Non-competes still in effect; 76021 is hot RE market; Help for preemies on the way.

A judge's invalidation of the Federal Trade Commission’s non-compete ban, two weeks before it was slated to take effect, clears some uncertainty that was facing employers trying to manage their use of the restrictive employment contracts. But it doesn’t eradicate all federal and state scrutiny. For now, businesses can keep enforcing their non-competes. Employers are relieved of sending notices voiding the non-competes that current and former employees already signed, as the FTC ban would have required.

Fort Worth-based AyuVis has received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its investigational new drug AVR-48, which could prevent rare pediatric chronic lung disease. Pre-term babies are at great risk for a life of lung difficulties. The designation opens the way with regulatory and trims costs to get the drug to market faster. 

PRIM Construction has started construction on the Hiley Acura dealership at its new location on Loop 820, with completion slated for fall 2025. Designed by Jim Stephenson and Scott Garland of VLK Architects, the 37,000-square-foot facility will feature a 15,000-square-foot showroom, 26 service bays, and a fully automated car wash with detail bays. The update also will cater to the sales and service of electric vehicles, with charging stations. 

Gatik, a leader in autonomous middle-mile logistics with a hub in AllianceTexas, received a strategic investment from Nippon Express Holdings, a global logistics leader. The investment is expected to accelerate the deployment of its autonomous technology across the region.

Fort Worth-based Omnicell launched Central Med Automation Service, a subscription-based solution designed to help health systems establish and continuously optimize centralized medication management. It would streamline medication dispensing from a central fulfillment area throughout a health system enterprise.

JLL Capital Markets secured financing for the refinance of Sylvania Industrial Park, a multi-tenant industrial manufacturing facility at 3201 N. Sylvania Ave. in Fort Worth. Totaling 893,738 square feet on 54.9 acres, it is leased to 15 tenants including Tyson Foods, TK Airport Solutions, JR New Energy and Andes Coil Processors.

The Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center recognized TechFW and two of its members with appreciation awards: 

• Ampcare for Commitment to Quality Excellence

• Ordinatus Data, LLC as a Maverick Trailblazer

• TechFW as its Industry Builder of the Year

Robert Sturns, Fort Worth's economic development director, jokingly suggested changing the city's motto from "where the west begins," to "where education begins." 

The Tarrant County College board approved a tuition increase of $5 per credit hour starting in spring 2025. In 2023, Chancellor Elva LeBlanc presented a fiscal year plan for 2023-24 that included a multi-year tuition increase. In the spring of 2024, this increased district tuition from $64 to $69, and in the spring of 2025, it will be $74.

The location of the legal case to be heard between the Fort Worth Chamber and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regarding credit card fees will be determined next week. Here is the latest. 

Forbes ranked Cook Children’s Health Care System as the No. 5 best employer in Texas. GM Financial was ranked 101st. Cook Children’s also was ranked No. 90 on Forbes 2024 list of best employers for women.

Infrastructure supplies distributor Core & Main has bought Fort Worth's Green Equipment Company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Green Equipment offers customers damage prevention products, training and repair services.

The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation approved three grant applications:

• $5,000 for Opera Arlington’s 2024-2025 season

• $50,000 for Dance Theatre of Arlington’s Shakespeare LIVE production

• $23,100 to Cook Children’s Health Foundation to purchase two Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screeners for Cook Children’s Arlington Neighborhood Health Center

Back that AZZ out: '90s hip hop star Juvenile was asked to exit an overbooked American Airlines first-class section. He got off the plane instead. 

Believe it or not: The percentage of 19-year-old Americans with a driver’s license has fallen steadily from 87% in 1983 to 69% in 2022, according to data from the Federal Highway Administration. (WSJ gift article)

Daily digit: Texans, ranked 31st, have a lower life expectancy at birth than the average American, the Centers for Disease Control reports. The U.S. life expectancy at birth is 76.4 years. In Texas, it's 75.4 years.

Significant stat: Zip code 76021 in Bedford ranked No. 37 on Realtor.com’s list of 50 hottest housing markets. Rankings were based on unique viewers per property and the number of days a listing remains active.

Snippets:

• Southlake-based Sabre finalized a multi-year renewal of its distribution agreement with Delta Air Lines.

• LG Electronics USA has become "The Official TV Partner of the Dallas Cowboys" and "The Official Display Partner of the Dallas Cowboys", announcing a multi-year agreement. 

• Alphabet's autonomous vehicle unit Waymo has surpassed 100,000 trips per week, doubling the volume reported in May. 

• Transgender Texans no longer can change the sex on their driver's license, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. 

Announcements: 

• Goodwill North Central Texas: Promotes Adrian Kirkland to Director, Grants & Compliance. 

• Elbit Systems of America: Names Robert Roughsedge VP of Business Development.

• Charles Schwab Challenge – Colonial: Adds Bryce Jeske as tournament sales associate.

• Camp Fire First Texas: Hires Nicole Willingham as Chief Financial Officer.

• Trademark Property Co.: Hires Jamie Cox as Senior Vice President of Property Operations.

• Clarus: Adds Laurie Pearson as VP of Customer Experience and Yvonne Montes as VP of Manufacturing.