North Texas Holds Strong with 25 FORTUNE 500 Companies Headquartered in RegionThe North Texas region continues to be one of the hottest and fastest growing regions in the country despite the recent economic downturn. In the 2009 FORTUNE 500 list released in late April, 25 North Texas companies made the list with Irving-based ExxonMobil claiming the top spot.
2009 Fortune 500 Metropolitan Rankings
“Wherever ExxonMobil operates, our goal is to build economic and social capacity that benefits communities and our business over the long term,” said Kenneth Cohen, vice president of public affairs at ExxonMobil. “We’re proud that our headquarters is located in North Texas.” The 25 headquarters in North Texas help position Texas as the leader with 64 FORTUNE 500 companies calling the state home. Here is the 2009 list, in ranking order, for North Texas: Exxon Mobil (1) North Texas topped last year’s total of 23 companies with 25 in 2009, while Texas increased its share from 58 companies in 2008 to 64 in 2009. North Texas had three new additions this year – Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Crosstex Energy, along with AT&T which announced its relocation to Dallas in June 2008 – while losing just one company from 2008. “The list of Fortune 500 companies based in North Texas speaks volumes about the area’s business climate and its attractiveness to major participants in the domestic and global economy,” said Andrew K. Johnsen, assistant vice president state government affairs for BNSF Railway Company and NTC board member. The 25 FORTUNE 500 companies bring in more than $819 billion in revenue to the region and ranks us 4th in number of company headquarters. The region is close behind the cities of Chicago and Houston which tied for second with 29 company headquarters each. With the low cost of living, business friendly environment and central location; that number could rise. “With the outstanding workforce, tremendous infrastructure, and ‘can do’ spirit, I believe North Texas is poised to continue to climb even further as a region,” said Phil Wilson, senior vice president of public affairs for Luminant and NTC board member. As North Texas’ ranking in the FORTUNE 500 list grows, the strength of our key industries – logistics, healthcare and high-tech – grows as well. Each industry provides many opportunities for vendors, distributors, innovators and consultants to put down roots in the region to service local companies. “A strong base of Fortune 500 companies supports a constant stream of new talent and opportunities. The presence of these companies leads to the establishment of second-tier businesses and infrastructure, which, together, creates a vibrant economy,” said Gary Metzler, global real estate director for Texas Instruments and North Texas Commission board member. “North Texas employees, companies and suppliers benefit, and the tax base benefits cannot be overlooked.” While North Texas has not been completely immune from the downturn, the region has remained strong with a large, stable base on corporations that call the region home. “With a nearly 40 year history, the North Texas Commission has seen exciting growth for our region and that’s evidenced by the company we keep,” said Dan S. Petty, president and CEO of the North Texas Commission. “We are proud to have 25 FORTUNE 500 companies call North Texas home as well as the many other companies that contribute to our vitality.” |