🏝️Panther Island, Stockyards TexRail a go; Lockheed adding 6,000 jobs; Texas Wesleyan, Lena Pope to partner.

Lockheed Martin plans to create 6,000 jobs across the U.S., including 2,000 in Texas, as the company expands advanced manufacturing capacity to accelerate production of critical munitions. The company's Grand Prairie operation will see the biggest boost, including a $300-million investment to expand its manufacturing footprint to more than 735,000 square feet.

Galderma Group AG agreed to acquire ZO Skin Health in an all-cash deal valued at $1.5 billion, strengthening the Swiss dermatology company’s presence in the U.S. skincare market. Galderma U.S. headquarters was in Fort Worth starting in 1961 and left for Dallas in 2022. Its North American distribution warehouse remains at Alliance. 

Westlake-based Charles Schwab reported record third-quarter net revenue of $7.2 billion, up 17%, and net income of $2.9 billion, up 23%. Core net new assets hit a record $190.4 billion, and client assets reached $13.33 trillion.

Fort Worth made official a long-discussed deal of $12 million in incentives for Austin developer Seco Enterprises to build a 12-story apartment complex on Panther Island. Located between North Main, North Commerce and Northeast 4th streets, the development is planned for 290 multi-family units and as the anchor of a $100-million mixed-use development.

Fort Worth voted, 10-0, to re-zone about 200 acres around the TEXRail North Side Station for transit-oriented, walkable development. Trinity Metro says Grapevine's Main Street Station drew more than $114 million in nearby development.

Fort Worth-based Dollamur has been named the official competition-mat provider for Real American Freestyle and its RAF Next Gen youth series. Dollamur will supply custom wrestling mats for events in the U.S. and internationally. The company, founded in 1996, manufactures sports surfaces at its Fort Worth operation on Everman Parkway.

During Judge Tim O'Hare's State of the County talk at a Fort Worth Chamber luncheon, he outlined four priorities guiding county leadership: lowering taxes and promoting responsible spending, supporting residents in need, creating a strong environment for job growth, and prioritizing public safety. There's more here.

Rishabh Sharma, founder of Iconier digital marketing agency, won the 15th annual Fort Worth Business Plan Competition presented by Frost Bank and the city. First place was worth $10,000.  Julie Ervin, owner of Panther City Eye Care, finished second ($6,000) and was the people's choice as best presenter, which earned her $500 in merchandise from Printed Threads. Third place ($4,000) was Open-Minded Counseling, owned by Kaity Stone. 

Local non-profit Lena Pope has spent more than nine decades supporting child development and improving the behavioral and mental health of children. Texas Wesleyan University has set up a partnership with Lena Pope to offer a scholarship program in which Lena Pope employees and members can pursue a higher education degree at Texas Wesleyan. 

A Tarrant County jury awarded $21.6 million to the McCoy family, which had been exposed to sewer gas in its home. Ronny and Mandy McCoy, and their child, were exposed to harmful gases like hydrogen sulfide and methane for years, leading to devastating health consequences, according to court documents. They now live in an RV on their property because the house is uninhabitable.

The GE Aerospace Foundation will invest $1 million to support industry workforce training efforts across D-FW. The initial investment will support four local partners during 2027 to expand hands-on learning opportunities, grow the talent pipeline, and improve coordination between education and industry. Tarrant County College’s aviation training is one of the recipients. 

Grapevine-based GameStop was a stock riser this week after CEO Ryan Cohen acquired 67,130 shares at $26.75 and another 777,000 shares at $27. All told, he has purchased more than five million shares during 2026 and owns approximately 42.5 million shares or 9.1% of the company. 

Laura and Greg Bird have been chosen as the 2026 Fort Worth Business Executives of the Year by the Fort Worth Business Hall of Fame selection committee. Greg is the CEO and President of Jetta Operating Company, and Laura is the President of Anthracite Realty Partners.

LanCarte Commercial handled both sides of the sale of 14151 FM 730, a 5-acre commercial property in Azle featuring six buildings totaling 21,650 square feet. Sarah LanCarte and Finn Wilson represented the seller and Benson Williams represented the buyer. The property is a mix of private office and warehouse spaces, and includes existing gross leases in place, along with room for additional development.

The Westin Dallas Southlake broke ground on "The Jewel Box," a roughly $4-million, 3,500-square-foot event space for up to 300 guests. It is targeted to open next fall.

Airfares are climbing ahead of the holidays, with the latest inflation data showing a 23.4% increase in August versus last year. As of the last week of September, domestic round-trip tickets for Thanksgiving weekend averaged $402, up 31% from last year. Round-trip tickets for the week of Christmas averaged $452, up 23%.

A multi-state coalition has secured a settlement with Albertsons that, once final, would require the grocery chain to pay more than $773 million nationally to address its role in the opioid crisis. Under the settlement, Texas is eligible to receive up to $57.8 million for opioid abatement. 

The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation approved five grants totaling $235,000 to Academy 4, Arlington Kiwanis Foundation, Metro Sports Fieldhouse, ShareFest-Texas and the Tarrant To & Through Partnership. The foundation says it has awarded nearly 600 grants totaling more than $57 million since its creation in 2006.

Two University of Texas at Arlington researchers received grants:

1. A five-year, $3.82-million federal grant to study how everyday stress affects cardiovascular health. The project is led by kinesiology professor Yue Liao.

2. Physicist Mingwu Jin received a three-year, $579,745 National Institutes of Health grant to develop AI methods that could reduce radiation exposure during cardiac CT scans without sacrificing image quality. Patient data will be provided by Mayo Clinic.  

Snippets:

• The Big 12 conference has signed the Principal financial company as the conference tournament jersey patch sponsor for the men’s and women’s basketball championships.

• Netflix' "organizational changes" will include cutting about 6% of its workforce, amounting to nearly 1,000 people.

• American Airlines has stopped flying on nonstop routes to certain destinations in Australia, Qatar, France and Switzerland.

• Oh, boy, here we go again: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an order letting the state's 2022 athletes play in 2026-27, defying NCAA rules.

Correction: Ground has broken at 600 S. Oak St. in Roanoke for the Cade Hotel, a part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. Hilton will operate the hotel and convention center, both owned by the city. Garfield Public/Private is the developer and asset manager.

Believe it or not: Scientists aren't sure of the reason for the Dodo bird, which became extinct about 300 years ago. Nevertheless, Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences, which brought back the Dire Wolf, has its sights on re-constructing the bird with the help of chickens. TIME has the background. 

Today in history: 1923 = Brothers Walt and Roy Disney launched what would become The Walt Disney Co. after signing a distribution agreement for a series of animated shorts called Alice Comedies. The agreement, signed in Walt's uncle's Los Angeles home, marked the beginning of one of the world's most recognizable entertainment companies.

Significant stat: 63% = Increase in orders for advent calendars year-over-year by retailers. However, the nature of the advent calendar is changing, with the classic chocolate and candy daily treat actually taking a 23% dip as advent calendars containing toys, squishies, tea, coffee and other goodies explode in popularity.

Daily digit: 3.6% = Amount that Social Security benefits will increase next year, the biggest cost-of-living bump since 2023. That equates to $900 more per year for the average retiree.

Announcements:

• HUB International: Hires producer Emily Jones. (Yes, that Emily Jones. Go Rangers!)

• Texas Wesleyan University: Hires Jaden Chapman as Marketing and Communications Project Manager. 

• Tarleton State University: Selects Shaneika Frazier as Director of Online Innovation & Workforce Development.

• Arlington Economic Development Corporation: Hires Jonathan Sanders as the Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

• Webb CFO: Adds Taylor Brinson. 

• Omni Fort Worth Hotel: Hires Tara Wright as Catering Services Manager.

• Baylor Scott & White Health: Promotes Andrew McKelroy to HTM Supervisor. 

• Continental Battery Systems: Names Nick Townsend Chief Financial Officer. 

• NotaFi: Hires Megan Bares as Head of Product. 

• Wells Fargo Advisors: Adds Chris Berzon as Senior Financial Advisor. 

• North Texas Community Foundation: Hires Dominique Cooke as Strategic Grantmaking Coordinator.

• Smoothie King: Hires Gracie Chavez as Director of Marketing Operations. 

• JLL: Hires Mark Holtsclaw as an Engineering and Operations Manager. 

• Enterprise Bank & Trust: Hires Amanda Brawner as Vice President-Relationship Manager. 

• John C. Ford American Inn of Court: Elects Kelly Hart bankruptcy law Partner Katherine T. Hopkins President for the 2026–2028 term. 

• TEKIMAX: Names Bianca Banks Chief Information Security Officer.

• Nanoscope Therapeutics: Hires Troy Short as Senior Vice President, Manufacturing and Supply Chain.

• Patriots in Business Award: Selects First Command Financial Services as 2026 winner by Chief Executive magazine and Thayer Leadership at West Point. It previously won in 2024.

• Lane Seven Apparel: Promotes Millissa Gibson to Sr. Vice President of Sales. 

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