Business in Collin County
“Almost 50% of new American jobs created in the last 20 years have been in Texas,” says Frisco’s Mayor Maher Maso. Many of these were in Collin County, with its solid school system, lower taxes, relaxed regulatory environment, well-educated employee pool and delightful quality of life.
Collin County continues to be a magnet for businesses from across the country and around the globe, and all kinds of businesses, from startups to multinational corporations, they are all opening, expanding, or relocating here.
County and city officials, as well as locals, are excited about their new neighbors. The county has a total of 16 chambers of commerce that market their communities to prospective businesses, and support the ones already here by providing educational and networking opportunities, and advocating on priority issues. In addition, many economic development corporations support the business community. They are funded by dedicated tax revenues and seek to encourage retention and expansion of local businesses, while recruiting new ones by offering support, even incentives, to move in. These economic-development efforts have helped grow the Collin County property tax base to almost $100,000 billion.
Getting Around
Collin County businesses are in the Central time zone, proximate to the McKinney National Airport, Dallas Love Field and the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and a half-day travel from the Houston Ship Channel, so transportation to and communication with all American and global destinations is facilitated. In addition, the county is bisected by a number of rail lines and several major thoroughfares including: U.S. Highways 75 and 380; State Highways 5, 78, 289, as well as the Dallas North, Sam Rayburn, and the President George Bush Tollways.
Most people getting around Collin County do so behind the wheel. County, city and regional officials are working to ease congestion by broadening current roads; four corridors will be turned into major highways. In addition, understanding that it’s easier to build a new road on land that is not already covered by a subdivision or corporate campus, planners are designing new streets and arteries.
Plano Economy
Prosperous Plano is a prime draw for corporations. J.C. Penney, Frito-Lay, Fed-Ex Office, Toyota North America, and many others are headquartered here. Several technology giants, like Ericsson, Intel Security and Nokia have major R&D operations in the city. Plano is not just a hub for big corporations; it’s also a nurturing incubator to fresh businesses. Plano has a growing startup community and an established startup culture. Notable new companies include Ilumini (the smart lighting company backed by Mark Cuban), Choose Energy and VizSense. The city is business friendly with a number of organizations that support business, and to top it off – the work force is educated and ready to work.
McKinney Economy
The McKinney economy is diverse and boasts of a mix of industries – medical technology, data management, manufacturing, sustainability, aviation, defense, retail, office and transportation. The city has attracted companies like Raytheon, Wistron GreenTech, Emerson Process Management and others. Additionally, homegrown companies, like Encore Wire, RMCN and Grandon Industries are also thriving. At the center of Collin County, McKinney offers open spaces with room for businesses to grow, but with big-city resources. Employers can take advantage of McKinney’s highly qualified employee pool, while everyone can take advantage of the city’s hometown lifestyle.
Allen Economy
Businesses in Allen have access to 1.3 million workers within a 30-minute drive, and 81% of these are white-collar professionals. So, it’s no wonder, especially given the excellent quality of life on offer that companies continue to set up shop or expand it in this city. Allen has a cluster of financial service firms including Experian, and Jack Henry & Associates and also technological and telecommunications companies that include Frontier Communications and CVE Technology. Allen’s manufacturing sector consists of semiconductor, electronics, and medical devices and includes companies such as KONE, Quest Medical and Amphenol Fiber Systems Intl.
Frisco Economy
Frisco boasts an impressive list of companies that call it home. Business and residents alike enjoy a high quality of life thanks to outstanding real estate, an impressively educated workforce, proximity to transportation hubs, award-winning schools, and easy access to recreation, cultural and entertainment venues. Top employers work in healthcare, telecommunications, construction and technology. Some of these include: AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group, Conifer Health Solutions, T-Mobile, Oracle and Mario Sinacola & Sons.
Prosper Economy
Halfway between downtown Dallas and the Red River, the town of Prosper is a community that is focused on families, but open for business. Its population and economy have been growing dramatically in recent years. Many businesses have moved into the area and are providing jobs in the following sectors: professional, scientific, administrative, waste management, educational services, healthcare, finance, insurance and real estate. The town of Prosper is keen to grow current businesses and add new ones, while maintaining small-town ideals and quality living experiences for all residents.
Wylie Economy
The seeds of Wylie’s phenomenal recent economic development were sown by visionaries who created a pro-business climate with layers of support for incoming and existing businesses. Many companies noticed and moved in. Today, the city, one of the youngest in the region with a median age of 31.7, is busy. 96.8% of workers are employed and three quarters of them are working in management, business, science, the arts, or sales. Wylie is not only a great place for work; it’s a great place for workers who enjoy easy access to both urban excitement and country relaxation.