What do Fort Worth and Silicon Valley have in common? A lot, this business leader says

Fort Worth has a chance to be the Silicon Valley of mobility and innovation, according to Hillwood CEO Mike Berry, the interim president and CEO of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.

“We have the stories here, the infrastructure is here, the players are here, and the industry is clamoring for a place to go where they can test, develop and commercialize,” Berry said.

Berry and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker discussed opportunities to spur Fort Worth economic development at a Southeast Fort Worth Inc. event on Thursday. SEFWI’s Vernell Sturns Annual Awards luncheon celebrated the community’s growth in economic prosperity, civic leaders and volunteers.

Berry said Fort Worth’s culture, can-do spirit, infrastructure, economic makeup and energy are what make the city great.

“Our economic diversity is unlike and is better than any other metropolitan region in the United States,” said Berry. “Look at our backbone industries: aerospace and defense, energy, transportation and logistics, financial services. I mean, we have a story to tell to a wide variety of industries and companies.”

The Metroplex has the greatest industry diversity among major Texas cities, according to data from commercial real estate agency JLL.

Parker said improving infrastructure and education will lead economic development in Fort Worth.

“At the bedrock of economic development no major corporation or business expansion is going to happen if you haven’t taken care of business in your neighborhoods,” Parker said. “If you aren’t showing your neighborhood you care about them, you recognize where you’ve fallen short, and you’re making investments.”

Parker also highlighted the importance of Fort Worth separating itself as an independent city and maintaining healthy competition within the region. Berry said other North Texas cities like Irving, Plano and Frisco are Fort Worth’s competitors.

A survey conducted by the chamber last year suggested the biggest impediment to local business growth is the shortage of labor and talent.

Berry said Fort Worth has to focus on improving the talent pipeline at all levels of education, because the majority of Fort Worth’s growth over the next decade will come from local homegrown companies.

“We need to do everything we can to help them overcome obstacles and impediments to growth,” Berry said.

While Parker said innovative leaders and partners like Berry and his team at Hillwood — the real estate and investment company that developed AllianceTexas — are essential to the city’s growth, she also said we cannot lose sight of where Fort Worth has come from.

“The city of Fort Worth still has to look and feel like Fort Worth,” Parker said. “We can’t lose our identity of what’s been successful, our history, our heritage, the people that made this community so incredible.”

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