Dallas is a great place to be in business. Not only is Dallas the largest metropolitan area in Texas, it is the ninth largest metro in the country-and we're still growing. In fact, Fort Worth is ranked as one of the nations fastest growing cities.

Home to over 15 Fortune 500 companies and one of the country's top areas for employment growth, it comes as no surprise that almost 30 percent of the state's labor force is in Dallas alone. The city reportedly has between 4 and 22 percent of the workforce in each major industrial sector, with the exception of mining. Because the Dallas economy is so diverse, the city fares well even if there is a downturn in a particular industry.

Part of what makes DFW so productive is the strong sense of community that exists between local businesses. The philanthropy and volunteering demonstrated by many companies helps the city thrive and cultivates an environment that welcomes healthy competition rather than shutting it out. The result is a solid infrastructure that includes everyone from small vendors to some of the biggest names in various industries.

Fort Worth began as a small frontier town on the legendary Chisholm Trail, but today it's one of the largest cities in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States. Fort Worth is primarily recognized for its well-preserved Western heritage and spectacular collection of art museums, better known as "cowboys and culture."

That's just the beginning of the fun in Fort Worth, where you can discover a dazzling downtown, Texas Motor Speedway, the Fort Worth Zoo, exciting annual events and a lot more. The city has also become one of the preferred destinations for conventions in the Southwest thanks to its excellent meeting facilities, easy access and Texas hospitality.

It's not surprising that the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is expected to lead the nation in employment growth through 2010. Today, the area is home to about 140,000 businesses and 6,000 corporate headquarters. Among the 19 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth are Advance PCS, Dean Foods, ExxonMobil, Kimberly-Clark, Neiman Marcus, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. Needless to say, there's a veritable hotbed of employment opportunities for those relocating here, with an astonishing array of great companies to choose from - all of which have chosen to locate either offices or headquarters in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for its high quality of life, plentiful housing opportunities, and relatively low cost of living.

List Chamber of Commerce Information for the DFW Area

List of Hotels and Corporate Housing in the area