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Richard Florida, UTA: North Texas Cities Must Unite, Engage

For North Texas to complete globally, Richard Florida says the area can't be known by Dallas (or Fort Worth) alone.
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For North Texas to complete globally, Richard Florida says the area can't be known by Dallas (or Fort Worth) alone.

North Texas topped all other US metro areas in job creation the last two years.  But economic development expert Richard Florida says DFW’s success will depend on what the area does to keep workers.

Florida: It’s all about jobs, really, and giving people a way to make a living and to find purpose and meaning in their lives. In the old economy, companies did that. Jobs don’t come from companies, jobs require vibrant cities. 

Florida told area leaders Tuesday at The University of Texas at Arlington that to compete globally, DFW’s disparate parts must work together.

UTA president James Spaniolo agrees with Florida that engaging communities drive sound economies. That’s why he asked Florida and his research group to embark on an 18-month analysis of North Texas.

At Tuesdays’s summit, Florida’s team said DFW’s research universities must be more active in their respective communities to ensure the region’s growth.

Florida's advisory services firm, The Creative Class Group, has BMW and the US Department of Labor on its client roster. This is the first time the Creative Class Group has worked with a university to examine its region.