Project
Highlights

Broke ground June 13, 2025 with a private ceremony for 500 invited guests. Construction is active on the 46-acre site at the northeast corner of US 75 and SH 121.

Originally targeted for 2026 — in January 2026 McKinney City Council approved a development agreement amendment moving the target opening to 2027.

Multi-season configuration accommodates 5,000 guests for smaller events. Features include the members-only Aikman Club with Troy Aikman, LuxeFire Suites, wind wall technology, and a canopied roof for year-round programming.

Projected to generate $3 billion in economic impact over the first decade and support 1,300+ jobs. Partnership between VENU, the City of McKinney, MEDC, and MCDC.

Broke ground December 15, 2025. Construction is active on a 35-acre site at the northeast corner of Stacy Road and SH 121.

A $200 million surf and adventure resort. The centerpiece is a 3-acre surf lagoon, plus a lazy river, mineral hot springs circuit, full service resort hotel, skateboard park, movie theater, bowling alley, health club, and indoor recreation.

Projected to draw 400,000 visitors annually and generate $2 billion in economic impact over 20 years. Will create 700+ jobs.

Developer: Cole Cannon and Cannon Development Group. Partnership with the City of McKinney, MEDC, and MCDC. MCDC awarded $4M in February 2025 for infrastructure.

Now publicly approved. Originally a quiet project, now formally announced. McKinney City Council approved the economic development agreement in June 2025. MCDC approved a $25M grant and $10.25M loan in July 2025. MEDC approved a $2M grant.

A $325 million luxury resort hotel on an 8-acre site at the northeast corner of Collin McKinney Parkway and Van Tuyl Parkway in Craig Ranch. 290 guest rooms, 51,575 sf of conference space, and 45 for-sale condominiums.

Amenities include a resort-style pool with lazy river, fitness center, pickleball courts, restaurants and lounge, plus access to TPC Craig Ranch and Lifetime Fitness and Spa.

Construction start was originally Dec 31, 2026 — in January 2026 City Council approved an amendment extending the start to April 30, 2027. Completion target: August 31, 2029.

Developer: Craig Ranch Luxury Hotel SPE Owner LP — a joint venture between Ashford Inc., Craig International, and Horizon Capital Partners.

McKinney City Council approved the extension agreement in October 2025. TPC Craig Ranch will continue to host the CJ Cup Byron Nelson through at least 2030, with an option to extend through 2033.

The tournament has been at TPC Craig Ranch since 2021. The 2026 edition runs May 21–24 at TPC Craig Ranch.

Under the extension, the city continues to provide police and fire services for the tournament. The city will also contribute $500,000 in infrastructure improvements for every $10M Invited Clubs spends on golf course improvements.

Hosted by the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. Tournament has raised more than $190 million for the Momentous Institute since 1968.

The first commercial carrier is confirmed: Avelo Airlines. Avelo signed a five-year Use and Lease Agreement in December 2025, with an option for a five-year extension. Avelo gets preferential rights to three of the four initial gates.

Houston-based ultra low-cost carrier. Founded by Andrew Levy. Will base its crew in McKinney. Plans to start with four to six weekly flights. Average fare around $110 with all nonstop service.

Target terminal opening: late 2026 (some reporting points to November 2026). Launch date and specific destinations announced a few months before the terminal opens.

The new passenger terminal is a 45,000 sf facility just east of the existing airport, with four initial gates that can expand to six. Total project cost: $72M — funded through sales tax revenue, federal loans, and grants. Includes a $14.8M TxDOT grant for eastside airfield work and $30M from MCDC awarded in March 2025 for eastside airport infrastructure.

Projected to handle ~200,000 passengers in its inaugural year and generate roughly $300M in annual economic impact. If asked about additional carriers — the airport team is in active discussions with other airlines.

In February 2026, MEDC launched the McKinney Innovation Exchange as the next evolution of the Innovation Fund.

The Innovation Fund was created in 2020 and has supported more than 50 portfolio companies. Grants are now up to $200,000 for qualifying early-stage startups and up to $500,000 for established or relocating later-stage companies that HQ in McKinney.

A new 6,000 sf physical hub is being built adjacent to the MEDC offices at District 121. Expected to open later in 2026.

The Innovation Exchange supports founders, investors, corporate partners, and ecosystem organizations. Goals include accelerating startup growth, attracting capital, and supporting international prospects looking for a US soft-landing space.

MEDC continues to market MEDC-owned land nationally to attract a development partner.

Intent is for the partner to propose a visionary use for the site. Restrictions include no more than 10% residential ad valorem, no hospitals, and no gas stations.

MEDC has acquired 183 acres east of the Airport, split by Spur 399 and connecting to US 380 — with advanced manufacturing and aviation support potential.

121 North is a collaborative economic development initiative between the McKinney Economic Development Corporation and the Allen Economic Development Corporation focused on positioning the SH-121 corridor as one of the most dynamic growth corridors in North Texas.

Rather than marketing each city independently, both organizations recognized a larger opportunity: businesses, developers, investors, and workforce talent increasingly view regions holistically rather than by city boundaries alone. The goal of 121 North is to present the corridor as a unified destination where business growth, infrastructure investment, entertainment, housing, workforce access, and quality of life intersect.

The project began with a comprehensive research and stakeholder engagement process. More than 25 interviews were conducted with developers, brokers, business owners, city officials, residents, and commercial real estate professionals.

What emerged was a shared understanding that the corridor represents more than a transportation route. It is becoming a connected ecosystem of mixed-use development, office growth, entertainment destinations, restaurants, innovation, and community investment stretching across both Allen and McKinney.

The partnership resulted in: the creation of the 121 North brand identity; a co-branded regional messaging strategy; a microsite and interactive development map; coordinated marketing and communications assets; and shared storytelling around the corridor's growth and opportunity.

The interactive map and digital platform were designed to showcase major developments, infrastructure investments, and destination assets occurring on both sides of the corridor while directing prospects and visitors back to each city's economic development organization.

At its core, 121 North is about regional stewardship and shared momentum — a modern approach to economic development where neighboring communities collaborate to compete more effectively for investment, talent, and long-term economic growth.

The project reinforces a broader vision for the corridor: intentional growth, coordinated infrastructure, vibrant mixed-use development, business-friendly environments, workforce accessibility, entertainment and lifestyle amenities, and long-term regional competitiveness.

In partnership with the McKinney Fire Department, MEDC is helping tell the story of The 4-Minute City — a two-year initiative rewriting the playbook on cardiac arrest response so that help is never more than four minutes away.

70–80% of cardiac arrests happen at home, not at hospitals or stadiums. Every minute without CPR and an AED drops survival by 10%, and the average ambulance takes about seven minutes to arrive. McKinney Fire's program — better dispatch, better CPR, and AEDs in 88 police cars — has lifted city-wide survival from 10% to nearly 47% in 2025, closing in on Seattle's national-best 50%.

Residents can plug in three ways: become a Neighborhood Hero (get trained, receive an AED, and opt in to nearby cardiac alerts via app), sponsor an AED for a business or public space, or simply learn hands-only CPR. Texas Good Samaritan laws protect responders.

MEDC amplified the story through its content channels with Fire Chief Ben Jones. First-week results blew past benchmarks:

Long-form episode performed on par with typical content (21 YouTube views, 17 audio-platform plays). The short clip, however, did 10×+ a normal short: 867 on YouTube, 7,109 on Facebook, 102 on Instagram, and 284 on LinkedIn — over 8,000+ people reached in week one with the story of the man saved in a KFC parking lot and the subsequent Phoenix Event.

A textbook example of regional storytelling driving public-safety outcomes — and proof that genuine, mission-led content travels.