Page 27 - FY 2009 Proposed Budget

Business Plan
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The Office of Economic Development (OED) strives to support
the growth of Arlington’s existing businesses and attract new opportunities
that will contribute to the economic vitality of the City. The ultimate goal of
the OED is to foster opportunities that will increase the City’s revenue,
provide high-quality employment opportunities for Arlington residents, and
contribute to the overall prestige and future growth of the City of Arlington.

The Economic Development Strategy, first implemented in 2015,
continues to guide the Office’s recruitment, retention, marketing and
outreach efforts. In FY 2020, the City had many economic development
successes that resulted in significant capital investment and recognition.

Live by Loews! opened its $150 Million flagship hotel in the entertainment district and announced a planned $810 million Loews
convention hotel which includes a new convention center and structured parking facility, class A corporate office building
headquarters, mixed-use residential building, and small business coworking and incubator space slated to open in 2023. Rent
the Runway celebrated the opening of its 300,000 square foot distribution center and brought 500 jobs to the City. FedEx
officials celebrated the grand opening of a new 320,000 square-foot distribution center in South Arlington. TSI Products’ Inc.
expanded their 39,000 square feet facility to 150,000 square feet to expand its research and manufacturing capabilities. Six
Flags Global Headquarters announced its corporate relocation to Globe Life Park and will house at least 120 full-time employees.

In Fall 2019, Arlington’s retail scene was thriving. Fielder Plaza Shopping
Center completed $5 Million in renovations, and Pottery Barn Outlet opened
in South Arlington. Nuvodesk Coworking opened a 20,000 square foot
contemporary coworking space for entrepreneurs.

Additionally, the third and final building associated with the Cooper/I-20
project (formerly National Semi-Conductor) was completed, adding 401,115
square feet of additional industrial space available for lease. In June,
Southwest Restaurant Equipment relocated and expanded its operations
into 20,000 square feet of modern industrial space. Tax Increment
Agreements were also approved by City Council for Urban Front, LLC and Main 7, LLC projects.

In March 2020, Staff refocused their efforts to assist businesses with COVID-19 relief. Through the CARES Act, Tarrant County
established a Small Businesses Assistance Grant. Staff partnered with community organizations to advertise the grant and
developed a support center to assist Arlington businesses. Additionally, Staff assisted in the City’s distribution of masks for
businesses. For the remainder of 2020, the Economic Development team will continue to innovate and implement COVID-19
relief strategies to retain and recruit businesses

Planning and Development Services strives to make Arlington a
premier City by engaging in visionary planning, building vibrant
neighborhoods, and serving our residents, businesses, and visitors. Customer
service is the core focus of this department. Since the launch of the One Start
Center and the AMANDA tracking software in 2006, the Planning and
Development Services Department in Arlington has continuously enhanced
customer service. The One Start Development Center assists homeowners,
business owners, and the development community with the permitting process
that includes payments, business registrations, permit issuance, as well as
provides guidance to walk-in customers by three over-the-counter professionals: development planner, engineer, and plans
examiner. During FY 2019, the One Start Development Center assisted 18,016 walk-in customers and processed 28,738 permit
applications.

2021 Adopted Budget and Business Plan 16 City of Arlington, Texas