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Workin’ 9 to 5: Major industries and employers in Panther City

Fort Worth is home to some of the biggest companies in the nation. | Photo by @katebranning

More than 895,000 people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Fort Worth metro area’s economy. But have you ever wondered about Cowtown’s heaviest hitters?

Consider this Fort Worth Business 101 — your guide to our region’s six key industries and five major employers.

The key industries

There are six key industries that represent Fort Worth’s economy, based on data from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. We’ve listed them in order of employment numbers.

Transportation and Warehousing | 62,000 employees
With AllianceTexas’ $100 billion economic impact on North Texas, Cowtown is the ideal location for its easy access to airports, rail, and highway services. The city is home to Bell Nexus’s vertical lift VTOL Aircraft and key logistics facilities including Amazon Regional Air Hub, Alliance Westport, and BNSF Railway.

Healthcare and Social Assistance | 55,000 employees
With massive providers like JPS Health Network, Cook Children’s Medical Center + Texas Health Resources, it’s hard to live in Cowtown without knowing at least one person in the healthcare industry. The city is also staying ahead of the curve with the world’s first physical health accelerator program at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.

Government | 52,000 employees
When you account for the federal, state, and local employees, it adds up to a lot. The largest employers include the US Air Force Reserve, Tarrant County, and the City of Fort Worth.

Retail Trade | 45,000 employees
The area is filled with 10+ shopping districts and dominated by the Western retail experience with local brands like Tandy Leather, M.L. Leddy’s, Justin Brands, Ariat, and Old Gringo Boots. Additionally, larger retailers like Walmart, Albertsons, and Central Market make up a big piece of the puzzle.

Manufacturing | 41,000 employees
The largest manufacturing sectors are aircraft, automotive, and pharmaceutical and are supported by BSNF, one of the largest railways in the US. Notable projects include MP Materials’ magnet factory – the first manufacturing facility of its kind in the country — and the new production facility for the plant-based dairy company, Oatly.

Accommodation and Food Services | 40,000 employees
The estimated 9.4 million visitors each year — and their $2.6 billion spending — have played a major impact on the economy. The area is home to American Airlines Corporate HQ, DFW International Airport (the fourth busiest in the world), and the Stockyards, which attract 1.2+ million visitors annually. Read more about the economic impact.

LET'S MEET THE MAJOR PLAYERS

Test your business knowledge: Which company employs the most people globally?

A. Amazon
B. McDonalds
C. Walmart
D. Starbucks

See the answer in the Wrap.

GET DOWN TO BUSINESS

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Wednesday, Nov. 2

Fire Service Cancer Conference | Wednesday, Nov. 2 + Thursday, Nov. 3 | 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Tarrant County College - Fire Service Training Center, 4801 Marine Creek Pkwy., Fort Worth | $50 | The community is invited to watch a presentation on prevention, education, and early recognition of firefighter cancer.

Thursday, Nov. 3

Kids Crafternoon | Thursday, Nov. 3 | 4-5 p.m. | Fort Worth Public Library - Golden Triangle, 4264 Golden Triangle Blvd., Fort Worth | Free | Kids can explore new techniques and build a piece of take-home art.

Friday, Nov. 4

Oklahoma! | Friday, Nov. 4 | 7 p.m. | Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, 3901 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth | $6+ | Watch Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first written musical presented by FWAFA.

Saturday, Nov. 5

American Military Celebration | Saturday, Nov. 5 | 1-3 p.m. | Cowtown Coliseum, 121 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth | Military veterans and first responders will be honored during the 3rd Annual Hillwood Land & Cattle American Military Celebration.
Commanders’ Classic | Saturday, Nov. 5 | 10:30 a.m. | Globe Life Field, 734 Stadium Dr., Arlington | $50+ | The Air Force Falcons take on the Army Black Knights in a military academy football showdown.

Sunday, Nov. 6

The Great Amazing Race | Sunday, Nov. 6 | 2 p.m. | Trinity Park, Fort Worth | $25+ | Run, walk or jog to raise funds and awareness about pediatric cancers.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

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Weather

75º | Mostly sunny | 10% chance of rain

Open

The Tuskegee Airmen Texas State Veterans Home celebrated its soft opening in Fort Worth last week. Located at 2200 Joe B. Rushing Rd., the home will accommodate 120 veterans and provide skilled nursing care and a variety of on-site therapy programs. 🎖️

Coming Soon

A new Nike store is set to open at University Park Village on Thursday, Nov. 17. The store is described as being a “lab-like space” where Nike can test and evolve new services, experiences, and offerings. Pro tip: shoppers must sign up for a free Nike membership in order to shop. 👟

Traffic

A community meeting will be held Thursday, Nov. 3 at the Central Library branch (500 W. 3rd St.) to discuss the existing sanitary sewer and wastewater collection system in the Clear Fork corridor. Project construction will impact the downtown Alliance area. Learn more. 🚧

Festival

Q BBQ Fest kicks off Friday, Nov. 4 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington with some of the best pitmasters in the country. During the three-day competition, foodies can snack on smoked brisket, chicken, pulled pork, and ribs. Tickets range from $10-$119. 🍖

Art

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is opening a new exhibit on Friday, Nov. 4 in honor of Cynthia Ann Parker and her Native American heritage. The exhibit will showcase Cynthia’s life with the Comanche tribe and how her legacy has lived on.

Concert

Get ready, Swifties — Taylor Swift is coming to AT&T Stadium during her 2023 “Eras Tour.” Taylor is set to perform in Arlington on Saturday, April 1 + Sunday, April 2. Presale tickets go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 15 + tickets to the public go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 18. 🎤

Eat

Grilling season may be coming to an end, but your well-seasoned barbecue doesn’t have to — You can now shop for Heim BBQ rubs at Central Market. Currently, only the dry seasonings are available, but Heim is hinting toward a future release of its sauces and sausages, too.

DYK

Did you know you can share your Black Friday deals with our FTWtoday readers? Promote your business with us by submitting a deal to be included in our Fri., Nov. 25 newsletter. Pricing varies by market + must be submitted by Wed., Nov. 16.

Shop

The holiday season is just around the corner and we have the perfect wine chiller to keep your bottle of sparkly cool when hosting guests. Not only is it stainless steel and vacuum insulated, but its three different styles — teakwood, black marble, and calacatta gold — are sure to pop against your holiday decor. 🍾*

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All aboard 🚂

Forest Park Miniature Railroad gets a final push from the city

The railroad has been a local staple since 1958.

It’s full steam ahead — The city is giving a final push to get the Forest Park Miniature Railroad chugging along again.

The pint-sized locomotive — located in Trinity Park at 1700 Colonial Pkwy. — is an iconic attraction near the Fort Worth Zoo, making 45-minute, five-mile round trips between Forest Park and Trinity Park for more than 60 years.

The family-owned train operates on a city contract, which was renewed earlier this year and was expected to run through Oct. 31, 2026. Unfortunately, several road bumps have kept the train dormant since March 2022, including the bridge construction over the Trinity River, a worker shortage to operate the train, and the train operator’s health.

This week, Dave Lewis, the city’s Interim Director of Parks and Recreation sent a 60-day notice to Forest Park Rides Inc. — which means the train operator has about two months to get the wheels rolling again before the city terminates the contract.

VIEW THROWBACK PHOTOS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Rebecca.

Editor’s pick: DYK Taylor Swift was the first musician to ever perform back-to-back nights at AT&T Stadium. I got the chance to watch her make history during her “Reputation Stadium Tour” back in 2018 — and I can’t wait for her next concert.

For the Swifties who still have her newest album “Midnight” on repeat, share what song you’re currently obsessing over. I’m loving “Lavender Haze.”

The answer to the Quiz above is: Walmart.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Catch a movie screening at these four local theaters.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Rebecca McRobbie, Kate Mazade, Dayten Rose, Emily Shea, Ashlea Hearn, Josh Kranzberg | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Camille McLeod | Advertise with us.

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