Plano North | January 2024

From the cover

Large companies continue to set up headquarters in Plano

BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY

Diving in deeper

What you need to know

Access to Plano’s existing business commu- nity and schools is another benet for large companies moving to Plano, McDonald said. Connecting with local businesses as suppliers or partners is one benet, while large com- panies can also look to Plano ISD and nearby colleges for a talent pipeline into the workforce. McDonald added that the city looks to connect businesses with local students through certain events. The benets are mutual, said Kelle Marsalis, Plano Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. The arrival of large businesses helps attract potential suppliers, vendors, clients and com- petitors to the city. “When large corporations move into the community, it really does benet everyone,” she said. “They bring jobs; they bring economic growth and stability; they bring more kids for our school district, which helps us oer more to the kids that we have in our district. The small-business community appreciates that partnership as well because [employees of large businesses] are potential clients, … and it brings more talent into the region.” Along with its convenient location just o the tollway, that collaboration between “the corporate and business community” is a major reason that Graze, Inc. chose Plano as its new home, CEO Logan Fahey said. “Companies like Toyota, Frito-Lay and others have created a really great corporate community in Plano,” he said. “There’s great synergy with a lot of the companies here, and I also think [the city] has just done a really great job of combin- ing the corporate and the business community.”

he said. “Those long-lasting relationships that we’ve built have really paid o.” Plano ocials can also provide incentive packages that include tax abatements and other benets to companies that will create high-wage jobs and contribute to the economic growth of the city. The incentives can be used for foreign and domestic companies. Plano also has several inherent advantages that make it attractive to businesses, including: • Proximity to two large airports • Public transit • A diverse building stock that includes ofice and manufacturing space

Developing relationships with business communities across the world has been a major factor in bringing large companies to Plano, McDonald said. City ocials went on recruiting trips to Chicago, South Korea, Japan and more last year. Relationships with businesses in Japan, South Korea and India have brought companies such as Toyota, Samsung and Tech Mahindra to Plano. It has also given the city a “stamp of approval,” which has helped with the recruitment of other companies, such as SK Signet, McDonald said. “They can look at how other companies have been very successful here; they enjoy working here, and they enjoy working with the city,”

HQs in Plano Ten of Plano’s corporate employers have over 1,000 employees in the city. 1 JPMorgan: 9,500 employees 2 Capital One: 7,542 employees 3 Toyota North America: 4,573 employees 4 Ericsson: 2,406 employees 5 Liberty Mutual: 2,385 employees 6 Samsung: 1,989 employees 7 PepsiCo and Frito Lay: 1,881 and 1,712 employees 8 FedEx: 1,257 employees 9 NTT DATA: 1,867 employees 10 Fisher Investments: 1,200 employees

SRT TOLL

HEADQUARTERS DR.

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DNT TOLL

COMMUNICATIONS PKWY.

TENNYSON PKWY.

10 INTERNATIONAL PKWY.

SPRING CREEK PKWY.

Plano

SOURCE: CITY OF PLANOCOMMUNITY IMPACT

What’s next

The main focus going forward is to continue to adapt and stay ahead of the curve, Braster added. “We want to make sure that we’re giving our citizens and taxpayers the best value that we can,” he said. “We want to be on the leading edge so that we’re not looking back 20 years from now, thinking, ‘I wish we would have done that.’”

City sta is continuing to look for other opportunities to bring businesses to Plano, including large redevelopment projects such as what is happening at the former Electronic Data Systems headquarters. Plano Director of Special Projects Peter Braster said that one key is making sure that even vacant buildings remain in good shape to help attract tenants when the time comes.

SK Signet is one of many businesses from overseas that has its American operations stationed in Plano. COURTESY SK SIGNET

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