Dale Petroskey, President & CEO, Dallas Regional Chamber
Dale Petroskey, president and CEO of the Dallas Regional Chamber, talked to Invest: about the recent growth in the area, their campaign to attract more of the biotech industry to the region, and their three-year strategic plan. “We are in a period of prosperity and growth, and it is our responsibility to use this time to make our community better, narrow opportunity gaps, educate more kids, and make sure our public policies fit the needs of our people,” said Petroskey.
How would you describe the role of the Dallas Regional Chamber in the local business ecosystem?
The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) serves as the voice of business for the Dallas region. There are eight million people in our region. We’re the fourth largest market in the country, and the DRC is by far the largest chamber in the region. We’re the only regional chamber, which means we aren’t funded by the city or county and are free agents to do what’s best for our region and the companies doing business here. When we talk to companies looking to move because they don’t like the business climate where they are, we show them different cities in the region that match their needs to find the best fit for them. In the last 12 years, more than 222 headquarters have moved to Dallas-Fort Worth, and we believe our model and partnerships with the various economic development agencies in our region are part of the reason we’ve been so successful.
This year the DRC launched a campaign to bring more life sciences and biotech companies to the region. What was the spark for that campaign and what impact do you anticipate?
Lyda Hill, a great philanthropist in our area, saw an opportunity to create a space for biotech companies and entrepreneurs in one location as a hub for innovation. She established Pegasus Park to help attract biotech and life sciences companies, which inspired us to consider what Dallas-Fort Worth has to offer these companies and create a coordinated effort to make our region a hub for life sciences and biotech. Our talent base, business ecosystem, expansive health care and research network, as well as our leadership in the tech space, make us a prime destination for companies looking to launch, grow, or reposition their life science business. DFW International Airport is one of two IATA CEIV Pharma Community airports in the country, which means the airport meets global standards for the safe and efficient handling of pharmaceutical and life science products. Everybody is working together to foster and grow this new industry.
What is currently on the advocacy agenda for the Dallas Regional Chamber?
While we are always promoting low taxes and reasonable regulations, we are also continuously thinking about what we need in our community. We work hard on funding for schools to make sure that the resources are there for our kids to get a good education and, ultimately, a good job. We’re producing the kinds of workers that our employers need. We also advocated very hard for the new behavioral health hospital in Dallas. We were able to help get that through the legislature in the last session and help get funding for it in this session. We were also able to help get some money for a new law enforcement training center, as one of the foundations of a strong economy and a strong community is public safety. We also successfully campaigned for a revamped economic development incentive program, which helps us attract large corporate projects to the state. Those are the types of things we advocate for here.
What are some of the ways that North Texas is changing?
It’s going to get even bigger. More and more people are going to come here because it’s such an attractive place to be. When new people come, it brings new life, excitement, and vitality. It keeps things fresh with new ideas from people who want to make a mark rather than rest on their laurels.
What are some of the projects or initiatives that you’re excited to push forward for the DRC?
We’re just finishing up our three-year strategic plan in a couple of months, and then we’ll announce our new strategic plan in January with four interconnected focus areas. The center of the bullseye is prosperity and economic development, making sure the companies here in the Dallas Region have what they need to thrive while positioning our region as a destination for business and talent alike. Through education, talent and workforce, we work to help ensure young kids receive the education they need to have good jobs and a high-quality life while also making sure the workforce pipeline meets the needs of our region’s businesses. We are always vigilant about engaging in public policy and making sure the laws passed are favorable to businesses, workers, and communities. Diversity, inclusion and community engagement is also a big cornerstone for us. We are working to narrow opportunity gaps to make sure all people can share in our region’s prosperity and opportunity. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, we’re in a sweet moment in time, and we know this will not last forever. We are in an unprecedented period of prosperity and growth, and it is our responsibility to use this time to make our community better, narrow opportunity gaps, educate more kids, and make sure our public policies fit the needs of our people and our employers. We want to continue to grow and bring bright, outstanding people here who can keep this place vital.
