FORT WORTH, Texas — In a region growing faster than almost anywhere in the country, North Texas’ strength lies not in momentum alone but in staying power.
That message anchored the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s State of Higher Education luncheon today as innovators from Tarrant County College, UT Arlington and the business community highlighted the shared responsibility of producing the workforce that will invigorate the future.
“Growth like this does not sustain itself. People sustain it,” said TCC Chancellor Elva LeBlanc. “This work takes alignment — between classrooms and careers, between employers and educators, between opportunity and access. We in this room today are succeeding, and North Texas is stronger for it.”
Held on the UTA campus, the annual gathering convened business, education and civic leaders to explore how cross-sector collaboration is fueling fiscal vitality and expanding regional horizons. A short video pairing employer perspectives and student stories brought that collaboration to life.
Continuing the theme, Dr. LeBlanc emphasized TCC’s determination to meet workforce demand in real time. The key, she said, is anticipating industry needs before they fully emerge. “When industry moves, we move with it. That responsiveness is what keeps our region competitive and our communities thriving.”
From aviation and healthcare to film production and cybersecurity, TCC strives to link programs to employer demand, working with more than 1,200 business partners to deliver relevant training and credentials. The College generates an estimated $2.3 billion in annual economic impact, and more than 85% of graduates remain in the region to live and work.
That forward focus is shaping what comes next. This fall, TCC will launch its first bachelor’s degree — a Bachelor of Applied Science in early childhood education — to address teacher shortages across North Texas. In aviation, the College is developing an Associate of Applied Science in air traffic control with industry partners to support one of the nation’s busiest and most complex airspaces.
And through a new partnership with SGS Studios — the largest production campus in Texas — TCC is adding fast-track film certifications to prepare students for immediate careers in set construction, postproduction and stage operations.
That same commitment to alignment extends through more than 70 vital university agreements, including TCC’s long-standing relationship with UT Arlington.
“Access to higher education is one of the strongest predictors of economic mobility and community strength,” UTA President Jennifer Cowley said. “When universities like UTA and TCC are rooted in the middle of one of the most dynamic economic regions in the country, the industries around us influence what we teach. The challenges in our backyard shape what we study. And the opportunities nearby shape who our students become.”
Clear, connected pathways — from high school to higher education to career — begin early at Tarrant County College. TCC works with 20-plus area school districts to support more than 100 dual credit campuses, 15 Early College High Schools and numerous P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools) programs, giving thousands of students a head start on college and careers while reducing cost.
“Arlington’s continued growth depends on a talent pipeline that is both strong and adaptable,” said Greater Arlington Chamber CEO Michael Jacobson. “Our partnership is a model for how education and business work together to create a brighter future.”
Dr. LeBlanc said that, far from theoretical, this alignment can be seen in outcomes across the region. “This is what alignment looks like in action: Industry invests, education responds, talent rises and communities thrive.”
As North Texas continues to grow, the assembled leaders stressed how the region’s success will depend on nourishing the partnerships that connect education to employment and potential to progress.
“When we work together with purpose,” Dr. LeBlanc said, “we do more than meet demand. We create opportunity that grows here, stays here and elevates all of North Texas.”
Tarrant County College serves nearly 100,000 students each year, offering accessible, affordable pathways to in-demand careers and university transfer. Across multiple campuses and TCC Connect — a fully online learning option — the College partners with more than 1,200 employers to help build the workforce that drives North Texas forward. Bold Steps. Better Futures.