FY 2012 Popular Annual Financial Report FY 2012 Popular Annual Financial Report | Page 12

Economic
Development

A

rlington continued its efforts to
attract more visitors and create
a desirable environment for
businesses.

Downtown Continues To Blossom
A study conducted by the
consulting firm Perryman Group
found that UT-Arlington contributes
about $1 billion yearly to the local
economy through ongoing operations
and student and visitor spending. The
university is also responsible for a
$12.8-billion impact on North Texas,
which is roughly 4 percent of the
regional economy.
The study also found recent and
ongoing construction – including
the UT-Arlington College Park
development – added just more than
$502 million to the local economy.
One restaurant that opened in the
College Park District was the Smiling
Moose Deli, of which former Dallas
Cowboy Daryl “Moose” Johnston is a
co-owner. Other new businesses that
sprang up nearby: Cool Berry Frozen
Yogurt, Digg’s Taco Shop, Pie Five
Pizza Co., Mavs Sports Grill, GRIP
Mediterranean Grill and Pho Xpress.

Cultural, Recreational, and Learning
Opportunities
Enhance, Preserve Neighborhoods;
Safe Anywhere all the time
Coordinate Programs to Support
Youth, Seniors, Families
12

Focus on Priorities

New Businesses Open Shop
Lincoln Square, located in the
Entertainment District, became
the home of several new businesses
including Cool Berry Frozen Yogurt,
Lupe’s Tex Mex, Michael’s, Ulta,
Chaucer’s Sushi and Clothes Mentor.
Arlington now boasts the largest
Sam Moon accessory store in the
Metroplex with the opening of the
company’s location near the Parks Mall
in August. The 17,000-square-foot store
created about 40 new jobs and attracts
customers from all of southern Tarrant
County.

Investing in Improvements and
Expansions
Early in 2012, General Motors
announced that its Arlington assembly
plant would be home to a new sheet
metal stamping facility, a $200-million
investment. The project is expected to
add some 180 jobs to the workforce of
the City’s largest private employer.
The Texas Rangers made it all
the way to the World Series again
in 2011. To provide visitors with
more information about the City
and its businesses, Arlington created
a web page dedicated to the 2011