Grand Prairie Kicks Off 2026 with Big Wins

Published on January 07, 2026

The City of Grand Prairie kicks off 2026 poised to further cement its status as a premiere destination for new and expanding businesses and real estate ventures, thanks to a national recognition and new developments.

The new year is expected to bring the long-awaited opening of Topgolf along the 161 corridor as well as a series of major announcements sure to make headlines.

The momentum builds on a record-breaking year of development in 2025, thanks, in part, to a streamlined permitting process recognized among the best in the nation.

High-Speed Permitting

The City of Grand Prairie ranked 2^nd in the U.S. among mid-sized cities in Labrynth AI’s December, 2025 Red Tape Index, which measures permitting efficiency.

In the photo above, City Manager Bill Hills presented certificates of recognition to Rashad Jackson and Savannah Ware of the City's Planning and Development Department at the January 6 City Council meeting.

“This is very exciting news,” said Jackson, director of Planning & Development. “We are very happy our team's hard work and dedication is being acknowledged by this ranking. This distinction reinforces what we have known for some time—when it comes to construction, planning and development, Grand Prairie is the place to be.”

In addition to its No. 2 ranking among cities with 100,000 to 250,000 residents, Grand Prairie ranked 6^th in the U.S. among cities of all sizes.

The Red Tape Index analyzes thousands of U.S. cities every quarter, combining scores for commercial and residential permit approval durations, permits per capita, population size and population growth.

This data provides builders and municipalities with transparent, data-driven solutions that streamline the permitting process and reduce delays, according to the Red Tape Index website.

“We prioritize an efficient development process and lean on our team’s technical expertise to assure everything is developed to high standards,” Jackson said. “Quality, efficient development is what we strive for, no red tape.”

Faster permitting means faster business growth, according to Tony Ramirez, director of Economic Development at the City of Grand Prairie.

"The faster businesses can get permits approved, the better we can respond to the speed of industry,” Ramirez said. “Speed-to-market is a major priority for companies. This also helps our community stay competitive and vibrant.”

In 2025, the City’s Economic Development team celebrated big wins for small businesses, large corporations, and major announcements which promise to bring hundreds of new jobs to the area.

Big Business Wins

• 2025 teed off with the January groundbreaking of Topgolf, set to open to the public near 161 and I-20 in early 2026.
• In May, Major League Cricket announced plans to move its U.S. headquarters from Oakland, California to Grand Prairie, citing the City’s ideal location and business-friendly environment.
• July saw the groundbreaking of BJ’s Wholesale, adding another marquee attraction next to Ikea and Topgolf.
• Grand Prairie celebrated a big win for a small business when Billie Joe Coffee was the only DFW coffee shop in Yelp’s Top 100 Coffee Shops in America in September.
• In October, thermal management technology leader Modine announced more than 1,000 new, high-paying jobs, through a new advanced production and assembly facility.
• Medical device manufacturer Baumann Springs announced an expansion of its existing North Grand Prairie campus in November.

Grand Prairie welcomed many more new and expanding businesses, adding to a growing list of wins documented on the City’s Economic Development Linkedin page.

Additional announcements are expected in early 2026.

“We are excited to unveil some major developments soon,” Ramirez said. “Exciting opportunities are in store for Grand Prairie, Texas.”

Permitting Speed, Expanding Real Estate

The City is growing -not just in population, but in geographic footprint, paving the way for new real estate opportunities.

Grand Prairie expanded its southern boundary by over 1,500 acres in 2025. The move paved the way for a 5,000-acre master-planned community called Goodland, near Highway 287, announced in August.

The City followed the news in October with the groundbreaking of nearby Lakesong, a second master-planned community in the area, which will bring 5,000 additional homes to the southern sector.

A major driver of this development is the upcoming completion of Goodland Parkway, a regional thoroughfare. The Parkway will provide critical access into the heart of Goodland and connect to future commercial, retail, and civic services. 

The developments will not only bring new residents but schools, parks and businesses, which will further contribute the growing economic success of the City of Grand Prairie.

“We are a fast paced, rapidly-growing city embarking on significant development in our core and southern sectors,” Jackson said. “Keeping up with the pace can be some work, but our team is up to the challenge, and they prove it every day."