‘Be loud, be proud’: Robert Allen discusses Fort Worth’s economic development strategy – Fort Worth Report

Report on Fort Worth’s Economic Development Strategy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

This report details the economic development strategy for the city of Fort Worth, as articulated by Robert Allen, President and CEO of the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership. The strategy focuses on attracting and retaining businesses through a multi-faceted approach that aligns with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Strategic Focus on Sustainable Economic Growth (SDG 8)

The core mission of the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership is to foster sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. This is achieved by promoting the city’s key industrial sectors and securing long-term corporate investment.

Key Initiatives and Achievements

• Business Attraction and Retention: The partnership actively works to attract new businesses and ensure the long-term retention of existing corporations, aiming for commitments of 50 years or more. A primary objective is to secure the relocation of a Fortune 500 company to the city.
• Industry Focus: Efforts are concentrated on high-growth sectors that provide stable and skilled employment opportunities.
  1. Advanced Manufacturing
  2. Aviation and Defense
  3. Logistics
  4. Film and Television Production
• Major Investments: Significant projects underscore the city’s success in creating jobs and driving economic growth.
  • Bell Textron Inc.: A $632 million investment for the production of the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (MV-75), a project with a potential value of up to $70 billion, promising transformative economic impact and job creation.
  • Lockheed Martin: Continued production of the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, reinforcing the city’s role as a critical hub for the nation’s defense industry.
  • 101 Studios: The establishment of a 450,000-square-foot film and television production facility, creating hundreds of skilled jobs for carpenters, tailors, and other trades, contributing to economic diversification.

Fostering Innovation and Resilient Infrastructure (SDG 9)

Fort Worth’s strategy emphasizes building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. This involves both leveraging existing strengths and addressing future needs to support a growing population and economy.

Infrastructure and Innovation Development

• Higher Education and R&D: Acknowledging the need for increased investment in research and development, the city relies on its higher education institutions as critical partners in fostering innovation. New developments like the Texas A&M-Fort Worth campus are central to this goal.
• Transportation: In collaboration with the Texas Department of Transportation, multiple projects are planned to improve and expand highways, addressing traffic congestion as a regional issue that requires cooperative solutions.
• Resource Management (SDG 6 & SDG 7): Leadership recognizes that sustainable growth is contingent on overcoming challenges related to power and water resources. Proactive management of these essential utilities is critical to prevent hampering future development and ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy and water for all.

Commitment to Quality Education and Workforce Development (SDG 4)

Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities is identified as the top priority for sustainable economic development. A skilled workforce is essential for attracting and retaining businesses in advanced technology and other emerging industries.

Educational and Workforce Initiatives

• Workforce Development Priority: Allen identified workforce development as the partnership’s number one priority.
• Higher Education Partnerships: Institutions such as Texas A&M-Fort Worth, Texas Christian University, UTA, Texas Wesleyan University, and Tarleton State University play a critical role in educating the future workforce.
• K-12 Improvement: There is a strong emphasis on civic engagement to improve literacy and academic performance within the Fort Worth ISD. A successful turnaround of the school district is considered vital for developing a qualified workforce.

Collaborative Partnerships for Sustainable Development (SDG 17)

The Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership’s operational model exemplifies the principles of SDG 17, which calls for strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development.

Partnership Structure and Collaboration

• Organizational Model: The partnership is a privately funded nonprofit, which allows for an innovative and focused approach to business attraction and retention. The organization has successfully raised approximately $4.2 million of its $5 million goal for the current year.
• Stakeholder Engagement: The team works in close collaboration with a wide range of partners.
  1. The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
  2. C-level executives from major corporations
  3. City and regional leaders
  4. Higher education institutions

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Fort Worth’s economic development, led by Robert Allen, touches upon several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus is on economic growth and infrastructure, but it also extends to education, sustainable resource management, and partnerships. The following SDGs are relevant:

• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article emphasizes the critical role of education in developing a skilled workforce to support economic growth.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: It highlights the challenge of managing water resources to sustain the city’s rapid growth.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The text mentions the need to overcome challenges in power resources to prevent hampering business growth.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: This is the central theme, focusing on attracting businesses, creating jobs, and fostering economic prosperity in various sectors.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article details efforts to bolster industries like manufacturing and aviation, attract research and development funding, and improve transportation infrastructure.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The discussion revolves around managing the city’s explosive growth, planning for development, and addressing urban challenges like transportation and resource supply.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article showcases the collaborative efforts between public, private, and civil society actors to achieve economic development objectives.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 4.4 (Quality Education): “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” This is addressed through the focus on improving literacy in Fort Worth ISD and the role of higher education institutions in developing a “strong workforce that will be qualified for jobs in advanced technology.”
2. Target 6.4 (Clean Water and Sanitation): “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity…” The article directly points to this by stating the importance for leaders to “find ways to overcome challenges in… water resources so growth isn’t hampered.”
3. Target 7.1 (Affordable and Clean Energy): “By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.” This is connected to the mention of overcoming “challenges in power” to support the city’s growth and business needs.
4. Target 8.2 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): “Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…” The article’s emphasis on growing “manufacturing, aviation, defense and logistical industries” and attracting advanced technology jobs aligns with this target.
5. Target 9.1 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development…” This is reflected in the discussion of planned Texas Department of Transportation projects to “improve and expand highways” to manage traffic congestion.
6. Target 9.5 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): “Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors…” This is directly mentioned in Allen’s statement that “More efforts are needed to attract money for research and development in Fort Worth.”
7. Target 11.a (Sustainable Cities and Communities): “Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.” The article touches on this by describing growth in the “booming northern and western areas” and noting that “Transportation is a regional issue that area leaders must work together on for solutions.”
8. Target 17.17 (Partnerships for the Goals): “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The entire structure of the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, a privately funded nonprofit that “works hand in hand with others, including the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce” and partners with “business executives and city leaders,” exemplifies this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to track progress:

• Financial Investment: The article provides specific figures, such as Bell Textron Inc.’s “$632 million investment” and the nonprofit’s fundraising of “$4.2 million for its economic development efforts,” which serve as direct indicators of investment in local industry and economic development activities (relevant to SDG 8 and 9).
• Job Creation: The goal to “create new jobs” and the mention that a new production studio “will employ hundreds of people” are direct indicators of progress towards Target 8.5 (full and productive employment). The long-term nature of these jobs is also an indicator, with the goal of bringing businesses that “want to stay 50 years or longer.”
• Business Attraction and Retention: A key performance indicator is the ability to attract major companies, as stated in the goal to “secure a Fortune 500 company’s relocation to the city.” This measures success in creating a favorable business environment (SDG 8).
• Educational Performance: The article implies that indicators like “literacy among Fort Worth ISD students” and student academic performance are crucial for workforce development. The growth in enrollment and educational programs at universities like Texas A&M-Fort Worth and TCU are also implied indicators of progress towards Target 4.4.
• Population Growth: The city’s growth beyond “1 million residents” is used as an indicator of its attractiveness and economic dynamism, relevant to SDG 11.
• Infrastructure Development: The number and scale of projects to “improve and expand highways” can be used as an indicator for measuring progress on Target 9.1.
• Funding for Research and Development: The amount of “money for research and development” attracted to Fort Worth is a specific indicator mentioned for tracking progress on innovation (Target 9.5).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: fortworthreport.org