Beth Bowman, President & CEO, Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce & Irving Economic Development Partnership

In the interview with Invest:, Beth Bowman, president and CEO of the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce & Irving Economic Development Partnership, highlighted the success of recruiting corporate headquarters to Irving-Las Colinas, leading to significant capital investments and job creation. She also emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in sustaining economic growth and supporting the region’s business-friendly environment.

What makes Irving-Las Colinas an ideal location for corporate headquarters?

Our central location and proximity to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport allow us to offer corporations a local address with global access. This combined with our skilled and educated workforce, diverse housing options, great schools, excellent lifestyle amenities and our team’s commitment to rolling up the red tape while rolling out the red carpet really set our city apart. Over the past year, our team, in collaboration with the Irving Economic Development Partnership, has successfully recruited and retained around 57 corporate entities, including 17 headquarters, leading to $190 million in capital investments, 4,700 new and retained jobs, and over 2.2 million square feet of commercial space utilized.

Irving continues to shine as a leader in the financial sector, with significant projects like Wells Fargo’s new campus and the recently completed State Bank of Texas headquarters. The Wells Fargo project alone spans 850,000 square feet, represents a $455 million investment, and is expected to create 650 new jobs along with thousands of indirect jobs. Wells Fargo joins Citi, Irving-Las Colinas’ largest employer, further reinforcing our city’s strong financial services sector. 

In  Irving’s Las Colinas Urban Center, CHRISTUS Health’s global headquarters and the State Bank of Texas are part of the first major high-rise developments in over 30 years, marking a milestone for our business district and a significant addition to our city skyline. CHRISTUS will have over 2,000 associates working in their building, further strengthening their longtime commitment to our community.

Additionally, we’ve seen significant growth in data centers, a key target industry for Irving-Las Colinas. Companies like Edged and PowerHouse are establishing themselves here, and we’re continuing our partnership with QTS. Our proximity to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and our central location to the increasing number of companies requiring substantial computing power throughout our region, make Irving-Las Colinas an ideal location for corporate headquarters.

How do you plan to sustain this growth and continue the momentum in attracting more companies to the region?

Sustaining growth requires continuous collaboration between the public and private sectors.  Irving-Las Colinas has had significant support from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office to Mayor Rick Stopfer’s office, private developers, and landowners, who recognize the value of our city’s business-friendly climate and are all working together to secure major projects like the Wells Fargo development.

Our Chamber team works hard to ensure businesses have what they need to thrive here. The combination of a central location, pro-business government, and favorable tax environment make Irving-Las Colinas an attractive destination.

Businesses consistently highlight to our team the importance of a sensible tax and regulatory environment and access to a skilled workforce. With over four million skilled workers within a 30-minute drive and a high percentage of residents holding college degrees, Irving-Las Colinas is well-positioned to meet business needs. In addition to our central geographic location, we are also the geographic center of the college educated workforce in North Texas.

We also continue to enhance Irving-Las Colinas as a destination where our residents and workforce can live, work and enjoy life, by investing in transportation, world-class venues like the Toyota Music Factory, quality schools, public safety, and diverse housing options. These factors help maintain our leading reputation and bring businesses of all kinds, from U.S. corporations to international satellite offices, home to Irving-Las Colinas.

How has the life sciences and biotechnology sector evolved in Irving-Las Colinas?

In 2019, I had the privilege to lead a team that helped recruit McKesson Corporation, the nation’s largest pharmaceutical distributor, to move its global headquarters home to Irving-Las Colinas. McKesson was drawn by the region’s exceptional talent pool and workplace environment. Now, with over 16,000 people working in the life sciences industry locally, companies like Zodiac Healthcare, Progressive Laboratories and Abbott Laboratories are major players in our community.

Small businesses also play a crucial role. While major headquarters often get the spotlight, small businesses like MENA Scientific and Carousel Science are the heartbeat of our economy. Our adjacency to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport provides an ideal hub for companies that need convenient, global distribution access. With Pegasus Park in Dallas attracting more life sciences companies, we expect even more interest in Irving-Las Colinas, further boosting our sector.

What specific programs or partnerships does the chamber have in place to enhance workforce skills to meet industry needs?

As a rapidly growing region, we’ve developed strategic partnerships with local independent school districts (ISDs) and higher education institutions to train and attract the talent our employers need. These collaborations not only help ensure a strong pipeline that appeals to companies considering our city, it also provides new learning and job opportunities for our skilled workers. 

For example, this past fall, we hosted  a job fair, Career Inspire, where seventh and eighth-grade students from public schools can explore local companies and learn about local job opportunities. This exposure helps them make informed decisions as they continue their education or plan to enter the future workforce. 

We also collaborate with the North Texas Commission and regional workforce organizations like Dallas Workforce Solutions and Texas Workforce Solutions to align our infrastructure and workforce development efforts.

Additionally, we’re committed to strengthening STEM education through partnerships with institutions like Baylor Scott & White, Medical City Las Colinas and UT Southwestern Medical Center. With eight universities, colleges, and trade schools, plus 106 post-secondary schools within a 25-mile radius of Irving-Las Colinas, we’re well-equipped to meet the STEM workforce needs of our business community.

What strategies are in place to support entrepreneurship, small and minority-owned businesses?

Irving-Las Colinas is home to over 8,500 small businesses,  all crucial to our city’s continued prosperity. The wide range of our business community reflects the diversity of our city, and our skilled workforce and proximity to major higher education institutions provide significant support to these businesses.

One initiative we’re particularly proud of is our annual Small Biz Blitz. During this program, member investors and local elected officials visit small businesses to deliver a business resource box and personally  thank them for operating in Irving-Las Colinas and hiring local residents. We also ask how we can help them grow. Over the past six years, we’ve visited 6,000 of our 8,500 small businesses through this program. In recognition of the success of this program, our annual Small Biz Blitz has become an award-winning model program within the chamber industry. 

We also host monthly and quarterly networking events and offer low-cost training crucial for small business growth and success. Through our partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, we provide SCORE counseling, which connects future entrepreneurs with former executives and CEOs who offer free consulting services. This has been an invaluable resource for those looking to start or grow a business.

What is the chamber working on in terms of advocacy?

Our advocacy is focused on several key areas. Locally, we’re encouraging our mayor and city council to stay pro-business, particularly by investing in infrastructure like roads, water, and utilities. At the state level, we’re working with our lawmakers to ensure Texas remains strong in economic development.  Maintaining and expanding our economic development tools like the Texas Enterprise Fund is vital to keeping Texas competitive in ways that ensure we can continue to bring businesses and jobs home to our state.

We’re also advocating for continued funding and adaptation of state workforce programs to meet evolving industry needs. Infrastructure investment, especially in our power grid, is another critical focus. We’re ensuring our Irving-Las Colinas state delegation understands the importance of the global companies based here and the economic impact they have. We understand that part of our advocacy role for our members with legislators is highlighting needs and addressing any legislative risks that could hinder growth, particularly in Irving-Las Colinas. 

On the national level, we’re engaged in discussions about immigration solutions related to  workforce opportunities. We want to ensure that international students who study in the United States have opportunities to work for our companies and continue positively contributing to our economy.

What role do public-private partnerships and collaborations with local governments play in driving Irving’s economic development?

The business community often doesn’t trust the government, and Irving recognized that long ago. By outsourcing economic development, we’ve ensured that the business voice remains central. Collaboration with our mayor, council, and city manager is crucial for guiding companies interested in relocating or expanding in Irving-Las Colinas through processes like incentive qualifications and zoning requirements. This collaboration has played an essential role in our team’s ability to help companies move quickly through these processes to ensure that deals are done at the speed of business. 

Our partnerships with the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Las Colinas Association are also key in helping promote our community’s business leadership. Strong relationships with businesses and member investors allow us to effectively communicate their needs to the government, aiming for outcomes that support both businesses and their workforce.

What is your outlook for the future of economic development in Irving-Las Colinas?

I’m excited about the future of our community and our strong economic development prospects in key sectors. We’ve just launched  a new economic development strategic plan, which we spent the past 18 months developing with our partners at the City of Irving.  This plan targets key industries — financial services, corporate headquarter relocations, and high-value industrial applications — while ensuring we preserve the excellent quality of life that our companies and their employees expect right here at home in Irving-Las Colinas.