Tim O’Hare, County Judge, Tarrant County

Judge Tim O’Hare of Tarrant County, explained to Invest: the reasons Tarrant County is an attractive business-friendly region, from low taxes and regulation to education and infrastructure. He also discussed the county’s growing appeal as a tourist destination, and how local leaders collaborate with business and citizens. 

How does Tarrant County’s economic climate compare to other areas of North Texas? What makes it an ideal location for business?

Tarrant County is a special place because of the people. The people here are warm, generous, caring, and friendly. The slogan for Fort Worth is “Where the West Begins.” It’s a warm, Texas feeling when you’re here. In Tarrant county, we still have space to spread out. It’s a large county with 902 square miles. We have something for everybody, whether you want to live in a dense urban neighborhood or a sprawling, multiple-acre property. We have a number of large parcels of land for the perfect place to build a new corporate headquarters or relocate an existing business. Tarrant County is home to several top educational institutions such as Texas Christian University (TCU), University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), Tarleton State University, and a Texas A&M presence.

What strategies is the county implementing to sustain its economic momentum and continue addressing the challenges that come with rapid growth?

Texas is recognized internationally as a place that is pro-business and pro-jobs, with no state income tax and low regulations. In Tarrant county, we’ve significantly reduced property taxes over the last two years, making it attractive for businesses and residents. Tarrant County has good transportation options, and our roadways are not nearly as congested compared to other cities and counties around the country. The Texas Department of Transportation (TexDOT), the funding arm for highway construction and roads in Texas, has announced a study into Tarrant County to improve and accelerate roadway construction. Alliance is a global logistics hub here in Tarrant County and is the largest inland port, featuring a private airport catering to small jets and large logistics operations like FedEx. With space to build your business, great schools and education opportunities at the public school level and post-secondary education, we’ve got a lot of great things here that makes us a highly desirable place to relocate your company or expand your existing company. 

What additional efforts are being made to enhance Tarrant County as a tourist destination?

People love to come to Fort Worth and see the stockyards and the history there. It’s become one of the biggest tourist centers in Texas. It’s a great place for shopping, dining, and people watching. Arlington is home to many major sporting venues, such as the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, the new Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field, and the Rangers’ former Choctaw Stadium, which now hosts high school playoffs and semi-pro leagues. The National Medal of Honor Museum is scheduled to open March 2025. The grand opening is expected to attract national attention, and the museum will serve as an educational destination for students and visitors. We’re continuing to recruit companies into Tarrant County, and we offer tax breaks where they don’t pay county property taxes for a time if they’ll bring their new business in or expand their existing business. We work together with our cities to bring in new companies, expand existing companies, and bring in more jobs. I’m a believer in a rising tide lifts all boats. The more jobs and higher paying jobs we have, the better it is for everyone. When people are spending money, it continues to pay into the economy. 

How are you collaborating with educational institutions to continue to align the workforce development needs and provide employment to the coming industries?

Tarrant County College offers educational opportunities for students right out of high school, or who want to go back to college, to help train our workforce to be ready for the companies that are here. We’ve partnered with Texas A&M’s law school to build an Entrepreneurship Center in downtown Fort Worth. The county will provide infrastructure for that facility. UTA is expanding its programs. Tarleton State has a Fort Worth Campus. Tarrant County is the third largest county in Texas, but it’s larger than 15 different U.S. states with a population of 2.2 million, which requires a strong educational ecosystem to sustain growth.

How do you encourage collaboration between the cities, county, and federal government to address challenges and provide the quality of life and safety the residents require?

Everyone wants a safe place to live and work, and we’ve made significant investments in Tarrant County in law enforcement. The two most important things the government does is protect your rights and keep you safe. People don’t want to invest in their businesses, or bring their businesses to a place where their employees won’t be safe, so we make sure we maintain law and order to sustain our quality of life.

How do you engage with the community to make sure all voices are heard, and how can citizens be engaged in building a government they can be proud of?

In this day and age, with technology and social media, people are more engaged with the government than they’ve ever been. We have public meetings twice a month where people can speak or submit comments. We send newsletters from my office on a quarterly basis. We monitor our social media channels and respond to every email we receive. We are regularly involved with Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club events. 

What are your future initiatives and priorities in the next 2-3 years?

We’re going to continue to recruit companies to move into or expand in Tarrant County. It’s the best place to live, work, and raise a family in America. We offer tax incentives and relocation packages that make moving here attractive. There are many issues surrounding affordable housing. It’s something the government can’t completely control, but we’re working to cut property taxes and provide homestead exemptions to encourage more growth, development, and population. We work to promote Tarrant County’s advantages to businesses across the country, emphasizing our safety, low taxes, and strong infrastructure.