Meet Mattie

At the Open for Opportunity event in Dallas, community leaders and franchise owners gathered to discuss how franchising supports local economic growth. The conversation highlighted the role of franchising in fostering entrepreneurship, particularly for Hispanic and Latino business owners. Local officials emphasized the importance of small businesses in economic recovery and community development. Attendees, including Fort Worth leaders and franchise advocates, discussed how franchising offers opportunities for women and people of color, provides better wages, and helps overcome the barriers many faces when starting a business.

Elected as Mayor of Fort Worth in 2021, Mattie Parker has focused her leadership on fostering economic growth and strengthening her community post-pandemic. With a background as Chief of Staff for the former mayor, Mattie left that role to focus on education, founding the Fort Worth Cradle to Career initiative and the Tarrant To & Through (T3) Partnership, both aimed at preparing students for today’s workforce. Her deep commitment to the community shaped her approach as mayor, especially during the city’s recovery from COVID-19. “What do you do to restabilize an economy and put the money back in the hands of the families who were so disrupted in 2020? It all kept coming back to small businesses,” she explains.

Recognizing the significant role franchises play in local economies, Mattie emphasizes their importance, stating, “Some of the most successful businesses in our area have been franchises.” Today, she continues to champion small businesses and franchises as key drivers in Fort Worth’s economic recovery and future growth.

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