Vision Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce’s young professionals group, is conducting a community visioning survey aimed at learning how young professionals (age 21-40) see Fort Worth at present and asks them to imagine the city in 2035. Vision Fort Worth hopes to use this information to attract and retain young professionals in years to come. This information is of upmost importance because as 23 million Baby Boomers retire there are only 10 million Gen Xs and Gen Ys to take their place in the workforce. This means cities will have to compete more to attract and retain young professionals.

The survey covers a number of issues including: education, public transportation, nightlife, safety, “third spaces” (arts, parks and other outdoor spaces), entrepreneurship opportunities and more. All of the study’s feedback will be discussed at a Town Hall meeting in late spring for additional brainstorming and then presented to city leaders.

One thing young professionals can look forward to in the coming years is the development in Trinity Uptown. This area of town will be the largest mixed-use development in Fort Worth and aims to create a model “live, work, play” environment. Smarter zoning will encourage sustainable central city growth which projects three million square feet of commercial space and 10,000 mixed-income households, creating an ideal environment along the river for young professionals and new business alike.