Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
February 16, 2026
Fort Worth's $6.7B Boom: How Sensible Policy Fuels Texas Growth
TLDR
- Fort Worth's $6.7 billion capital investment and structured incentives like Chapter 312 tax abatements create a competitive advantage for businesses seeking growth in aerospace, tech, and manufacturing sectors.
- Fort Worth's growth is driven by sensible government policies, Chapter 312 and 380 incentive agreements, academic partnerships with TCU, and strategic urban development in sectors like aerospace and logistics.
- Fort Worth's economic success, blending heritage with innovation through academic programs and community development, creates opportunities for prosperity and meaningful contributions to future generations.
- Fort Worth's 'Western chic' culture, from historic stockyards to Paramount-backed film productions, attracts 11.5 million visitors annually while TCU graduates earn over $100,000 in their first year.
Impact - Why it Matters
This analysis of Fort Worth's economic success provides a blueprint for sustainable urban development that balances growth with cultural identity. For residents, it means more job opportunities, particularly in high-paying sectors like aerospace and technology, with TCU graduates seeing starting salaries over $100,000. For businesses and investors, it demonstrates how strategic incentives like Chapter 312 and 380 agreements can create win-win scenarios that expand tax bases without burdening existing residents. The city's approach contrasts with struggling metropolitan areas, offering lessons in functional governance that prioritizes outcomes over political theater. As remote work reshapes where people live and companies locate, Fort Worth's model of blending heritage with innovation, sensible policy with cultural appeal, provides a compelling case study for cities nationwide seeking to attract talent and investment while maintaining their unique character.
Summary
Dr. Brandon Chicotsky, associate professor at Texas Christian University (TCU), private equity advisor, and founder of God Bless Retirement, recently appeared on The Building Texas Show to analyze Fort Worth's remarkable economic surge. The city recorded an impressive $6.7 billion in new capital investment during fiscal year 2025, marking its strongest performance in over a decade. Chicotsky attributed this growth to strategic developments in aerospace, technology, logistics, and advanced manufacturing, with companies actively recruiting talent from TCU's top-ranked programs like the TCU Sales Center, where graduates often earn six-figure salaries in their first year.
Chicotsky emphasized that Fort Worth's success stems from "sensible government" policies focused on practical outcomes rather than political posturing. He highlighted the city's structured use of Chapter 312 tax abatements and Chapter 380 "pay-as-you-go" agreements to attract projects that expand the tax base without creating budget shortfalls. The professor pointed to collaborations with prominent developers like John Goff and Ross Perot Jr., along with academic expansions including UTA West and Texas A&M's new downtown law school, as evidence of the city's investable climate. These strategic partnerships and incentives have positioned Fort Worth for sustainable growth that outpaces infrastructure costs.
The economic narrative extends beyond numbers to embrace Fort Worth's unique cultural identity, which Chicotsky described as "Western chic"—a blend of frontier heritage and modern innovation. This cultural appeal has translated into substantial tourism revenue, with 11.5 million visitors in 2024 generating over $3.5 billion in economic impact. The city's storytelling extends to entertainment with a Paramount-backed production campus led by Taylor Sheridan, further enhancing its national profile. For those interested in deeper insights, the full interview is available on The Building Texas Show on YouTube, offering comprehensive analysis of Fort Worth's growth model and Chicotsky's vision for a "generative economy."
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by Newsworthy.ai. Read the original source here, Fort Worth's $6.7B Boom: How Sensible Policy Fuels Texas Growth
