John Muns, Mayor, City of Plano

In an interview with Invest:, Plano Mayor John Muns highlighted the city’s transformation of Willow Bend mall into a mixed-use space and successful international engagement with Taiwan, which attracted new businesses to the area. He also emphasized efforts to establish Plano as a hub for life sciences.

What were some of the significant highlights from this past year?

We’ve had a lot of success. One of our biggest achievements was approving and transforming a large mall into a mixed-use shopping, office, and living space called Willow Bend. This is the second of two malls we’ve successfully redeveloped into modern, mixed-use spaces.

Another significant success was our engagement with Taiwan. They were very interested in expanding their customer base in the United States. In March, we went to Taiwan and met with several companies that are now moving to Plano or considering it. We pitched Plano as an ideal location, building on previous outreach efforts in Japan and Korea. We’ve had great success attracting international companies to make North Texas, particularly Plano, their home.

When we speak to companies globally, they prioritize safety and security, ensuring their products and employees are safe. Second, they value quality education for their workforce and their children. Third, they seek an educated workforce that can adapt to new technologies. These factors are crucial for companies, and Plano excels in providing them, making it an attractive place for business.

What are some of the primary economic drivers in Plano?

In Plano, most of our available land for development is gone, with only about 2% or 3% left. Our focus now is on redevelopment, which is creating new industries. One notable example is life science research on the former EDS campus. This site is being converted into a hub for life science and pharmaceutical manufacturing, an industry that didn’t exist here before. We’re working to establish Plano as a central location for life science research, akin to strongholds like San Diego and Boston. This development is particularly exciting and has made significant progress over the last year and a half.

What initiatives or partnerships are in place to support workforce development?

We have several initiatives. First and foremost, we have strong relationships with colleges in or near Plano. Companies like Toyota, NTT DATA, Samsung, Frito-Lay, and PepsiCo collaborate with these colleges and K-12 schools to create curricula that prepare students for the workforce. Whether at the high school, two-year college, or bachelor’s level, students are equipped to enter industries such as automotive, life sciences, and food and beverage. The Plano Independent School District’s Career and Technology Education division also works closely with local companies to ensure the curriculum meets industry needs. These efforts have been crucial in sustaining a ready-to-go educated workforce in Plano.

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

We’ve made several changes to our economic development incentive packages to benefit large, medium, and small businesses. Previously, we focused primarily on large corporations, but now we recognize the importance of small to medium businesses. We’ve created incentives that cater to their needs, whether it’s finding better locations, expanding their current areas, or providing financial assistance. Our expanded incentive package ensures that businesses of all sizes receive the support they need.

How is the city managing sustainable growth while maintaining high living standards?

We’ve faced challenges, especially with housing affordability due to inflation. We’re working diligently to ensure that essential workers like firefighters, teachers, and police officers can find affordable housing in Plano. Our community is very diverse, with about 25% Asian residents, and we have one of the highest levels of four-year degree-educated workforces in Texas. Maintaining this diversity and high education level is key to our sustainable growth.

What projects are under development or in the pipeline for Plano?

Plano, which is one of the older cities in Collin County, saw significant development and growth starting in the late 1980s and early ‘90s. We’re now due for redevelopment to stay relevant. Over the last four years, we’ve spent about $400 million on infrastructure, including water, sewer, roads, and traffic signals. This investment is a commitment to our community and corporate residents to maintain updated infrastructure. It’s an ongoing journey, and while we can’t afford to repair everything in one or two years, we’re ensuring quality redevelopment in our infrastructure every single day.

We’re excited about our involvement with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), which includes bus and rail transportation. Next year, we’ll have a new rail line connecting Plano to DFW Airport. This will be a significant benefit to North Texas and Plano, providing enhanced connectivity.

Additionally, we have various facets of development ongoing. The Legacy West area is new and hosts many large corporations. Downtown is growing rapidly, and we have significant growth in every direction. In East Plano, we have large housing developments starting at the end of this year, providing over 1,000 new housing units. We’re excited about these opportunities for people to live in brand new developments. Additionally, we have some new Greenfield development coming online soon.

What essential city services do you plan to improve and sustain?

Our growth has leveled off, with a population of about 300,000. Our primary budget focuses on police, fire, and emergency services, recognizing their importance for community safety and health. We also pride ourselves on our healthcare services, with five hospitals and a major children’s hospital. We have a Level 1 trauma center that serves the surrounding communities. These services make Plano a desirable place to live.

What strategies are in place to ensure community involvement and feedback?

We work hard on communication every day, connecting with all demographics: youth, parents, middle-aged folks, and seniors. For example, after a major storm in May caused significant tree debris, we worked for six weeks across all 72 square miles of Plano to remove it. We subcontracted much of the work to ensure it was done in a timely manner. This commitment to addressing community needs exemplifies the Plano way — we do whatever it takes to ensure this is a quality place to live.

What is your outlook for the city of Plano and your top priorities for the next two to three years?

Our top priorities include focusing on areas of redevelopment and ensuring the companies already here are happy. We work hard to maintain good relationships with all our companies and continue attracting new ones to keep our tax rates and base low. It’s important to ensure that their employees are comfortable living in or near Plano.