Several Plano ISD construction projects, including the Haggard Middle School replacement, are on track to finish this year.

The gist: Tony Pearson, PISD director of planning and new construction, gave a presentation with construction updates on facilities projects funded by the district’s 2022 bond during a Feb. 17 PISD board of trustees meeting.

Four projects are currently slated to be finished prior to the end of the summer, Pearson said, including the complete replacement of Haggard Middle School.

At completion, the 134,610-square-foot middle school building will be replaced by a new 187,900-square-foot campus. The school has remained operational through construction.

Hancock Whitney opened its second financial center in Plano, near the Richardson border, on March 3.

The specifics: The center on Renner Road offers a variety of personal and business banking services, lending services and more, according to a news release from the company.

Quote of note: “Our second location in the Plano/Richardson area represents a significant opportunity to broaden our reach and serve more clients with Hancock Whitney’s relationship‑focused banking experience,” Hancock Whitney Regional President Chris Mosteller said in the release. “Our mission is to help people achieve their financial goals while supporting the growth and vitality of the communities we serve.”

Texas attracts dozens of company headquarters to the state annually, with at least 314 businesses moving their main office to Texas from other states between 2015-2024, data from the governor’s office shows.

Zooming in: At least 24 companies moved their headquarters to Texas in 2024, with more than half landing in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Two companies relocated from other countries, with data center developer Hive Digital Technologies bringing its home base from Canada to San Antonio and pharmaceutical company IntraBio Inc. moving its headquarters from the United Kingdom to Austin.

How we got here: State officials and experts said Texas’ economic incentives and light regulatory environment are key reasons why companies brought their operations to the state in recent years.

“Texas wants companies to move here, and [company leaders] know that,” Megan Mauro, interim president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, told Community Impact. “Our legislative policy is really impacted by the voices of employers here.”