summarized the City of Frisco’s future in closing, “It’s about great people, leaning into the future and doing great things.” Building on a foundation of solid leadership in Frisco, it’s evident that the best is yet to come!
Connections
Besides the valuable insights gained, guests had the chance to connect with some of the most influential leaders in the city. Thank you to Suad Bejtovic Photography for capturing the event. More photos can be viewed on the Frisco Chamber’s Facebook Page.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
2025 State of the City Promises to Deliver!
So much can happen in one year! We already know we’ll have a lot to talk about as the many projects discussed at the 2024 State of the City progress. You won’t want to miss this. Secure your space early as we anticipate a 2025 sell-out!
August 2024 Innovation Luncheon - Almost Sold-Out
Innovation is woven throughout the culture of Frisco, from the youngest entrepreneurs to top corporations dedicated to leading the way in their respective industries. You’ll want to hear first-hand how Frisco is setting the stage for innovation, growing prominence as a hub for attracting and creating start-ups, attracting investors and thought leaders from across the region.
The Future Looks Pretty Bright
Undoubtedly, when we all work together, our city’s future looks pretty bright!
