Forney Economic Development Corporation
Economic Development Strategic Plan
The Challenge
Located on the Blackland Prairie 20 miles east of downtown Dallas, Forney and the surrounding area was historically known as a rural farming area. Today, thanks largely to its proximity to Dallas, Forney has rapidly developed into an emerging suburban residential and retail center. Its location in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex — the nation’s fourth largest metropolitan area — assures that Forney’s growth and development will continue. Yet, growth does not come without challenges. Transforming external and internal perceptions to reflect new economic realities has proven difficult. In addition, providing the services and infrastructure needed to support new high-quality development presents fiscal challenges for Forney-area public-sector entities. At the same time, the greatest long-term challenge for area leaders is positively influencing the types of development in Forney while establishing a balanced and diversified tax base. As awareness of the area’s benefits as a business location increases, so will the risks of poor land-use decisions. Striking a balance between high-quality and high-quantity development will be difficult, particularly given the differing interests of the multiple extraterritorial jurisdictions and municipal utility districts that serve the area. Managing growth — with a view to maximizing development opportunities — will be the key to Forney’s long-term economic vitality and sustainability.
The Approach
To address these challenges, the Forney Economic Development Corporation hired TIP to assist with development of an economic development strategic plan. To do this, TIP conducted an in-depth economic and demographic assessment, stakeholder interviews, and an online community questionnaire. These activities informed a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis that provided the foundation for the strategic plan.
The Outcome
The resulting strategic plan laid out a vision of Forney as the eastern gateway to Dallas and the premier destination for business and leisure along the U.S. Highway 80 corridor. To support this vision, the plan – a three-year economic development strategy – identified long- and short-term goals for expanding and diversifying Forney’s tax base. Six interrelated goals addressed revitalizing and redeveloping downtown Forney; becoming a regional healthcare hub; leveraging Highway 80; focusing on community development in older, central parts of town; marketing a positive image of Forney; and developing stronger economic development programs and tools. Specific projects included establishing an entrepreneurship program to facilitate startup activity in Forney; expanding healthcare-related educational opportunities to support development of a health-services cluster; establishing a public improvement district (PID) to manage growth and maximize development opportunities along Highway 80; supporting improved housing conditions in older neighborhoods; advocating for zoning that allows vertical mixed-use developments downtown; and building consensus for a primary message for marketing Forney.
Francis E. Owens, C.Ec.D. Executive Director Forney Economic Development Corporation P.O. Box 2196 972-564-5808 fowens@cityofforney.org
