2 min read July 2023 — Invest: was joined by John Muns, mayor for the City of Plano, to discuss the city’s exceptional growth at a crossroads of infrastructure improvements and community engagement. “We will continue this type of engagement throughout 2023 to make sure we are in tune with the community and its needs,” he said.
What are the biggest draws for people and businesses to come to Plano?
The biggest feedback we get from companies is about our high quality education system. It’s often the first reason they come here. To augment that, we are a diversified population with a fantastic immigrant presence that has grown through word of mouth over time. This gives companies access to a highly qualified workforce that is also accessible and close by, and it’s made a huge difference. We’ve seen a lot of changes with the hybrid work model, but that has not changed employers’ appetite for a great local talent pipeline. We’ve also done a good job incentivizing these companies to come here. And while that has leveled the playing field in comparison to other major metros, it’s our terrific workforce that sets Plano apart. And on the flip side, people want to be close to where they work and that has played out with new developments that people can live, work, and play. The cherry on top is that this also solves a lot of traffic congestion, which is great for everyone in the city.
How is Plano navigating the current economy?
At this point we are still gauging the manner in which the workforce is coming back to the office. The hybrid model will remain in place, so we’re seeing more companies downsizing their office space in order to accommodate this new rate of occupancy. In some cases, we are seeing companies that once had 200,000 to 300,000 square feet of space taking on less than half of that in their new leases. We are working with brokers to help visualize new ways of how that space can be used and reconfiguring accordingly. There are more restaurants and retail options that are being developed alongside offices because the demand for amenities has grown rapidly to grow that in-office occupancy. We will continue to work hard in Plano to develop these amenities and help companies with whatever issues they are looking to resolve.
What are the most important points to note regarding the transit gondola system the region is implementing?
Two companies have been working with the Regional Transportation Council to design this system that would support the metroplex from Arlington to Plano and Frisco. Since Arlington is home to a number of entertainment venues, including the Cowboys and Rangers home stadiums, it just made sense given the amount of traffic they bring in on game days. This will also support developments like Grandscape, which is owned by Warren Buffett and Craig Hall. The gondola system would be privately owned and would operate like an Uber in that you can pay for it entirely via mobile. With the growth of activity in this entire North Texas region, we wanted to enhance accessibility and mitigate the congestion. The commitment didn’t cost us anything, but given the demand from bidders around the country, it was an opportunity we couldn’t waste time on. It’ll be a perfect fit and be a major boon to our traffic infrastructure.
How is community engagement an important aspect of Plano’s growth?
The key has been listening to our communities. In February 2022, we kicked off a tour throughout the city to meet with residents at churches, schools and community centers to get their feedback. We wanted to know what they liked and disliked about Plano, and what they thought could be changed. Our team took that data and, with the help of consultants, compiled the top priorities we needed to work on, not just for the people and businesses moving here, but the residents who’ve been here for generations. We will continue this type of engagement throughout 2023 to make sure we are in tune with the community and its needs.
How is Plano supporting small businesses?
In the past, large companies tended to receive the most incentives when attracting business to Plano. But over time, the city realized that the small and medium businesses are every bit as valuable. A lot of these companies have the intent and capacity to grow and scale up, but often don’t have the capital up front to do so. That is where our incentives can come into play. These businesses might be looking at a relocation or renovation, and we can support demolition of old facilities and seed funding for new space. There are a lot of variables in play for small businesses that are different, and we are always learning how to support them. We’ve also gotten a lot of support from the governor’s economic development plan, which is getting global attention now. We’ve had SK Signet from South Korea move into Plano to develop more EV battery charging stations. This is kicking off in 2023, and we are thrilled at the possibilities it can bring the city for both the economy and transportation.
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