Tony A. Ramirez

Economic developer by day. Former site selector turned city director. DFW region. I tell you what the brochures won't. Sometimes takes on music.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

Overall, Southwest and American Airlines serve two very different operations.

Southwest = 100 destinations, mostly domestic

American = 350 destinations, domestic and long haul international

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

Kevin Warsh has a tough balancing act at his first Federal Reserve policy meeting as Chair this month.

The rocky Middle East.
Skyrocketing inflation.
Disruption in tech with A.I.

Either way, I think the Fed will keep interest rates unchanged for now.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

Watching the Wendy’s leadership shake-up closely from a DFW lens.

The DFW metro is one of the strongest QSR markets in the country — strong population growth, rising incomes, and hungry consumers. Whatever direction new CEO Bob Wright takes the brand, the DFW market will be a key proving ground.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

Don’t let the headline GDP numbers fool you — inventories and trade swings from tariff uncertainty are distorting the picture.

Strip those out and look at what businesses are actually investing and what consumers are actually spending, and the underlying economy looks a lot steadier — averaging a solid 2.2% over the past six months.

That’s the number worth watching.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

Planning for the submittal process. It’s almost time for the new Opportunity Zones 2.0.

A stronger framework for driving private capital into communities.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

@Budgetdog_ @zavalasbarbecue in Grand Prairie is the rising star.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

New development doesn’t happen where it’s hard.

It happens where cities have gotten smart — reasonable entitlements, an understanding of go-to-market speed, and a genuine willingness to work with developers and tenants beyond the transaction. @ICSC

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

@m_ebrard A good sign for Texas’ position. Texas doesn’t just border Mexico—it’s economically tied to it. Mexico thrives then trade thrives.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

A few thoughts on market feedback direct from foreign companies at the @SelectUSA trade summit.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

Great tour of our city this morning with a foreign based company.

Discussed plant-to-DC sourcing flexibility as the company decides which supply chain configuration to go with.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

Inflation offsets wage gains in Q1, leaving earnings flat and unchanged for 5 years.

The inflation burn continues. Will the Federal Reserve try to counteract?

[E.J. Antoni, Ph.D. @RealEJAntoni]

The sharp increase in prices in Q1 (mostly from energy spiking in Mar) countered the increase in nominal earnings so that inflation-adjusted (real) median earnings were flat, unchanged from Q3 and Q2 of last year, but also flat since Q4 '20 - that means 5 years and no progress:

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

We are Easter people and Alleluia is our Song!

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

@NathanDWebb Uncovering the seller’s motivation helps to write the strategy.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

Companies don’t make decisions on which city to expand to. People do.

Deep inside the boardroom its politics, personalities, and power plays.

Thats where decisions toil.

Economic developers go beyond showing sites.

They read the room and adjust to win the project.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

@elonmusk Mr. Musk selected Texas for this massive project. Manufacturing and growth in the state continue to impress.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

The world belongs to the loud, not to the long winded.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

@CollinRugg If only the frontrunner had a way to see competition gaining on him.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

US jobs growth fractured — employers CUT 92K jobs in Feb, worst surprise in years. Unemployment ticking up to 4.4%.

This puts massive pressure on local economic developers for your city.

Time to get creative: incentives, place-making, talent magnets, whatever lights growth.

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

Visiting a construction site.

One of my favorite action items as an economic developer.

If needed we help with power, txdot, permitting clarifications - and especially just thanking them for being in our city!

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

@Chris_Smth City planning and zoning
Listening to understand not to respond

[Tony A. Ramirez @elpramirez]

For cities, deal flow comes from these three channels:

Inbound - company or broker
Outbound - internal cold outreach
Community Partners - RFIs

We fuel each one relentlessly.

Companies have lots of cities as options to pick from. We don’t wait.