{"id":346381,"date":"2025-10-31T20:44:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T20:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/346381\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T20:44:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T20:44:11","slug":"fort-worth-mayor-talks-world-cup-homelessness-economic-growth-in-state-of-the-city-address","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/346381\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Worth mayor talks World Cup, homelessness, economic growth in State of the City address"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe main focus of Mattie Parker’s State of the City address was the influx of film production<\/a> in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n

However, the mayor also touched on several topics that are pillars of focus throughout the city during the Oct. 16 event held at Dickies Arena.<\/p>\n

World Cup 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the world\u2019s largest sporting events, the World Cup takes place from June 11 to July 19 in North America. AT&T Stadium in Arlington will host nine games and will be called Dallas Stadium, according to the FIFA website.<\/p>\n

With Arlington situated between Dallas and Fort Worth, Fort Worth is planning to welcome guests to town next summer, according to previous reporting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe economic impact, being on the world stage, will be an awesome opportunity to really market all things Fort Worth,\u201d Parker said. \u201cWe\u2019re very fortunate because of all of North Texas, every municipality and jurisdiction, we’re all planning carefully and working together for those nine games in North Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the economic impact is like hosting four or five Super Bowls. A University of Texas at Dallas economic impact study<\/a> shows a $2.4 billion economic impact for the event and $3.4 billion from direct or indirect spending in the area.<\/p>\n

Fort Worth will have a role in the DFW area as Billy Bob\u2019s Texas was chosen to be the regional watch party for the World Cup draw on Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to previous reporting.<\/p>\n

Starting at 11 a.m. local time and noon in Washington, D.C., FIFA will announce which teams will play in the 2026 World Cup and the pool each is assigned to, according to the FIFA website.<\/p>\n

Fort Worth Stockyards<\/strong><\/p>\n

Parker said that the city will be able to market many attractions when it comes to visitors.<\/p>\n

The Fort Worth Stockyards<\/a>, established in 1849, has gone from a livestock-trading center to a tourism hub that features 54 shops, 46 restaurants and 20 attractions, according to the website.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt needs to feel authentic. It needs to feel original,\u201d Parker said. \u201cYou can take the dust off a little bit and not have too much shine. And I think that to me, the Fort Worth Stockyards has really done that.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the Visit Fort Worth website<\/a>, 11.5 million visitors went to the Stockyards in 2024. David Glasser, the CEO of 101 Studios and a guest speaker at the event, said the Eiffel Tower only had 5.7 million visitors last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love what is going on down there, and I think the expansion plans that are coming down there [Stockyards] will be really exciting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Glasser is part of a studio that films shows produced by Taylor Sheridan.<\/p>\n

Homelessness<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Fort Worth fiscal year 2025-26 budget included $6.3 million to address the homeless situation<\/a>, which ranges from the Alliance area of Fort Worth to downtown to the eastern part of town.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one of the most critical issues facing every large city in the United States, and yes, we still have much work to do,\u201d Parker said. \u201cOur work is truly leading the way, leading our nation and impact on homelessness innovation. The discussion of homelessness often feels impersonal, but we are talking about human beings who are in extreme crisis. People are annoyed they’re under this bridge. Well, let’s break down what’s happened in their life that caused that and what can we do to transform their life?\u201d<\/p>\n

Parker used the story of AC, a homeless person who became a resident of Casa de Esperanza<\/a>, a housing unit opened by the city in 2020 to address the need. She said AC went from being homeless to having a full-time job and helps run a garden for residents to get produce.<\/p>\n

Parker also touted the success of High impACT<\/a>, a 17-month pilot program to address mental health and homelessness.<\/p>\n

The program, managed by My Health My Resources of Tarrant County, helped 80 clients throughout the year and found housing for 76 of them.<\/p>\n

During the Sept. 30 City Council meeting, a $1.85 million contract was given to UpSpire Program to clean up illegal homeless campsites and help those there find help.<\/p>\n

Economic growth <\/strong><\/p>\n

Parker touted the growth of new projects coming to Fort Worth. She said there is $6.7 billion in new capital investment that will bring more than 7,000 jobs.<\/p>\n

She added that Fort Worth will see more than $166 million in new taxes over the life of recent incentive agreements. One of those is Wistron InfoComm Corporation, which invested $687 million<\/a> in a new facility in AllianceTexas, according to previous reporting.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of our greatest stories is our city’s economic future,” Parker said.<\/p>\n

According to previous reporting<\/a>, AllianceTexas accounted for $834.6 million in trade in 2024 and is one of the largest inland ports in the state.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a great symbiotic relationship with one of the most successful developers in the city\u2019s history and that really put Fort Worth on the map in so many different ways,\u201d Parker said of Hillwood, a real estate investment company led by CEO Ross Perot Jr. \u201cAll of the success and the billion of dollars in economic impact and now partnering with 101 Studios. It also says something; don\u2019t just listen to your mayor. Listen to one of the most successful business people. There\u2019s a reason why Ross wanted the studio in Alliance. He saw the value, economically, for this, for the city. I think you will continue to see more positive stories about what we\u2019re doing here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Halverson honored<\/strong><\/p>\n

Parker provided an update on Fort Worth Firefighter Caleb Halverson, who was injured when a garage collapsed on him Sept. 3.<\/p>\n

She said he spent more than 44 days in the burn unit at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Before his injuries, Halverson and his wife had a baby born early that was in the NICU in another hospital.<\/p>\n

CBS and NBC nightly national news did stories on the plight of the family. Parker said that after more than 100 days in the NICU, the Halverson\u2019s baby was discharged from the hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep them in your prayers because they have a long road of recovery ahead, but they deserve to celebrate their good news.\u201d<\/p>\n

Halverson was a previous student at The King\u2019s University in Southlake, according to the school\u2019s Facebook page.<\/p>\n

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