Over the past 15–20 years, bringing “quality jobs” or corporate headquarters to Frisco has been a common campaign theme across many city council and mayoral candidates. As Frisco transitioned from a bedroom suburb into a regional employment center, candidates across political factions have run on platforms tied to economic development, corporate relocations, and high-wage job growth.

For communities like Frisco, smart corporate development isn’t just about landing big company logos—it’s about long-term financial health, balanced growth, and protecting taxpayers. Cities like Frisco have to think carefully about what kind of development they pursue and where it goes.

Mayor Cheney and other city leaders have frequently said Frisco “must pursue” major employers so the city becomes a regional job center instead of a commuter suburb.  Cheney has emphasized pursuing large corporations and creating office districts where employees can live, work, and socialize.

Lifestyle Frisco wrote an article in October 2019 titled “Mayor Jeff Cheney Announces Re-Election Campaign” which centered around Mayor Cheney’s own words.  Cheney continues, he was seeking residents votes on May 2, 2020, so he can continue to bring more jobs, expand the tax base, create beautiful neighborhoods, and provide top tier entertainment. He notes that Frisco won our FIRST-EVER Fortune 500 relocation with Keurig Dr Pepper.  He continues, the goal is to deepen our Sports City USA brand by adding the National Soccer Hall of Fame, professional lacrosse, and an esports team. His political mailer in 2020 listed his so-called wins. It still does not compare to Plano’s wins that will bring more high paying quality jobs that have a better economic impact to the city.

For years we have listened to candidates and current Council Members talk and campaign about bringing “high-paying primary jobs” to reduce commutes for residents, diversify the city’s tax base, and to support the city’s financial stability.   In the most recent special election, we were shocked to learn our newly elected council woman, Ann Anderson stated she was glad that AT&T chose to relocate to Plano.  Wait what?

Frisco Chronicles began to question have our city leaders fulfilled their obligations and promises to Frisco residents?   Shockingly, no!  Residents need to pay attention.

Frisco vs Plano Comparison

Who is the largest employer in each city?

Frisco: Frisco Indepenent School District – 8,800 employees vs Plano: JP Morgan Chase – 11,261 employees

Frisco vs Plano Economic & Corporate Landscape

Which city has added the most corporate jobs?

Frisco: 5000 to 7000 vs City of Plano: 25,000+

Which city has had the greatest Economic Impact?

Frisco Annual Payroll Impact: Roughly $500M to $1Billion vs Plano Annual Payroll Impact: Roughly $2 to $3 Billion

Frisco Property Tax Impact: Tens of millions annually vs Plano Property Tax Impact: Hundreds of Millions over time

Frisco

• Major employers are a mix of private and public sector.  Frisco has attracted some high-profile corporate offices, but its largest employers tend to be public sector or regional service-focused, rather than Fortune 500 headquarters.
• The focus has been on building a diversified but smaller-scale corporate base rather than creating a dense Fortune 500 corridor.
• There’s evidence of success in certain sectors, but less concentration of high-paying corporate headquarters jobs compared to Plano.

Plano

• Plano has built a robust corporate ecosystem, especially along Legacy West/Legacy Business Park, attracting Toyota Financial Services, JPMorgan Chase, NTT Data, Fujitsu/Ericsson, and Capital One.
• The city has successfully attracted major Fortune 500 companies which created tens of thousands of corporate jobs and generated billions in annual payroll and hundreds of millions in property taxes.
• Plano’s strategy has emphasized large-scale corporate relocation and campus development, which creates a strong economic multiplier effect.

Community Impact Comparison:

Frisco’s Potential Issue: With a large portion of the top employers in the public sector, Frisco’s economic growth may be more sensitive to government budgets, policy changes, and public funding cycles, rather than the stable expansion seen in private corporate headquarters. This could limit long-term job growth and tax base expansion.

Resident Impact Comparison

Plano: Residents benefit from high-paying corporate jobs, a strong tax base that funds public services, and a built-in ecosystem that encourages additional businesses and amenities.

Frisco: While still attracting quality employers and offering amenities, the job base may be narrower in sectors that generate higher wages and broader economic spillover. Public sector dominance among top employers may limit diversity in employment opportunities.

WHO WINS: FRISCO OR PLANO

• Plano emerges as the city with a more aggressive, high-impact corporate strategy that directly benefits residents through employment opportunities, payroll tax revenues, and large-scale infrastructure support.
• Frisco has been moderately successful in attracting employers but may face long-term challenges due to the nature of its largest employers and a less concentrated corporate corridor.

ELECTION TIME: VOTE WISELY

You constantly here residents in Frisco complain they are tired of growth without infrastructure.  Why is that?  Because our city leaders have done nothing to reduce our commute to local jobs or bring quality paying jobs to our community.  By putting a heavy emphasis on “TOURISM” and “HOSPITALITY” they have created more traffic issues and attracted less quality paying jobs. 

A recent big win the city likes to talk about is Universal Kids Resort, which is bound to add to Frisco’s traffic congestion.  City leaders are hoping that over the years tourist attractions will bring in enough tax revenue to offset what the corporate relocations could have brought to our community. 

A search of the internet for jobs at Universal Kids Resort displays the following available jobs: Lobby Attendant, Quick Service Associate, Dispatcher, Full Time Lead Technician, Lifeguard, Ride Operator Attendant, Wardrobe and Costume Supervisor, and many more.  The requirement a HS Diploma or GED, Customer Service Experience.  No pay scale offered for any of the positions.  Universal offers very few highly paid management positions. 

We did find one job for a Senior External Affairs & Corporate Communications Manager which states a bachelor’s degree in political science, Public Relations, Communications, Business Administration or related field is required.   It also says at least 7+ years of corporate communications, legislative, government or external affairs experience is required, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Why is all this important? 

Every election the same people stand before us and ask for our vote, and Frisco Residents who are none the wiser continue to just elect the same regime.  The result is our leaders have failed to bring quality paying CAREERS to our community.  This will affect us down the road when it comes time to paying the big bonds they have asked us to pass over the years.

John Keating’s website brags he has served on the council “FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.” Frisco Chronicles is curious if he can name one Corporate Relocation (besides the PGA) that he pushed hard to win that brought high paying quality jobs to Frisco? Keating’s website lists his priorities as Mayor and not one of them directly states the goal to bring high quality CAREERS AND CORPORATIONS that protect taxpayers.  He offers the same priorities just re-written that he has failed to complete before in his decade on the dais.  Keating’s time is up!

Laura Rummel is back to also ask for your vote!  Her website states her priorities include Frisco’s infrastructure, smart growth by asking developers to offer smaller format housing options such as condos, townhomes, zero lot line home alternatives and fuel innovation and entrepreneurship.  Her website states, “Start-ups typically provide slow and steady organic growth for the city, as well as bringing high-paying jobs, two attributes I would like to see us continue to recruit here to Frisco.   

How will Laura Rummel help Frisco compete with Plano and the economic windfall they are having with corporate relocations?  Rummel has had 5+ years on council now and she has no win to call her own! It takes a long time for startups to grow into a Capital One or AT&T and provide an economic impact to residents that we need here. 

In closing, when will Frisco Residents say WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH AND WE WANT HIGH PAYING QUALITY JOBS THAT CREATE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT like other surrounding cities.  The big wins Frisco claims are great, but they are nothing compared to our neighbor the City of Plano which has built one of the largest corporation corridors in North Texas.  Plano employers include major financial institutions, corporate headquarters, tech firms, and large service centers that anchor Plano’s economy and make up a significant share of local jobs. A linear “corporate corridor” lined with major employer logos, emphasizing Plano’s role as a corporate hub

Frisco residents need to ask, “How will we repay the $1 Billion in debt we have?” Frisco leaders have dropped the ball and if you look down the road none of the “WINS” our current leaders like to claim will bring in the billions that major corporate relocations could have. At the last city council meeting you saw them approve a warehouse along the 121 roadway – is that the best use of that land or could it have gone to something else that would have brought in more high-quality paying jobs.  Frisco’s future is not as bright as residents would think when it comes to financial stability.  The One Billion in debt has to come from somewhere so where will it come from?   Get Wise Frisco!

Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief.  It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary.  Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical.  Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.

Largest Employers in Frisco

Employer	Sector	Employees
Frisco ISD	Education	~8,800
Dallas Cowboys	Sports & Entertainment	~2,000
City of Frisco	Government	~1,800
HCL Technologies	Corporate	~1,500
T-Mobile	Corporate	~1,300
Keurig Dr Pepper	Corporate	~1,200
AmerisourceBergen	Healthcare	700+
Baylor Scott & White Health	Healthcare	600+
Collin College	Education	500
Mario Sinacola & Sons	Construction	500
Oracle	Corporate	400
Baylor Medical Center of Frisco	Healthcare	450
Lexipol	Corporate	420

Top Employers in Plano, TX

Plano’s largest employers based on the most recent city and economic data (2025–2026 estimates):

1. JPMorgan Chase – ~11,261 employees (regional/corporate operations)
2. Bank of America – ~6,566 employees (back office/operations)
3. Capital One Finance – ~5,649 employees (finance services)
4. Toyota Motor North America, Inc. – ~4,938 employees (North American HQ)
5. PepsiCo Foods North America / Frito‑Lay – ~3,759 employees (food & beverage)
6. Ericsson – ~3,346 employees (telecom/IT)
7. AT&T Foundry and Services – ~2,500 employees (IT/telecom center)
8. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company – ~2,100 employees
9. JCPenney – ~2,000 employees (corporate headquarters)
10. NTT DATA, Inc. – ~1,968 employees (tech services)