A New Franchise Initiative in Dallas to Increase Economic Inclusiveness

by Johanna Selmeczy, Staff Writer

In Dallas, Texas, a new franchise initiative is being launched by Mayor Eric Johnson to continue to position Dallas as a global corridor for franchising and leader in helping to create and scale diverse franchise businesses in Dallas. The franchise initiative will have a specific emphasis on southern Dallas, the most racially and ethnically diverse area in the city. Heading this project is Carlos White, Franchise Impact Ambassador for the office of the mayor and the chair of the advisory board for the initiative.

Why It’s Necessary

Increasing entrepreneurship and development in southern Dallas will create more economic development opportunities, jobs, and consumer choices in the area.

“These outstanding advisory board members understand that if we truly want to grow southern Dallas, we cannot afford to treat half of our city solely as a real-estate play,” Mayor Johnson said in a press release regarding the initiative’s board members. “We must invest in the people of southern Dallas and strive to increase economic activity and entrepreneurship in every part of our city. Together, through our relentless approach to strengthening our city, we will make all Dallas communities more vibrant and more equitable.”

Now, it’s time for franchising to expand its scope and include those that have been neglected in the past.

“I am grateful to Mayor Johnson for this opportunity and for his relentless focus on increasing entrepreneurship, economic development and workforce development in southern Dallas,” White said in a release by the City of Dallas. “Through the May- or’s Franchise Initiative, I know we can make a real difference in the lives of Dallas families and in our communities.”

A Brighter Future

Going forward, this development will hopefully result in economic improvement for working families in southern Dallas. Mayor Johnson is optimistic and resolute in his plan to make the Mayor’s Franchise Initiative result in lasting change.

“We’ve made workforce development a top priority for the first time in our city government’s history,” Mayor Johnson said in a press release. “And through the new Workforce Dallas initiative led by my workforce development czar Lynn McBee, and through the Mayor’s Franchise Initiative led by my Impact Ambassador Carlos White, we must take the opportunity to build a business ecosystem that can make a difference for working families in our city.”

White is also optimistic about the future of southern Dallas with the initiative. With diverse and experienced board members from a variety of sectors in the franchising sphere, White hopes that Dallas will become a leading player in the utilization of the franchise model to facilitate economic inclusivity.

“This advisory board’s expertise and experience will be invaluable to our exciting efforts to increase franchise business activity in Dallas and having southern Dallas as the epicenter for the Mayor’s Franchise Initiative further underscores the fact that Dallas is a global leader in franchising and economic inclusiveness,” White said. “I look forward to working closely with the mayor and advisory board to help grow our city and its people.”

About Carlos White

Carlos White is an HBCU-bred, Ivy League Law-trained business optimizer and franchise developer with over 15 years of experience in franchise and distribution law. Carlos counsels businesses — from startups to mature companies — in all matters relating to franchise and distribution systems. Carlos helps clients understand the value and indispensable part that legal strategy plays in sustaining and growing their concepts. Carlos has helped clients create dozens of franchise programs and strategic distribution and licensing arrangements, both domestically and internationally, across numerous sectors of business.

Outside of work, Carlos enjoys traveling and studying 20th-century U.S. and sports history.

Representative Experience

• Domestic and International Commercial Arrangements

• Represented a multi-billion-dollar hotel company in restructuring U.S. franchise program and establishing a franchise program in Mexico.

• Represented a multi-billion-dollar hotel/hospitality company in establishing franchise and distribution networks in Australia, Barbados, Singapore, Russia, and Thailand.

• Represented an international real estate company in establishing a distribution network in China.

Corporate, Private Equity and M&A

• Served as lead franchise counsel on $650 million sale of oil services company.

• Represented management team of consumer product company in connection with $1 billion private equity transaction.

• Represented a multi-billion-dollar company in sale of restaurant concept to San Francisco–based private equity firm. from 5,700 to 25,000+ in a two-year period.

• As in-house counsel, developed customer-driven automation processes allowing customers to obtain certain compliance reports and documentation about the company’s infrastructure while protecting the confidentiality of such reports and documentation.

• As in-house counsel, trained sales staff on the company’s customer-related agreements.

If you would like more information about the Dallas Initiative, please contact yourdream@pillarsoffranchising.com, and you will be connected to the right contact.