Business Resources

This guide reflects Arlington’s commitment to supporting local entrepreneurs before, during, and after World Cup. It brings together strategies, best practices, and compliance guidance to help businesses prepare operationally, market effectively, engage diverse audiences, host compliant watch parties, and build long-term value beyond the tournament.

Importantly, this Playbook is not just about one event.

It is designed to serve as a repeatable framework, a resource businesses can return to for future mega-events such as major sporting championships, conventions, concerts, and international tourism opportunities often held in the City of Arlington.

By planning ahead and working together, Arlington’s small businesses can not only participate in the World Cup moment but help shape the legacy it leaves behind.

We are excited to present Industry-Specific Small Business Cohorts. These FREE cohorts will connect Arlington-based small businesses to subject matter experts through programming that directly addresses the challenges and opportunities in their sector. The Industry-Specific Small Business Cohort will focus on scaling, sustainability and strategy refinement— not just startup basics. Current cohort industries available for registration include Ideation (May 2026).

• Ideation: The Ideation Cohort is a four-week program designed for individuals who have a business idea and want to explore how to turn that idea into a viable business. This cohort is ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs who are in the early concept stage and need guidance, structure, and clarity before launching.

  Through interactive sessions and hands-on activities, participants will learn how to validate their idea, understand their target customer, develop a basic business model, and create a clear roadmap for next steps. The cohort focuses on building a strong foundation, reducing early-stage risk, and helping participants move from idea to action with confidence.

How to Sign Up:

• Submit Your Application: Registrations are currently closed.

• Application Review: Applications will be reviewed based on eligibility criteria.

• Confirmation: Accepted businesses will receive a confirmation email with further instructions.

Why Participate?

• Expert Guidance: Learn from seasoned professionals and successful entrepreneurs.

• Industry Insights: Understand market trends and tailor your business strategies for success.

• Networking: Connect with like-minded professionals and potential clients.

• Tools for Growth: Receive the tools and knowledge to grow your business and reach your goals.

• Exposure: Participants will be featured on program marketing materials, giving your business increased visibility and exposure.

Who Should Participate?

• Small businesses (1-50 employees) in Professional Services, Construction & Trades, or Food & Beverage.

• Businesses looking to scale, improve operations or grow their customer base.

Cost: FREE

The Arlington EDC, in partnership with the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC), has established the Strategic Solutions Fund (SSF) to help Arlington-based companies accelerate their growth and productivity.

The SSF is designed to accelerate growth and productivity by:

• Supporting eligible Arlington companies identify process, facility, production, technological, or talent-related challenges, inefficiencies, and growth barriers; and,

• Developing strategic interventions and solutions designed to address identified growth barriers; and,

• Covering portions of the cost associated with delivering and implementing the interventions and solutions.

Through the Strategic Solutions Fund, Arlington businesses with 51-250 employees can be eligible for grants up to $10,000 and businesses with 50 employees or less employees can be eligible for grants up to $5,000 for projects with TMAC.

How to Apply

1. Obtain a free TMAC facility/organizational-assessment and recommended scope of work (SOW). Schedule your no-cost TMAC Assessment.

2. Submit a program application and TMAC SOW to Arlington EDC by filling out this form.

3. Agree to programmatic and performance criteria required by the Arlington EDC.

Companies selected for the program will be required to demonstrate the retention of existing operations and jobs within Arlington, at a minimum, and sufficiently identify how TMAC services will contribute to the growth of capital investment in the facility, revenue,  productivity, savings, and/or jobs.

Eligible Companies/NAICS Codes

• Manufacturing (331-339)

• Wholesale Trade (42)

• Transportation and Warehousing (48-89)

• Scientific/technical services (5413/5415/5416/5417)

Submit your 6-digit NAICS code in your application. You can find your NAICS code at: census.gov/naics/

Program Requirements

• All reimbursable expenditures must be for trainings and services for facilities located in Arlington and employees that work in facilities in Arlington.

• All participating companies will be required to agree to Arlington EDC terms within a performance agreement.

• All participating companies will be required to demonstrate the retention of operations/jobs within Arlington for a period of three years.

• All participating companies must be up to date on rendering their business personal property (BPP) to be eligible for the SSF. Learn about BPP rendition on the Tarrant Appraisal District website.

About TMAC

The Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC), part of the national NIST MEP Network, helps accelerate the profitable growth of Texas manufacturers and business by delivering hands-on impact-oriented business management, technology, and operational solutions.

Visit TMAC's website to learn more.

Arlington EDC and LiftFund have teamed up to support small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs by providing zero interest rate funding to support the community and help local business owners achieve their goals.

• Fixed interest rate at 0%

• Small business loans up to $100,000

• Available to all for-profit small businesses located in, or relocating to the Arlington city limits.

This program is subject to funding availability and LiftFund’s credit and lending guidelines, including inability to secure funding through traditional commercial sources. Other fees may apply.

The City of Arlington and the Arlington Economic Development Corporation (EDC) are partnering with SCORE to provide a select group of up to 18 small business owners the opportunity to participate in a series of tailored workshops to advance their company’s growth as part of the Arlington Small Business Development Cohort.

Class content will include the following sessions:

• Developing a Business Plan for Growth

• Sales and Marketing Considerations to drive Growth

• Utilizing Social Media to Boost Visibility/Awareness

• Business Financial Statements/Considerations

• Financing/Funding Resource Overview

• Tips for Recruiting Talent

The program consists of six classes with one class session meeting per month. In addition to these six classes, cohort members will be expected to attend three one-on-one free confidential mentoring sessions (in-person or virtual) with a SCORE representative or other designated mentor by the City of Arlington.

The 2024 cohort has graduated and applications are closed - watch this space for updates on future opportunities.

Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County strives to meet the needs of employers and job seekers through locally designed, market-driven workforce development initiatives and services including:

• Recruiting Assistance & Placement – Offering interview space through Workforce Centers 

• Labor Market Information – Wage information, job descriptions, labor pool availability and local business trends are provided free to business

• Outplacement Services – Designed to support companies that are restructuring, downsizing or closing

• Job Fairs & Hiring Events – One-on-one hiring events for employees

• WorkInTexas.Com – Easy-to-use online job search resources and advanced job matching tools assist businesses in finding the best candidates

• Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) – Federal income tax benefit through the U.S. Department of Labor for private, for-profit businesses who hire from targeted populations. Federal tax savings benefits can range from $1,200 to $9,000 per qualified employee\

Tarrant Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides business mentoring, consulting and training with convenient satellite offices located in Arlington.

Skills Development Grant for Small Business

Funding is focused on the training of newly hired, full-time employees (hired up to 12 months prior to the application date)

Up to $1,800 for each new employee being trained and $900 for existing employees per 12-month period.

All training must be provided by a public community or technical college; selected from active course catalogs/schedules credit, continuing education, online or other available unpublished courses

Employers must pay the prevailing wages in the local labor market for the trainees funded under the grant.