Doug McDonald, Director of Economic Development, City of Plano

In an interview with Invest: Doug McDonald, director of economic development of city of Plano highlighted Plano’s approach to repurposing its aging malls into vibrant mixed-use spaces, outlined their strategic business attraction and expansion plans, and noted that the city is witnessing significant growth in the life sciences and biotech sectors.

What specifically makes Plano stand out as a unique city in Texas?

A number of things make Plano stand out. First and foremost, we have a corporate-driven focus. This has been the case for several decades, dating back to the Ross Perot years in the 1970s and 1980s. We are focused on supporting corporate operations and ensuring their success by partnering with companies, assisting with expansion needs, and addressing workforce demands. The corporate focus we’ve had for several decades now makes us a unique city, and our impressive roster of global brands is proof of our success. 

One of the reasons many corporations choose to come to Plano is the quality of life we offer. We have a top-rated school district, the number one park system in the state of Texas, and significant investment in open spaces and amenities. Additionally, we have one of the premier business districts in the country, Legacy, which is iconic across Texas for companies looking to establish themselves here. These factors, combined with our central location in North Texas, contribute to Plano’s appeal as a place for companies to call home.

What are some major redevelopment projects, such as transforming malls into mixed-use spaces, currently underway and their expected impact on the local economy?

Every city goes through growth patterns. Plano experienced a significant boom in the 1990s and 2000s, but now we have little vacant land left for new greenfield growth. There’s the iconic quote that when you stop growing, you start dying. But that hasn’t been the case for Plano. We have been aggressive in reinvesting in our community, focusing on both corporate and residential needs. For instance, we prioritize maintaining high-quality roads, as they are often the first impression of a city. Quality infrastructure is crucial for supporting new growth, redevelopment, and the stability of Plano.

Plano’s aggressiveness in redevelopment can be seen all around our community with the redevelopment of three regional malls, which are a thing of the past. Assembly Park, formerly an outlet mall, has been transformed into a mixed-use development with office space, retail, outdoor amenities, and residential areas. Collin Creek Mall, an iconic venue for many in the community, is also undergoing redevelopment. The project is still in progress, with some residential units already being delivered. Willow Bend, a newer mall on the western side of the city, recently received zoning approval for redevelopment and is in the early planning stages. 

Plano is committed to being aggressive in redevelopment and not resting on its laurels as a once-fast-growing community. We will continue to invest in areas where the market has changed, ensuring that Plano remains a vibrant and desirable place to live and work. 

Could you expand on some of the industries or sectors of the economy where you are seeing the most growth and potential for the future?

A few years ago, there was concern that online sales would be the death of storefront retail. However, we have seen a resurgence in retail. For example, Beacon Square along the tollway and George Bush Turnpike is fully leased, even before completion, and they are moving forward with another phase due to high demand. While online shopping remains strong, there is still a desire for the experience of shopping in stores and supporting local entrepreneurs.

We are also seeing growth in the life sciences and biotech industries. There is a significant demand for pharmaceutical manufacturing space, driven by new federal policies encouraging onshore production. North Texas is a perfect location for this, with its central location and proximity to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, one of the few U.S. airports certified to handle pharmaceutical products.

Here in Plano, we have the Texas Research Quarter, formerly the EDS campus, which is undergoing investment to become a full biotech and life sciences campus with manufacturing capabilities. The community should start seeing dirt turn on this campus by the beginning of 2025 with new pharmaceutical manufacturing space. We see this as a major growth area for Plano and North Texas as a whole.

What specific strategies are you employing to attract new businesses and industries to Plano, both nationally and internationally?

When companies consider relocating, Texas is always one of the top states on their list, and North Texas, as the fastest-growing metro area in the country, receives a lot of attention. Plano, in particular, stands out when companies look at North Texas. We are home to some of the largest corporate names, including Toyota North America, Samsung, JP Morgan Chase, Ericsson, and PepsiCo. These companies have vetted us and validated that Plano is a great place to establish operations.

Additionally, our outreach efforts in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan have been significant. Since Toyota relocated here in 2016, over 40 Japanese companies have followed, many of which chose Plano because Toyota paved the way. In Korea, Samsung Electronics America and SK Signet, which recently opened a manufacturing facility for EV ultra-fast chargers here, are major players. Additionally, Delta Electronics, a large Taiwanese company, has aggressive expansion plans in Plano. These companies chose Plano after evaluating factors like workforce quality, school districts, parks, and a supportive government. This global reputation helps us continue to be a top choice for corporations.

How do you foresee the new rail line connecting Plano to the airport impacting local businesses and the broader community in the next few years?

With two new stations in Plano, one will be in our downtown area and the other will be in the Research Technology Crossroads, or the RT District, which is our high tech and advanced manufacturing district. We do see the benefit of reaching the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport from Plano by rail, and establishing an east/west line through Plano, Richardson, UT Dallas, Addison, and Carrollton. But we see even greater benefit in connecting our RT District to a larger workforce and having a direct connection to the UT Dallas talent pipeline via rail.

The RT District has a lot of high-tech manufacturing and industrial uses, and we’ve seen this area take off in popularity since the pandemic. Imagine the workforce benefit our companies will have when they are two train stops from the campus of UT Dallas with 32,000 students and one of the most prestigious engineering programs in the country. This new rail will provide easy access for engineers and advanced students from UT Dallas to work in the RT District. 

How would you describe the strength of the local education system and workforce development programs?

We work closely with our educational partners, and one key partner is Collin College. We are currently working with their leadership on a specialized program between the city of Plano and Collin College to help companies with workforce needs. This assistance includes grant funding and creating customized programming for Plano-based companies.

Collin College has always been a great resource for companies in the region. UT Dallas, located right on the border of Plano, also offers workforce assistance and helps grow the talent pipeline. Additionally, our school district, Plano Independent School District (ISD), has been doing significant work in workforce development with the expansion of the Career and Technology Center (CTE Center). For example, they recently launched a partnership with TONI&GUY, where juniors and seniors can participate in a two-year workforce program and graduate with a cosmetology certification. This is a great example of how we are working with Plano ISD to build the talent pipeline, starting at the high school level. There are even ongoing efforts to extend programs into middle schools to prepare students for careers.

Plano ISD is also building a new 120,000-square-foot CTE Center and bringing in additional partnerships with local companies for certification and workforce training. This demonstrates that, while our workforce is strong here in North Texas, we see the potential to make it even stronger here in Plano beginning at Plano ISD.  

What initiatives are you currently looking to implement to push the city of Plano forward in the near-term? 

In the past six months, our city council has taken a close look at our incentive program. We have made some changes to address the needs of redevelopment, such as building modernization support grants. These grants help provide amenities in office buildings that were constructed before amenities became a high-profile need for corporations. It used to be that an office building had to have a gym to be amenitized. Now, if you don’t have a pickleball court next to a coffee bistro, you’re behind. 

We have launched new grants to ensure our real estate remains competitive and first-class. Additionally, we are focused on supporting our existing companies to help them grow and succeed. For example, Raising Cane’s, which has had its regional operations in Plano since 2008, is expanding. When they first arrived in Plano, they leased about 27,000 square feet and had around 50 employees.

Now, they have purchased their building in Legacy and are expanding further. They have ambitious goals for 2030, and we have worked with them to acquire a 400,000-square-foot office building in Plano. This expansion is one of the largest office transitions in the region for 2024, and it highlights our commitment to supporting existing companies in their growth.

How do you envision Plano’s economic landscape evolving by 2030?

I believe that due to the attractiveness of North Texas, we are living in a bubble compared to the rest of the county. The demand for office space and development is unique to this region. By 2030, Plano will continue to thrive as a city and will continue to support the region with job growth. Many of our big redevelopment projects will come to life, showcasing Plano as a highly amenitized community for both residents and the commercial sector.

Plano will remain a city that others look to for examples of successful growth and redevelopment. By 2030, we will have gone through our first growth cycle and be well into our second cycle of redevelopment. Plano will be seen as a community that did not rest, constantly reinvesting in its infrastructure and real estate to ensure it remains a premier community for both corporations and residents.

Looking back, Plano will be recognized for its evolution from a farming community to one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, attracting big corporations and experiencing significant growth. By 2030, Plano will have matured, redeveloped, and continued to be a great community for businesses and residents alike.