UNT Dallas is making some changes that might boost Dallas’ economy.
The south side of Dallas could see economic growth as a result of millions of dollars in university-related spending, reported the Dallas Business Journal.
In September 2023, UNT Dallas broke ground on a new $100 million dollar STEM building. The four-story building will include 18 to 20 classrooms, nine teaching labs, three research labs, and an event venue.
The building is part of the school’s long-term plan to expand its STEM offerings. The expansion will make possible “a pathway for healthcare careers, including advancement to medical, nursing and pharmacy schools, and other post-graduate educational institutions focused on science, health, medicine, and wellness.” The project is expected to be completed by this October.
A new police training center will also be built on campus, following a $10 million grant from the Communities Foundation of Texas and $20 million in taxpayer money from the state legislature.
The space will include classrooms, a gym and workout facilities, and virtual reality training technology. The new center will allow for community, personal growth and development, and continued education.
Construction of the training center is set to begin in 2025 and is expected to be completed in 2027.
School officials expect the growth of the campus to impact the economy of the surrounding Dallas community.
“We need better retail,” Bob Mong, UNT Dallas president, told DBJ. “We need a grocery store. Block by block is how you build a better neighborhood, and that’s our goal. I think that’s the goal of most people. They want good development in southern Dallas.”
The south side of Dallas has become the subject of expansion and further development.
The Dallas City Council voted last April to approve a $5.8 million tax incentive for Tom Thumb to build a grocery store in Oak Cliff, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The deal allocated a Chapter 380 development grant to Tom Thumb of up to $5.2 million and a sales tax grant of up to $600,00 over 10 years. A personal property tax abatement of five years was also included in the deal. The plan would purportedly create 90 full-time jobs.
Also, in April of last year, two Dallas City Council members suggested that the City of Dallas spend billions on South Dallas’ infrastructure, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. Council Member Tennell Atkins (District 8) and former Council Member Casey Thomas (District 3) expressed their desire to expand and further develop the city’s south side.
