Marty Wieder is stepping in as the new chief of Arlington's economic charge, starting February 19. Tasked with steering the Arlington Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) forward, Wieder is a familiar face in the North Texas economic landscape, according to city hall, according to the City of Arlington, Texas.
With over three decades under his belt dealing with dollars and development, Wieder is not a newbie to the game, having spearheaded major projects in Grand Prairie, including the EpicCentral and Gateway at Grand Prairie developments. The city's movers and shakers, including Arlington City Manager Trey Yelverton, are betting on his track record. "Marty’s credentials are strong as it relates to working in the economic development world in North Texas," Yelverton said. "He knows the business leaders, the brokers, the people who get things done", as per the City of Arlington, Texas.
The University of Texas at Arlington alum will be filling the shoes of the AEDC’s inaugural executive director Broderick Green, who's shifted gears to a new role with the Greater Washington Partnership. Wieder's homecoming to Arlington, a city close to his alma mater, is setting the stage for what local leaders hope will be a period of robust economic growth and innovation.
Wieder isn't shy about his approach, focusing on relationships as the bedrock of his strategy. "The opportunity to come back to my ‘hometown’ and work to further Arlington's economic future again is very exciting," he said. "I’ll begin by asking key stakeholders to share their thoughts and ideas about the AEDC, and Arlington’s economy. I believe that people support what they help create – we really do want to establish a sustainable culture that builds on existing relationships and fosters new ones", as cited by the City of Arlington, Texas.
A seasoned veteran with stints across North Texas' municipal economic sectors, Wieder's resume includes leadership positions with the likes of the City of Colleyville and the City of North Richland Hills. He also boasts an enviable network, being involved with various industry organizations such as the International Economic Development Council and the Urban Land Institute. Michael Jacobson, AEDC Board president, is confident in Wieder's potential impact: "He has the knowledge, the capacity and the skillset to hit the ground running, build a strong economic development team and deliver on the promise we have with the citizens of Arlington to foster a vibrant and prosperous economy", per the City of Arlington, Texas.
