For 11th Straight Year Texas Ranks as Top State to do Business

For 11th Straight Year Texas Ranks as Top State to do Business

CEO Magazine’s 11th annual survey of the “Best States to do Business” was released Friday and Texas topped the rankings for the 11th year in a row.  The news had Texas Governor Greg Abbott on cloud nine, saying the state won’t stop at its top ranking.  “Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes our business climate,” Abbott said. “Despite being the number one state to do business for 11 consecutive years, Texas will do even more to empower businesses and increase economic expansion. That’s why I’m promoting policies to cut the business franchise tax, further rein in regulatory regimes and elevate our higher education system to bolster our workforce so that Texas keeps creating jobs and opportunity.”  In the rankings, Texas was ahead of Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia which rounded out the Top 5. California was once again the worst state for a second year.  The rankings takes into account state GDP, unemployment, domestic migration, state government and state-local tax burden.

-          Dallas Morning News, May 8, 2015

Why Everybody Is Moving to Texas

Why Everybody Is Moving to Texas

Texas has become one of the hottest places to move to for both personal and business reasons over the past 5 years. In fact, over the past 5 years, more Americans—over 387,000 in 2013 alone—have chosen to move to Texas over any other state.

So what’s the big draw, y’all?

Best Reasons to Move to Texas

The number-one reason most people are relocating to other cities these days is their job situation—either they are looking to increase their earnings and career longevity or they have been unable to find a job in their current location and are moving for more opportunities.

The second most popular reason for relocating is housing affordability. For many people, these two reasons go hand in hand. Finding a place where they can secure a solid, good-paying job and purchase a home with increasing value in a nice neighborhood provides a great plan for long-term financial success and family security.

According to a recent study by Redfin, 9 of the top 10 fastest-growing U.S. metropolitan areas are those in which housing prices are the most affordable in the country. Of the top 20 fastest-growing cities, 5 belong to the Lone Star State: Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth.

Austin’s surge in population can easily be attributed to its consistently solid employment rate over the past 10 years. With an unemployment rate of just 4.6 percent and a projected growth rate of more than 4 percent by the end of 2015, Austin continues to have one of the strongest job markets in the state.

Another draw to the state is a low tax rate. This is especially important for many of the companies that are choosing to uproot themselves from the East and West Coasts and move inward to Texas. A lower tax rate and affordable real estate prices make it a no-brainer for larger companies wanting to save and smaller companies looking for a way to secure their financial future.

Dallas No Longer in Top 10 for Traffic Congestion

Dallas No Longer in Top 10 for Traffic Congestion

The nation's worst rush-hour traffic can be found, not surprisingly, in Los Angeles. But the No. 2 city is a surprise.   Each year, three organizations produce traffic congestion reports.   The reports estimate the “excess travel time” lost in traffic congestion during morning and evening weekday rush hours.     This excess time is relative to the travel time that would be expected if traffic were free-flowing and there was no congestion.   The Los Angeles metropolitan area notches the worst traffic congestion in all three reports — 44.4 percent excess travel time. The second worst congestion is in Austin, Texas, with 34.5 percent excess travel time.   San Francisco (34.4 percent) is No. 3 and New York (33.4 percent) is No. 4. Both cities have a high population density.   Seattle is No. 5 at 32.4 percent, due in part to the cancellation of some planned freeways.   Rounding out the worst 10 are San Jose, Calif. (32.2 percent); Washington, D.C. (31.3); Boston (29.7); Houston (28.3); and Portland, Ore. (28.2).

-          Newsmax, July 6, 2014

Plano Approves Legacy West, Toyota, Fed Ex

Dallas Cowboys Development                   Legacy West with Toyota, Fed Ex, Renaissance Hotel

Dallas Cowboys Development Began Wednesday

Work began Wednesday on the future home of the Dallas Cowboys in Frisco, city officials confirmed.   Mass excavation is expected to start the week of July 7.   The city, the Cowboys and Frisco ISD have partnered on the development, which will include the team’s headquarters, outdoor practice fields and a 12,000-seat multi-use event center at the northwest corner of Warren Parkway and Dallas North Tollway.   The city and the school district have pledged $115 million for the public portion of the 91-acre site. Any costs above that will be paid by the Cowboys’ ownership. About 66 acres at the site will be developed separately by the Blue Land companies owned by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his family. That acreage will include retail, restaurants, office space and a hotel.  The indoor stadium and training facilities are expected to be completed in late summer 2016. The stadium will be used not only for Cowboys training but for high school football games and other events.   A ceremonial groundbreaking is planned sometime in August.

-          Dallas Morning News, June 24, 2014

Plano Approves Legacy West, Toyota, Fed Ex

The Plano City Council approved a rezoning request Monday that paves the way for a 205-acre mixed-use project near the J.C. Penney headquarters. The council approved the request to rezone the  undeveloped land, located at the southwest corner of State Highway 121 and the Dallas North Tollway, from commercial employment to central business to allow for greater development flexibility.  Developers plan to break ground after the first of the year on the project that’s part of the Legacy West development, which will surround J.C. Penny’s corporate headquarters. Legacy West will also include Toyota’s new North American headquarters and the new FedEx office building.  The development will include hotel, commercial, retail, office buildings and residential.

-          Dallas Morning News, June 24, 2014

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