Spotlight On: Chris Wallace, President & CEO, North Texas Commission
Key points:
- • North Texas is projected to grow from 8.9 million to over 12 million people by 2050.
- • Workforce, water infrastructure, and attainable housing are the region’s top challenges.
- • Finance is expanding as North Texas becomes the Southwest’s financial hub.
November 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Chris Wallace, president and CEO of the North Texas Commission, discussed North Texas’ competitive advantages, workforce and infrastructure needs, major industries, trade, and regional priorities. “We are a safe, diversified economy, which is why companies continue to relocate here and why we are attracting more foreign direct investors,” Wallace said.
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What are North Texas’ principal competitive advantages?
First, we are a safe, diversified economy. Companies continue to move here because of that environment, and the North Texas Commission works through state and federal public policy to help maintain it. Second, we have a growing, skilled labor force. North Texas is among the nation’s most attractive regions for business partly because companies can find the highly skilled workers their businesses require. Maintaining our public education systems, from pre-K through higher education, is essential because they form the future workforce pipeline for companies already here, those expanding here, and those relocating from around the world.
Third, we have a reasonable regulatory climate. Some companies are leaving other regions with business-unfriendly regulations and moving here, so we want North Texas to remain business-friendly. We must be collaborative in our approach to help resolve issues. Solving regional challenges so both businesses and public-sector partners can succeed is a significant part of the Commission’s work.
Fourth, Texas has a comparatively rational tax structure for business. We are monitoring property tax proposals and will engage in the 90th legislative session because that advantage could change. Fifth, the region offers strong infrastructure and accessibility, including DFW Airport, which is why our organization was founded more than 50 years ago. We also have roadways and transportation choices that move people, goods, and products. We have worked to help Dallas Area Rapid Transit remain intact and successful through recent stakeholder convenings about its governance structure.
Finally, the region embraces innovation. Our competitiveness is supported by extensive intellectual property and research within our companies, institutions of higher education, and our nonprofit sector. The products of tomorrow are already being tested in North Texas, including at Alliance.
What challenges require the greatest regional attention?
Our top challenges relate directly to those advantages. The first is the workforce pipeline: producing and training enough people for tomorrow’s jobs, including positions that do not yet exist. The second is infrastructure, including water and long-term water planning. Because the region is growing rapidly and water projects require long lead times, we must plan now to ensure future capacity.
The third challenge is attainable housing. Nurses, firefighters, police officers, and teachers should be able to live close to where they work, but that is becoming more difficult across Texas because of supply, taxation, homeowners insurance, and other affordability issues. We are addressing this issue.
How should Texas strengthen its workforce pipeline?
The institutions preparing our future workforce need adequate funding to do their work well. More than 80% of Texas students attend public schools, which is why we are strong proponents, allies, and ambassadors for those schools. When businesses and civic organizations hire future workers, there is a high likelihood that those employees will be public school graduates.
After pre-K-12, students may earn a certification, attend community college, enroll at a four-year institution, or enter the workforce directly. We want them to have a good school experience and graduate with the ability to compete, think critically, work productively, be good citizens, and engage civically. Keeping the institutions that prepare those future workers strong is one of our main priorities.
How are growth pressures affecting housing?
North Texas has about 8.9 million people today and is projected to reach over 12 million by 2050. We are currently the nation’s fourth-largest region and will soon exchange places with Chicago, currently the third largest. That growth brings considerable demand as companies and workers continue to move here, making housing supply and affordability a serious issue.
The Legislature tried to address some of those challenges in its last session, but more work remains. We need to balance sufficient housing supply with the authority of local governments to zone their communities according to long-term comprehensive plans. Housing attainability is a newer challenge for our region than infrastructure or workforce development, but it is not going away. Affordability once served as a point of distinction from competing markets. Although it still does, conditions are changing, and we must continue to engage on this issue.
Which industries are contributing to the region’s resilience?
Our diverse economy distinguishes North Texas from regions that depend more heavily on just one or two sectors. A diverse portfolio of industries helps us pivot and fare better during a downturn because strength in one industry can offset a weakness in another. General services make up about 30% of our economy and finance and real estate about 20%. We are proud to now be the financial hub of the Southwest.
The New York Stock Exchange moved its Chicago branch to Texas because many financial powerhouses are here. Goldman Sachs has entered the market, JPMorgan has a major presence, Wells Fargo is expanding, and Fidelity has been here for many years. Charles Schwab and Scotiabank are among the other companies present here. They see a diversified, safe economy, customers, and easy access to both coasts through DFW Airport and American Airlines. I expect finance to keep growing, with NYSE Texas and the Texas Stock Exchange illustrating that momentum.
How are AI and data centers affecting North Texas?
I expect the legislature to address data center challenges in the 90th session. We support the governor’s recent direction to the Public Utility Commission regarding data centers and expect that approach, or something similar, to become law. Most large companies we work with in the data center space are acting responsibly. They engage civically and consider our natural resources when developing projects.
AI also creates opportunities across North Texas manufacturing, from automobiles and defense to chips and semiconductors. Manufacturing is one of our largest sectors, and AI has an important role in it. Federal and state governments have an opportunity to get AI regulation right. If the United States does not, other countries will, so I expect Congress and state governments to engage more deeply on this issue.
Why are trade relationships important to the region?
Mexico is the largest trading partner for Texas and the United States. We are working to ensure that our 12 members of Congress and the Administration hear directly from North Texas companies and the Commission about the importance of the USMCA. It may require revisions, but we should improve it rather than discard it and start over.
The United States, Mexico, and Canada make products together. Continuing that work requires skilled workers, certainty, and strong trade relationships. We cannot do it alone. Our partners help us, and we help them. The NTC has relationships with trade officials, consuls general, ambassadors, economic development organizations, and local businesses operating in other countries. The Commission has increased its international relations and trade work tenfold over the last two years because our companies depend on those relationships.
What are the Commission’s priorities for the next several years?
North Texas will continue growing, and the question is whether we are prepared. Workforce development comes first. We must nurture talent here, invest in our education systems while maintaining immigration policies that allow skilled people from around the world to move here, feel safe, and work in our many industries that need them.
Infrastructure is equally important. If we take our attention away from it, North Texas could lose economic development opportunities. We need to continue what is working without becoming complacent. North Texas generates nearly one-third of the state’s GDP, and we must maintain and grow that strength. Our future economic competitiveness relies on it.
The Commission leads the region’s public policy advocacy in Austin and Washington. Its membership is 60% private sector, including many of the region’s largest employers, and 40% public sector, including cities, counties, school districts, community colleges, universities, and special utility districts across 13 counties. We bring leaders in these areas together to address gaps that could affect our economic competitiveness. The organization was originally formed to solve the region’s lack of a major hub airport. DFW Airport is now an economic engine, and our work continues to focus on helping the region thrive.
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