FORT WORTH — Fort Worth is the fastest-growing major city in Texas. The population ballooned nearly 39 percent between 2000 and 2010.
So what's driving the growth?
In his final State of the City address on Wednesday, Mayor MIke Moncrief credited the city's pro-business attitude.
The sound of a sewing machine is sweet in southeast Fort Worth. It means business is growing, and Kee Song's Men's Collections is leading the way.
"The city came to me and asked about a new opportunity," Song said. "Am I willing to invest and create some new jobs?"
Song partnered with the city to expand; he hired three new full-time employees.
He put up $1 million of his own money to move his small business to a new building — 15,000 square feet of clothes and jewelry.
"This is better," he said. "Bigger space, clean and nice."
The city gave Men's Collection another $230,000 in streetside improvements, knowing just the sight of something new on East Berry Street could bring in more business and earn a return on its investment.
"Economically, the sales tax payback; the property tax value payback to a vacant building that's been sitting for 30 years," said Andre McEwing of Southeast Fort Worth Inc. "Socially, just the improvement and empowerment of just pride in the community."
Men's Collections is now seen as an example.
In his State of the City address, Mayor Mike Moncrief declared private partnerships are what spurred the city's record growth in the last decade.
"We can and we must continue to seize these opportunities," he said. "In fact, we need to push even harder."
Kee Song says business is up every week at his new location. And he knows southeast Fort Worth is looking better with new clothes — and new tax dollars.
The mayor mentioned several more public-private partnerships that were put in place under his watch.
Moncrief said that winning combination will improve business, transportation, and sustainability, and he encouraged his successor to continue those plans.
E-mail cnorton@wfaa.com
