Episode 131

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Published on:

17th Feb 2026

Fort Worth Just Got $6.7 Billion and Nobody's Talking About It

We're excited to present an episode of the Building Texas show, live from Fort Worth. Our guest, a professor at Texas Christian University, shares insights into the city's dynamic growth and his work in finance and private equity. This discussion highlights the intersection of education and business within the vibrant Fort Worth community.

The numbers don't lie: The city of Ft. Worth just secured $6.7 billion in capital investment for FY 2025. But how did they do it?

In this episode of The Building Texas Show, Justin McKenzie sits down with Brandon Chicotsky (TCU Professor) to decode the massive economic shift happening in North Texas. While other cities dominate the headlines, Fort Worth is quietly building a powerhouse economy driven by aerospace, advanced tech, and logistics.

We discuss the critical role of "functional local government," how TCU is feeding the talent pipeline, and why long-term economic strategy is beating short-term hype.

In This Episode:

[00:00] The $6.7 Billion Capital Injection

[02:15] Why Fort Worth? The "Functional Government" Advantage

[05:30] The TCU Effect: Academic Partnerships Driving Growth

[09:45] Beyond Cowboys: Aerospace, Tech & Logistics Sectors

[14:20] The Future of the Texas Economy

Featured & Mentioned:

Texas Christian University (TCU)

Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing Sectors

#FortWorth #TexasEconomy #BrandonChicotsky #BusinessNews #InvestingInTexas #EconomicDevelopment

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About the Podcast

The Building Texas Show
The Building Texas Show with host, Justin McKenzie, about the balance of business and governance. Each week, we’ll interview the local leaders affecting the issues and uncover the power you have to forge the future.

www.buildingtexasshow.com

About your host

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Justin McKenzie

Based in Boerne, Texas, Justin hosts The Building Texas Show—a podcast spotlighting the bold minds shaping the future of the Lone Star State. When he’s not building teams or building momentum, he’s out exploring, discovering new ideas, or connecting with the people who make it all worthwhile.

As Chief Operating Officer at Charity Ace, Justin helps shape the engine behind the mission—bringing sharp strategy and innovative structure to fuel long-term growth. He believes in business as a force for good, and shows up every day to prove what’s possible when purpose meets execution.