IN THE NEWS

At Frito-Lay, we believe we succeed when our communities succeed. That commitment starts in our hometown of Dallas, where we’ve invested millions of dollars and countless volunteer hours to make our community a better place. Southern Dallas represents a population full of potential and it’s our obligation as business leaders to help them reach it. This is why, in 2018, we founded Southern Dallas Thrives, in partnership with the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, to help address key issues families in Southern Dallas face: access to nutritious food, jobs, education, and childcare.”

We were founded in Terrell, when the town was experiencing rapid growth due to a new train depot being built. At the time, Terrell didn’t have any financial institutions to serve the needs of its community. All the money being made was sent back to Dallas and used for loans that supported growth there, which feels very similar to the dynamic we are experiencing in South Dallas today where community members don’t have convenient access to banks in their community the way other parts of the metroplex do...The fact is, South Dallas is an underserved market, and when needs arise, we meet challenges head-on. That’s why we’re here.

Southern Dallas represents one of the best growth opportunities in the Metroplex. It is an area with a ready workforce; convenient to downtown, Love Field and DFW and it has large middle class communities and very few amenities to serve them, creating big opportunities to fill those commercial voids. At the same time, southern Dallas property values are still reasonably priced, great place to open a business, develop property or buy a home.

Elevating small business. Reducing barriers and leveling the playing field for our neighbors. Inspiring the greatest potential in our communities. They reflect our mission at Regions Bank to Make Life Better. It’s a mission we’re proud to demonstrate by investing in Southern Dallas to propel the economic growth and promote the long-term success of our entire North Texas Region. Because by leveraging the resources all of our communities have to offer, we can ensure that all of our communities thrive

I live in Southern Dallas County and it has not yet reached its potential because of historic misconceptions. However, since land in Northern Dallas County is mostly at a premium, it makes good business sense to invest in the southern part of the county. With the University of North Texas at Dallas and the Mountain View and Cedar Valley Campuses of Dallas College, the underpinnings exist to support strong economic development and a skilled workforce ready to fill business and industry jobs. So, erase the misconceptions and join with us to create and innovate for a great Southern Dallas County! It’s a win-win formula for all!

When my family and I moved to Dallas in 1996, we saw the Southern Dallas area for its vibrancy and proximity to world-class institutions like hospitals and universities. In the years that followed, I’ve seen the Southern Dallas neighborhood emerge as a diverse and thriving area. I’m excited to be a member of this community and, through the T.D. Jakes Foundation, play our part to transform lives and uplift the community to make this one of the best places in the country to live and work.

The University of North Texas Dallas is not only a rapidly growing school on a beautifully wooded campus but also one of the largest employers in Southern Dallas County with more than 600 fulltime employees. A panoramic view from our new $63 million Student Center boasts a beautiful view of Downtown Dallas that also shows the university surrounded by largely undeveloped land, a DART rail station on the Blue Line and ample bus service. From undeveloped and attractive land near UNTD, to the potential for Transit Oriented Development, it is no wonder that the City of Dallas’ Economic Development Plan lists the area around campus as one of five Transformation Zones in the city.

Southern Dallas County has all the ingredients needed for explosive economic growth. Local transit and connectivity to interstates and rail lines, developable land, growing local markets and a work force that is being trained for jobs for the future. It is easy to see that Southern Dallas County will be the engine that powers economic growth in North Texas for the next decade and beyond