Dallas, Texas – Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is preparing to lead a delegation of business and civic leaders to New York City in an effort to promote Dallas as a rising force in the financial world. The trip, which was originally set to begin on Feb. 25, has been delayed due to severe weather conditions in the Northeast. New travel dates are expected to be announced once plans are finalized.
Johnson will travel alongside the city manager and local business leaders to meet with executives in New York. Their mission is clear: position Dallas as a prime destination for investment, innovation, and corporate expansion—particularly in financial services. City officials have increasingly referred to the city’s growing financial footprint as “Y’all Street,” a nod to its expanding influence in markets long dominated by traditional financial capitals.
In a statement, Johnson described economic development as an active contest among major American cities. Dallas, he said, is competing directly with places like New York for the attention and investment of top-tier businesses and financial institutions.
“Economic development is a competition. Dallas is competing with America’s other major cities, like New York, for the investment of premier businesses and financial institutions,” Johnson said in a statement. “Every member of this delegation is determined to win that competition.”
Still, the mayor framed the trip as about more than corporate wins. Attracting new companies, he said, translates into tangible benefits for Dallas residents. New headquarters, expanded offices, and fresh investment bring jobs and broader economic opportunity across the city.
Dallas has seen significant momentum in recent years. Financial giants such as Goldman Sachs and Scotiabank have invested in the city, with new developments planned to house thousands of employees. At the same time, the city has faced setbacks, including AT&T’s decision to relocate its headquarters from downtown Dallas to Plano.
The financial sector’s expansion in Texas has also been marked by major exchange activity. In 2025, the New York Stock Exchange launched NYSE Texas, a fully electronic equities exchange based in Dallas. The exchange described the city as one of the fastest-growing business hubs in the country. NYSE Group President Lynn Martin noted that Texas leads the nation in the number of NYSE listings, representing more than $3.7 trillion in market value, and praised the state’s business climate.
Meanwhile, the Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE), headquartered in Dallas, is registered as a national securities exchange and plans to begin trading exchange-traded products and corporate listings in 2026. Nasdaq has also expanded its presence through Nasdaq Texas, positioning it as a dual-listing venue for companies rooted in the state.
City leaders say the upcoming New York visit is part of a broader push to strengthen Dallas’ standing in the financial industry and to ensure that growth at the top translates into opportunity throughout the community.
