💡Williams finds $3.5M+ for Tarleton innovation; FW hits pause, Hood Co. says go; EPA pulls plug on climate controls.

Keystone Group and Larkspur Capital began work for Phase I of Westside Village, a $1.7-billion, 37-acre master-planned, mixed-use district west of downtown Fort Worth and near White Settlement Road and University Drive. Eventually, Westside Village will offer about 880,000 square feet of Class AA office space, 238,000 square feet of retail, 1,785 residential units and a luxury boutique hotel. (Rendering: Larkspur Capital LP)

U.S. Congressman Roger Williams announced $3.575 million in funding has been secured for Tarleton State University’s Innovation and Incubation Hub site preparation project in Stephenville through the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. 

This is real workSPACE: UT-Arlington's new Center for Space Physics and Data Science will offer courses that will launch students directly into satellite, instrumentation and data science jobs. The center will anchor a bachelor’s degree in space physics and data science along with a fast-track master’s program that trims the time between course work and industry work.

Sunair Products closed on a 124,380-square-foot industrial project set on 11 acres at 6550 Wuliger Way in N. Richland Hills. The plan is to consolidate operations and create a headquarters and distribution campus. The consolidation includes two owned sites in Haltom City. Luke Clardy, vice president in the Fort Worth office of Bradford Commercial Real Estate Services, represented Sunair, which is a wholesale distributor of air conditioning components.

“Drivers, start your engines!” The honor of starting the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington on March 15 has gone to two north Texas sports Hall of Famers. Former Dallas Cowboy DeMarcus Ware and ex-Texas Ranger Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez have been selected as grand marshals for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES main event.

Marketing minute: NASCAR has a new “Hell Yeah” marketing campaign that will get you fired up for the sport, even if you aren’t a big fan. See video.

Soccer's FIFA World Cup is just four months away and five D-FW facilities and hotel partners are vying to be base camps for the teams playing in Arlington. NBC5 has a detailed plan on the available options. Two are in 817-land.

Fort Worth's City Council and zoning commission tabled zoning requests until receiving reports March 3 about the proposed $10-billion Black Mountain data center in southeast Fort Worth. Black Mountain had asked Fort Worth to annex two areas, raising concerns about noise, power and water usage.

Hood County commissioners voted against a proposed temporary pause on new industrial development, including data centers, after a letter from a state senator threatened legal action saying the county did not have the power to issue moratoriums.

After 16+ years, the Environmental Protection Agency walked back a landmark environmental decision to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. The 2009 decision found that certain greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. Among the regulations that resulted included vehicle tailpipe emissions and the release of greenhouse gases from power plants.

Fort Worth has reached a $185k expansion and upgrade agreement with Weir Minerals to stay at 777 Main in downtown Fort Worth. In return, the company must keep at least 67 jobs with a minimum salary of $160k in Fort Worth, and direct visiting business clients to downtown hotels for at least 260 room nights. 

Aurora, a Pittsburgh autonomous trucking company that has been moving freight between Fort Worth and Phoenix, announced it was growing its driverless network to 10 routes. 

The Real Time App, a Fort Worth company, has been launched. Reannah Wyatt is the President and Founder. Documents, timelines, tasks and vendors are on a seamless transactional dashboard that simultaneously enhances the buying and selling process for Realtors and clients. 

A MESSAGE FROM BRIGGS FREEMAN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY:

Real estate advisors Megan Green and Raleigh Green of the Fort Worth office of Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty represented the buyer in a 2025 record-setting private sale of an estate in Fort Worth, in the enclave of Westover Hills. The transaction was confidential and off-market, requiring more than two months of orchestration by the Greens, including specialized inspections, discreet negotiations and more. Learn more.

Fort Worth-based TPG closed on its previously announced long-term strategic investment management partnership with Jackson Financial, which offers retirement services. 

Southlake-based Sabre, PayPal and Mindtrip have partnered to produce what they say is the first end-to-end agentic AI experience for travel. The trio combine for trusted identity, payments and enterprise travel infrastructure.

Original ChopShop, a fast-casual concept known for customizable bowls, salads, sandwiches and more, will open a Fort Worth Shop at 105 E. Pennsylvania Ave. in late March. 

D-FW-based Vibrant Capital launched as an operator-led investment and company-building platform focused on turning artificial intelligence into measurable results. The CEO is Shadman Zafar, who has held executive roles at Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Barclays and Verizon, and is named as an inventor on more than 100 patents and patent applications.

Fort Worth's Nuisance Enforcement Task Force, a focused, multi-departmental initiative that targets Fort Worth’s most persistent nuisance properties, launched in January. Multiple city departments did joint inspections at three targeted properties: Sandy Oaks Apartments on Sandy Lane, Eco Motel (also called Cowtown Inn) on East Lancaster Avenue and the Southside Food Mart (formerly called Rocky’s I) and Rocky’s II convenience stores on Hemphill Street. Take a read on the findings. 

Bank of America Fort Worth selected Center for Transforming Lives as a Neighborhood Builder for its work in breaking cycles of poverty for women and children in Tarrant County. This is the second time Center for Transforming Lives has been honored. The award includes a $200,000 grant during two years, leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader, and the opportunity to connect with non-profits in a peer network. 

Google is offering voluntary exit packages to employees in its global business organization and discussed the necessity for stronger alignment with AI initiatives and operational priorities. Google Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler's memo read: "We're starting the year in a strong position thanks to everything you accomplished in 2025. But the game is dynamic, the pace is electric, and the stakes are high."

Arlington will not aid enforcement operations of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, even if the partnership would come with federal dollars, Mayor Jim Ross told KERA News. The city has no desire to get involved in civil law, Ross said. Read more.

Happy birthday: 2026 marks two milestones for Leadership Fort Worth. Leadership Kids turns 30 and LeaderPrime turns 10. 

Arlington launched a video series, “What’s Going There, Arlington?” The intent is to give residents a closer look at new businesses, restaurants, parks and experiences. 

James Van Der Beek, a heartthrob who shot to fame playing the titular character in Dawson's Creek, has died at 48.

Snippets:

• Press the buzzer if you know Michelle Randolph's go-to Fort Worth eatery during filming for Landman. 

• She sued over her gender transition. Will the Texas Supreme Court decide it's too late?

• Are Costco’s gold bars a good investment?

• A certain type of brain training appears to prevent or delay dementia by some 25% in people older than age 65.

• Butler Place: Fort Worth presents a history and prospects for the last great downtown re-development.

Today’s trivia: Friday the 13th occurs at least once and up to three times per year. Friday the 13th occurs in February, March, and November 2026, a pattern that repeats in a 28-year cycle. Alfred Hitchcock was born on Friday, August 13, 1899.

Significant stat: 53% = Number of U.S. adults under 30 who admit to using dating sites and apps.

Daily digit: $33k = What the average wedding in 2024 totaled, up from $29K in 2023.

Announcements:

• Fort Worth Report: Promotes Sonya Wierzowiecki  to Chief Development Officer. 

• HUB International: Appoints Dr. Kryijztoff Novotnaj its Chief Medical Officer.

• Texas Association of Fire Educators: Select Bedford Division Chief Frank Tamayo the 2026 Earl Monroe Training Officer of the Year. 

• Kroger: Hires Greg Foran, the former CEO of Walmart U.S. and Air New Zealand, as its CEO. 

• Ladies in Commercial Real Estate: Promotes Megan Monette McDaniel, Vice President of Global Accounts at Total Office Solutions, to 2026 Board President.

• Texas 2036: Welcomes back Jann Lorenzo Soto as Deputy Director of Education and Workforce.

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