North from Dallas

When Dutch-based Delta Dailyfood decided to open its first U.S. location, the packaged meal manufacturer chose McKinney, just 18 miles north of Dallas. McKinney, home to five business/industrial parks, was also the recent choice of Italian-based manufacturer Camozzi Pneumatics and Taiwanese-based plastic automotive bumper maker Tong Yang Group. U.S.-based companies recently opening plant facilities in McKinney include PS Solutions, Brandon Industries, SVK, Big O Construction and Riteks Inc.

"When you've got a community with real positive basics -- good school system, great housing opportunities, good location -- you're a tough competitor. This community's time has come," said Bill Sproull, president of the McKinney Economic Development Corp. "We're recognized as a community that wants foreign investments."

Also north of Dallas is Richardson, home to the so-called Telecom Corridor, a high concentration of telecommunications companies inside two square miles. Among the new developments this year was completion of a $500 million semiconductor plant by TwinStar Semiconductor, a joint venture between Texas Instruments and Hitachi, Ltd.

Another fast growing area is the tri-city Hurst-Euless-Bedford area, only minutes from D/FW International and Alliance airports. "We are experiencing continual and rapid growth," said Courtney Hayden, president and CEO of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Economic Development Foundation. "It's a hot area," she said. "Much of our prime retail space has been snapped up in the last year."

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