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WELCOME TO, IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON, AND WE ARE HERE TO WISH YOU HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND THERE ARE SO MANY NEW THINGS GOING ON HERE IN OUR CITY.
WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH SOMEONE WHO IS NEW, RELATIVELY NEW.
WE HAVE TONY RAMIREZ, OUR NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAIRMAN, DIRECTOR.
AND WHAT A GREAT TOPIC TO START OUR FIRST SHOW OF THE YEAR WITH IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
NOW, TONY, I KNOW OUR VIEWERS WILL WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU ENDED UP IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
WELL, WELL, THANKS FOR INVITING ME ON.
UM, I'M ORIGINALLY FROM TE FROM TEXAS, UH, BORN AND RAISED IN EL PASO.
UH, I STUDIED AT NEARBY IN NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS, UH, ABOUT 30 MILES OUTSIDE OF EL PASO.
UM, AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT, I, UH, I WORKED IN, IN RETAIL MANAGEMENT, HELPING WALGREENS, UH, OPEN UP STORES IN AUSTIN.
SO I WAS PART OF THE, UH, BIG RETAIL EXPANSION THAT WAS GOING ON THERE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO GET MARRIED, AND WE MOVED TO THE DFW METROPLEX.
UH, AND WE WERE IN FORT WORTH FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
AND I WAS WORKING FOR A FORTUNE 200 COMPANY AT THE TIME.
UM, AND THAT, DURING THAT TIME, I EARNED MY MBA AT UT ARLINGTON.
SO, UH, I'M A PROUD UTA GRADUATE.
UH, AND THE METROPLEX CERTAINLY MEANS A LOT TO US.
UM, TWO OF OUR THREE CHILDREN WERE ACTUALLY BORN IN, UH, IN THE METROPLEX.
SO WE, UH, WE, THEY DO HAVE A, A STICK TO THAT CLAIM AS WELL.
UH, AND PRIOR TO BEING HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, WHERE WERE YOU? WELL, I WAS IN, I WAS IN EL PASO.
UH, WE HAD MOVED BACK TO EL PASO.
I WAS WORKING IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, AND ALSO OWN MY OWN FIRM, UH, DOING SITE SELECTION AND, UH, AND CORPORATE LOCATION ADVISORY, UM, FOR COMPANIES ALL ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.
SO, UH, ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS, UH, WE WOULD HELP COMPANIES FIND THE RIGHT LOCATION FOR THEM TO OPEN UP EITHER A, A MANUFACTURING FACILITY, UH, OR AN OFFICE FACILITY.
AND WE HELP THEM WITH THE DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS OF MAKING THE RIGHT STUDY IN A CASE FOR THEM TO OPEN UP.
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE BACK WITH US.
AND IN THE METROPLEX, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T EASY TO FIND YOU.
I BELIEVE WE DID A NATIONAL SEARCH, SO YOU'RE WELL QUALIFIED.
WELL, I'M, I'M, I'M BLESSED TO BE HERE.
UM, THE CITY CULTURE IS VERY AMAZING.
UM, AND I'VE, I, I DID MY HOMEWORK THROUGHOUT THE, THE PROCESS AS WELL.
UH, THE CITY COUNCIL IS THINKING VERY BIG, UM, AND I'M, I'M VERY FORTUNATE WITH BILL HILLS AT THE HELM.
HE'S VERY ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING.
UM, AND HE'S DRIVING A, AN IMPRESSIVE CULTURE THERE TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EXECUTE AT A HIGH LEVEL.
AND YOU'RE HERE AT A VERY EXCITING TIME FOR GRAND PRAIRIE BECAUSE SO MUCH NEW DEVELOPMENT IS HAPPENING.
NOW, UM, I KNOW OUR VIEWERS WILL WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING, UH, WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
COULD YOU START US OUT MAYBE BY THE FAR TIP OF, UH, SOUTH GRAND PRAIRIE, WHICH IS BEING EXTENDED? YEAH.
COULD YOU START US OUT THERE WITH THE POSSIBILITIES? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
SO THE, THE CITY A ACQUIRED, UH, SOME PROPERTY DOWN, UH, THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF GRAND PRAIRIE, UM, OVER A THOUSAND ACRES THERE THAT WE WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, DEVELOPING.
UH, AND IT'S GONNA BE A, A MIX OF SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING.
UM, WE HAVE SOME VERY LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AS WELL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND AT THIS POINT, UM, UH, RETAIL, UH, IS GONNA BE REALLY EXCITING DOWN THERE.
SO A LOT OF GROWTH OPPORTUNITY, UH, THE CHALLENGES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE, THE RIGHT SERVICES TO CONTINUE, UH, SERVING OUR RESIDENTS AT A HIGH LEVEL AND, AND, AND MAKING GRAND PRAIRIE THE PLACE TO LIVE.
IT IS, UH, CALLED GOODLAND AND, UH, HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING 50,000 PEOPLE THERE.
SO THAT WILL BE A BIG STEP FOR GRAND PRAIRIE TO EXPAND AT, AT THAT LEVEL.
AND IT'S, IT'S VERY UNIQUE TO GRAND PRAIRIE BECAUSE NOT TOO MANY COMMUNITIES IN THE METROPLEX CAN, CAN GROW LIKE THAT OR HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
TO HAVE THE PROPERTY RIGHT HERE SURE.
AND THE MIDDLE OF THE METROPLEX, WHICH IS FABULOUS.
TONY, MOVE US ON, UH, A LITTLE BIT FURTHER NORTH
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MM-HMMWHERE, WHAT IS HAPPENING, UM, MAYBE IN THE, UH, LAKE OR I 20 AREA, SO THAT THAT CORRIDOR CONTINUES TO GROW.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST AND, UH, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND POTENTIAL ON THE RETAIL SIDE OF THINGS.
UH, THERE ARE SOME LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TOO THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND, UM, REALLY WE'RE, WE'RE VERY THOROUGH IN OUR VETTING PROCESS TO MAKE SURE IT'S A, IT'S A, THESE ARE GOOD PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING TO GRAND PRAIRIE.
UM, SO WE CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH COMPANIES THAT ARE INTERESTED.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT CORRIDOR.
AND TONY, UM, I THINK OUR VIEWERS WANT TO KNOW WHY WE CAN'T TELL THEM EVERYBODY WE'RE NEGOTIATING WITH SURE.
SO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS A WHOLE, IT'S, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT INDUSTRY AS, AS IN OF ITSELF.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHOICES THAT COMPANIES HAVE WHEN THEY SELECT A CITY TO OPEN UP IN.
UM, I HAD A, A, A, A PRIOR MENTOR, UH, OF MINE WHO RECENTLY PASSED.
HE WOULD REMIND ME THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS WHAT HE WOULD CALL A FULL CONTACT SPORT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR COMPANIES FOR THEM TO, TO, TO GO TO A LOT OF CITIES.
UM, SO SOMETIMES THERE ARE SOME, SOME DEEP NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE, ARE UNDERWAY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
UM, THAT WAY WE PROTECT THE, THE IDENTITY OF THE COMPANY SO THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE TO OPEN UP, UM, AND, AND SHARE SOME OF, OF WHAT THEIR LONG-TERM PLANS ARE.
AND, UH, I THINK, UH, EVERYBODY JUST WANTS TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING AND THE POSSIBILITIES, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE JUST NEED TO WAIT TILL THE EXACTLY.
TILL IT'S SIGNED, SEALED, AND DELIVERED.
AND SOMETIMES THE COMPANIES THEMSELVES ARE, ARE ALSO LOOKING AT FUNDING SOURCES, AND SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE WAITING ON WHETHER THAT BE, UM, UH, COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS OR INVESTORS.
SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALSO PUTTING THEIR PRO FORMAS TOGETHER SO THAT THEY MAKE SURE THAT THE NUMBERS ADD UP FOR THEM AS WELL.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED LONG AGO, BUT THEY'RE JUST NOW COMING INTO FRUITION.
LIKE ROSES, EVERYBODY SAYS, WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET A ROSES
AND, UH, YES, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, SET TO BE COMING IN ONLINE HERE IN 2025.
UM, BUT YEAH, WE, WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON QUALITY OF PLACE AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, UM, THAT THAT IS PART OF, OF CONTINUING TO ATTRACT TOP COMPANIES HERE, AND RESIDENTS HAVE THE COMFORT LEVEL TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT TO DO HERE.
UH, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TOO FAR TO, UH, TO REALIZE THAT THAT'S TRUE.
AND, YOU KNOW, UM, EVEN THOUGH WE MAY WANT SOMETHING, IF IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE, THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE COMPANY, NOR IS IT GOOD FOR THE CITY.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S A GREAT FIT FOR GRAND PRAIRIE, AND I THINK THEY CAN USE AS A, UM, TRACK RECORD, OUR GREAT TRACK RECORD ALONG, UH, GEORGE BUSH AS WE APPROACH EPIC CENTRAL.
THAT'S, THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND IT HAS A, AN AWESOME REP REPUTATION, NOT JUST HERE IN THE METROPLEX, BUT REALLY A ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE 1 61 CORRIDOR.
UH, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, UH, WE, WE, WE HAVE OUR ANCHOR AS IKEA, UH, DOWN AT THE CORNER THERE, UM, AND BASS PRO.
AND I'M ALSO THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT TOP GOLF WILL BE, UM, UM, OPENING UP THERE NOT TOO FAR FROM THAT LOCATION.
SO IT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO DRAW, UH, MANY FOLKS FROM ACROSS THE METROPLEX.
AND THERE ARE SEVERAL, UH, RESTAURANTS AS WELL THAT ARE PLANNING TO COME TO EPIC CENTRAL, IS THAT CORRECT? WE ARE.
WE ARE IN CONVERSATION WITH A FEW, UM, RESTAURANTS, UH, AND FINE DINING EXPERIENCES IS WHAT WE LIKE TO REFER TO.
UH, THE DIPPY EGG IS ALSO, UH, IN THE PROCESS OF COMING IN.
IT'S A HIGH LEVEL BRUNCH, UM, RESTAURANT.
UH, WE HAVE RIDI, WHICH IS A REALLY AWESOME CONCEPT BY TIFFANY DAIRY, WHICH IS A, SHE'S A, A LOCAL CHEF, A CELEBRITY CHEF IN, YES.
AND SHE CHOSE GRAND PRAIRIE TO OPEN UP HER ITALIAN CONCEPT.
AND SHE IS BRINGING A LOT OF ENERGY AND A LOT OF NEW THINGS TO THAT AREA.
AND THAT'S EX VERY EXCITING FOR US.
AND, UM, THOSE ARE LOCATED, I BELIEVE THE TWO THAT YOU MENTIONED ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE SUMMIT, IS THAT THE LOCATION? THAT'S CORRECT.
THOSE ARE TWO, UH, AND WE'RE ALSO IN TALKS WITH ANOTHER, UH, USER, UM, SO WE'LL, WE'LL BE SHARING MORE AS WE GO ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT, UH, DATE WE COULD EXPECT THEM TO BE IN BUSINESS?
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UM, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW, IT SHOULD BE THE MIDPOINT OF 2025.THAT, THAT WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT, TONY, IT'S GONNA, IT'S GONNA GO BY REALLY FAST, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
NOW, UM, YOU ALREADY MENTIONED TOPGOLF.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE COMING TO EPIC CENTRAL THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT? IS THERE, I BELIEVE THERE WAS, UM, SORT OF A, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANNA GIVE ANYBODY ELSE A PLUG, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE, WHERE YOU CAN GO TO A WHOLESALE CENTER.
SO THAT, THAT IS, UH, IT'S PUBLIC INFORMATION.
UH, BJ'S WHOLESALE, UH, WILL ALSO BE, UH, COMING TO, TO THAT, THAT, UH, CORRIDOR.
UM, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON FINALIZING THE DATES AND, AND OTHER, OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT YES, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE AN AWESOME SHOPPING EXPERIENCE FOR, FOR RESIDENTS HERE AS WELL.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH SOME OTHER, UH, COMPANIES THAT ARE HERE, BUT THIS IS VERY POPULAR ALONG THE EAST COAST, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND, AND, UH, AS, AS WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN IT, UH, THEY DO FOCUS ON A VARIETY OF ITEMS. SO IT'S SIMILAR TO THE STRUCTURE OF WHERE YOU WOULD SEE AT A SAM'S OR AT A COSTCO.
UM, BUT THEY DO OFFER UNIQUE PRODUCTS, UH, AND VERY REASONABLE PRICES, AND IT'S, IT'S A FUN WAY AND A FUN PLACE TO SHOP.
AND IF OUR VIEWERS WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT, THEY CAN ALWAYS GOOGLE ABSOLUTELY.
BJ, IS IT BJ'S WHOLESALE? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
SO THEY COULD GO ONLINE AND FIND IF THEY HAVE THEIR SPECIAL PRODUCTS THAT THEY LOVE.
AND TONY, WHAT'S HAPPENING DOWNTOWN IN GRAND PRAIRIE? DOWNTOWN GRAND PRAIRIE CONTINUES TO BE, UH, AN AREA WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED ON, UM, WE ARE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT RETAILERS.
UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT, UM, SOME CONSTRUCTION SO THAT WE CAN BEAUTIFY IT AND CONTINUE TO ADD SOME AMENITIES, UM, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE IT MORE WALKABLE, MORE APPROACHABLE.
UM, WE DO CONTINUE TO USE IT AS A CENTERPIECE FOR OUR CITY.
OUR, OUR, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR CHRISTMAS TREE, CHRISTMAS LIGHTING OUT THERE.
AND WE HAVE OUR FARMER'S MARKET OUT THERE, SO WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON, ON THAT AREA FOR, FOR LONG-TERM GROWTH.
BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR CITY HALL THERE, FARMER'S MARKETS THERE.
AND, UH, AS YOU SAID, WE HAVE OUR CHRISTMAS EVENT THERE ALSO, WE HAVE MAIN STREET, UH, THE MAIN STREET EVENT, BIG STAGES THERE.
AND, UM, UM, MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES LIKE CINCO DE MAYO, ET CETERA.
SO THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CITY.
AND WE, UM, I EVEN HEARD THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THE TURNAROUND APPROVED BY TXDOT, AND THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.
THAT'S A, IT'S A, A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA TRIGGER, UH, DIFFERENT EVENTS FOR US SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE ON THE GROWTH PA PROCESS.
AND WE WANNA, WE ALREADY HAVE SOME GREAT, UH, RESTAURANTS ON MAIN STREET YES.
AND BUSINESSES, AND WE WANNA KEEP THEM GOING EVEN DURING THE CONSTRUCTION TIME.
WE'RE, WE'RE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO, UH, TO THEIR, THEIR PATRONS, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO KEEP GROWING THERE.
LET'S SEE, WHAT DO WE HAVE IN BETWEEN THERE? MAYBE TALK ABOUT THE I 30 AND BELTLINE CORRIDOR.
YEAH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING CORRIDOR.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE, THE RACETRACK IS THERE, UM, AND RIPLEY'S IS NOT TOO FAR FROM THERE.
SO THERE'S IS A, WE LIKE TO REFER TO THAT AS THE GATEWAY FOR, UH, FUN.
UM, SO THAT DOES LEAD INTO ARLINGTON INTO THE CENTERPIECE OF THE METROPLEX AS WELL.
UM, SO WE'RE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH, UM, WITH DIFFERENT USERS AND DIFFERENT ENTITIES OUT THERE THAT WOULD BE A GREAT FIT TO CONTINUE THAT EXPERIENCE, UM, AS IT'S KNOWN AS, AS THE GATEWAY ENTRY INTO THE METROPLEX.
AND I KNOW WE'RE, AS YOU SAID, UNDER NEGOTIATION WITH SOME PEOPLE, AND EVERYBODY WANTS US TO GET A HOTEL OUT THERE AND MORE RESTAURANTS
YOU KNOW, WE, WE KEEP THE CONVERSATIONS GOING FOR, FOR, FOR DIFFERENT USERS, UH, DIFFERENT WHAT WE CALL ASSET CLASSES, WHETHER THAT BE HOTEL, UH, OPERATORS AND DEVELOPERS ALL THE WAY TO, TO RETAILERS.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE TO HAVE THAT, THOSE CONVERSATIONS GOING AT ALL TIMES.
UM, AND WE, WE DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PLUGGED IN WITH CHANGES AT GRAND PRAIRIE.
UM, SOME OF THE EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES EVEN GOING ON AT, AT THE DFW AIRPORT SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT FLIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF THE ROLE WE HAVE WHEN WE SPEAK TO THEM.
AND THAT IS ACTUALLY CALLED OUR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S
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A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT YES.AT EPIC CENTRAL AND OTHER PLACES.
UM, THAT IS OUR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE RACE TRACK, AND WE HAVE, UH, TEXAS TRUST THEATER THERE.
WE HAVE WORLD CLASS CRICKET AT OUR WORLD CLASS CRICKET STADIUM.
UM, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW SEASON THAT'S COMING UP AS WELL.
AND THAT, UH, A LOT OF OUR VIEWERS MIGHT NOT KNOW A LOT ABOUT CRICKET, BUT THEY CAN GOOGLE THAT AS WELL.
IT'S SIMILAR TO BASEBALL AND, UH, BUT VERY DIFFERENT IN ITS OWN WAY.
BUT THE FACT THAT IT BROUGHT IN 7,000 PEOPLE TO GRAND PRAIRIE, THAT IS EXCITING.
IT'S VERY INTERNATIONAL IN SCOPE.
AND, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA TIE INTO THE, THE US, THE WORLD CUP THAT'S COMING INTO DFW AS WELL, TO SHOW THAT OUR, OUR REGION ISN'T JUST, ISN'T JUST LOCAL.
IT'S A VERY GLOBAL MARKETPLACE.
WE HAVE GLOBAL ASPECTS TO IT, AND SPORTS IS ONE OF 'EM.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE GOING ON THERE TOO, WHICH USED TO BE WILDLIFE PARKWAY, BUT WE'RE GETTING A NEW NAME.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE NEW NAME,
WELL, THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NAMES TOSSED AROUND, UH, IN THAT AREA AS WELL.
BUT YES, IT'S SOMETHING LIKE ENTERTAINMENT PARKWAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UH, BUT THAT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE FROM, UM, 1 61 WHEN THAT IS COMPLETED.
SO THAT WILL BE A REALLY GOOD PLACE, UH, FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS OUR YES.
AND, AND MOBILITY'S KEY, RIGHT.
MOBILITY AND, AND TRANSPORTATION ARE PLAY A BIG ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE ON THE NORTH END, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE MY DISTRICT, UH, THEY ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE IT'S SO BUILT OUT THAT THEY NEED, THEY THINK THEY NEED A RESTAURANT, UH, A NEW, UH, GROCERY STORE RESTAURANTS, AND WE DO NEED THEM.
UM, A LOT OF THEM DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THAT AREA IS VERY MUCH OF, THAT IS IN THE FLOOD PLAIN.
AND, UM, SO WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY BODIES THERE ROOFTOPS, BUT HOPEFULLY ON, UM, I 30 AND BELTLINE, IF WE GET EVEN, UH, THOUGH APARTMENTS AREN'T VERY POPULAR, UH, FOR SOME OF OUR VIEWERS, THEY DO BRING PEOPLE WITH DISPOSABLE INCOME THAT HELP US GET AND MAINTAIN AND SUSTAIN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY WANT IN OUR DISTRICT.
SO IT'S, IT'S TRICKY, UH, SOMETIMES GETTING EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT.
UH, THERE ARE SOME, UH, NEGOTIATIONS WE HAVE TO DO AS WELL.
AND THERE'S A, THERE'S A BALANCE AND A LOT OF COMPANIES LOOK AT COST, QUALITY, AND RISK EVERY TIME THEY MAKE A DECISION, WHETHER THAT BE A GROCERY STORE OR A RETAILER, OR EVEN A DATA CENTER.
THEY WANNA KNOW WHAT TYPE OF TYPE TYPES OF RISKS THERE ARE.
AND, UH, HAVING A FLOODPLAIN IS PART OF A RISK CONSIDERATION.
UH, WE'RE VERY MINDFUL OF IT, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE TO FIND A, A, A GREAT SPOT TO CONTINUE TO PRESENT TO COMPANIES.
AND REGRESSING JUST A LITTLE BIT BACK TO, UH, EPIC CENTRAL, IF YOU DREW THE CIRCLE LIKE THEY USUALLY DO THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE, UH, SHOWN SUCCESS THAT IF THEY CAME TO THAT LOCATION, BUT THE PROOF IS THERE THAT SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES IN EPIC CENTRAL OR EXCEEDING WHAT THEY EVER DREAMED THAT THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD DO.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT TRACK RECORD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING, UH, FARTHER NORTH, THAT, UM, THERE IS GREAT POTENTIAL THERE.
AND IT'S, UM, GRAND PRAIRIE WILL SUPPORT THAT AND BE EXCITED TO GET NEW THINGS THERE AS WELL.
NOW, WHAT ABOUT, UM, EVEN FURTHER NORTH, ALMOST TO, UM, WHEREVER THE TRE RUNS THAT LITTLE STATION THERE, UM, IT'S CLOSE TO IRVING AND, UH, FORT WORTH AS WELL.
WE HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON, A POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING HAPPENING, DON'T WE? WELL, WE, UM, UH, AND I IMAGINE YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE, THE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT YES.
THE ONE ACROSS FROM RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE.
UH, SO WE, WE ARE, UH, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND A GREAT AREA TO REIMAGINE WHAT CAN BE DONE OUT THERE.
UM, SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL MIXED USE, A VERY LARGE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMING OUT THERE AS WELL WITH, UH, RETAIL COMBINATION AND ALSO SOME REALLY NICE HOUSING.
IT COULD BE THE BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS EVER
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COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE.SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT, THE POSSIBILITIES.
AND, UH, AS YOU SAID PREVIOUSLY, IT DEPENDS ON THEIR FUNDING, UH, THE PROJECT ITSELF AND HOW IT'S MOVING ALONG.
BUT IT IS A VERY GOOD POSSIBILITY.
AND I, UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT 2025.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF INVESTORS THAT ARE BULLISH ON THE ECONOMY.
UH, THEY'RE ALSO VERY BULLISH ON, ON DFW AS A WHOLE.
UM, SO IT'S GONNA BE EXCITING TO SEE THAT CONTINUE TO, TO BE A PART OF OUR DISCUSSIONS.
AND TONY, WE MENTIONED THAT WE ARE THE CENTER OF THE ME METROPLEX.
WE HAVE ALL OF THESE FABULOUS NEW WAYS TO GET THERE AT 1 61, THE FRONTAGE ROADS ON I 2360, I MEAN, I 30, AND THEN ALSO 360, AND WE HAVE THE, UH, DFW AIRPORT JUST IN OUR BACKYARD.
SO WHEN YOU PUT ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER, TONY, WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE? YEAH, WE CERTAINLY THINK SO.
I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEBODY WOULDN'T WANT TO COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE, AND THAT REMINDS ME OF THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
UM, WE GET THE QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHICH, UH, GROCERY STORE I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I DON'T REALLY LIKE TO GIVE THEM TOO MUCH, UH, PR SURE.
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE VISION TO COME TO GRAND PRAIRIE FIRST.
BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU THINK THAT'LL EVER HAPPEN? WELL, IT'S, IT'S CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY.
AND I'VE, I'VE ALWAYS, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD, WITH MY BACKGROUND IN SITE SELECTION, WE SEE THAT SOMETIMES DECISIONS, THEY EBB AND FLOW AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL AS EXECUTIVES LOOK FOR A QUALITY LOCATION.
UH, THEY LOOK AT INCOME, THEY LOOK AT POPULATION GROWTH.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT THEY LOOK, THEY LOOK AT, WHETHER IT BE HEB OR UH, KROGER, YOU KNOW? YES.
UM, BUT THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF, OF METRICS AND VARIABLES THAT THEY LOOK AT.
AND IT'S EVER CHANGING, JUST LIKE, UH, THE GROCERY BUSINESS BECAUSE NOW THEY CAN GET GROCERIES DELIVERED TO THEIR FRONT PORCH.
SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THEY MAKE A BIG DECISION OF BIG INVESTMENT LIKE THAT.
NOW, UM, LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE, TONY, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS.
TALK ABOUT YOUR TEAM THAT WORKS WITH YOU.
WELL, WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM, UH, AND I'M CONTINUING TO BUILD ON THAT AS WELL.
UM, I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE OUR TEAM HAS A, A REALLY UNIQUE BALANCE AND A BLEND OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EXPERIENCE, UM, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GREAT TO, TO BE ABLE TO RELATE TO COMPANIES, UM, ESPECIALLY EXECUTIVES, IF YOU'VE, YOU'VE BEEN IN, IN THE EXECUTIVE, UH, SUITE OR WORKED WITH THEM IN, IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
SO I THINK THAT'S GONNA CONTINUE TO MAKE GRAND PRAIRIE DIFFERENT FROM A LOT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUPS IN THE METROPLEX, IS WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT REALLY UNIQUE BALANCE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR WORKING IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT'S GONNA BENEFIT OUR, OUR CITY IMMENSELY.
YOU HAVE TERRY JONES WHO WORKS WITH THE, UH, UM, LIGHT INDUSTRIAL OR INDUSTRIAL AREA, RIGHT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
AND DO YOU HAVE ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME? YES.
UH, WE, I DO HAVE, UH, A YOUNG, YOUNG UP AND COMING SUPERSTAR, UH, FRANK CHANEL, UH, NEILEN, WHO'S, UM, GONNA HELP WITH EVENTS, UH, AND HELP TO COORDINATE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE, THE REST OF THE YEAR.
UH, AND I HAVE SOME OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE, ARE GONNA BE COMING ON BOARD TOO.
SO THE NEXT TIME WE'RE HERE, I'M GONNA BE HAPPY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
I LOVE HEARING ABOUT YOUR TEAM.
AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU AND THEY DO FOR US.
AND I HAVE TO MENTION OUR TEAM FROM THE, UH, CITY AS FAR AS STAFF YOU ALREADY MENTIONED, UH, CITY MANAGER, BILL HILLS, AND OF COURSE OUR MAYOR RON JENSEN.
DOES A FABULOUS JOB OF PROMOTING GRAND PRAIRIE AND REACHING OUT TO, UH, ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND OUR CITY COUNCIL AS WELL.
SO WE'RE THANKFUL TO HAVE SUCH A, A GREAT TEAM ALIVE AND WELL FOR THE NEW YEAR.
THEY'RE ALL EACH INCREDIBLE ADVOCATES.
UM, AND ANYWHERE YOU GO, YOU, YOU GET TO HEAR THE STORIES OF, OF GRAND PRAIRIE AND THE WONDERFUL HISTORY HERE, OF COURSE, MISS RUTHIE JACKSON AS WELL, HOW PAVED THE WAY FOR A LOT OF THAT.
AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW YEAR.
I'M SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE WANNA TAKE ALL, WHOEVER'S IN OFFICE AT THE TIME WANTS TO TAKE ALL THE CREDIT, BUT WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY GREAT PREDECESSORS THAT HAVE SET THE, SET THE PATH FOR US AND BLAZED THE TRAIL AND, UH, DID SOME FORWARD THINKING AS WELL.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
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I CAN'T WAIT TILL OUR NEXT VISIT BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE SOMETHING ELSE EXCITING FOR US.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THINKING OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND WELCOME TO GRAND PRAIRIE, AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE THE BEST YEAR EVER.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY IN THIS NEW YEAR, AND WE'RE WISHING YOU THE HAPPIEST AND MOST PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR EVER.
AND I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON REMINDING YOU, AS ALWAYS, IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.