Economic and Community Development

In a recently adopted five year strategic plan, the Dallas Regional Chamber listed education improvements as one of their five organizational priorities.  Their education goals include raising graduation rates for the Dallas Independent School district by 13%, increasing the percentage of advanced degree holders in the region by 5%, and setting detailed goals for college and career readiness among high school graduates.

Their rationale for adopting this goal: “…education is critical to developing a strong regional workforce that supports economic prosperity.”

The move has won the Chamber praise in the local media.  Here is a excerpt from an October 11^th editorial in the Dallas Morning News:

In a five-year blueprint released Friday, the Dallas Regional Chamber has wisely recognized that North Texas has to step up to this challenge or risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. The chamber's plan focuses on attracting companies in skilled growth industries, such as technology and health care. Most impressive: It makes it clear that the region can't prosper unless K-12 education improves and that the chamber is ready to take on this issue.

We applaud the chamber's sense of urgency to prod North Texas businesses to step out of their corporate silos and make educational excellence an economic development priority.

Click to learn more about the Dallas Regional Chamber’s new strategic plan.