FORT WORTH (1080 KRLD) - About 300 business leaders and politicians from Tarrant County are headed to Austin to show off growth in the Western part of the Metroplex.
Officials will meet with the lieutenant governor and state lawmakers Thursday then set up a booth at South by Southwest starting Friday.
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and council members from several cities are participating in "Tarrant County Days" at the State Capitol. The event aims to strengthen ties between the county and state lawmakers.
Fort Worth will then set up a display this weekend at South by Southwest. Price says the booth gives Fort Worth a chance to reach a younger generation.
"Young recruits out of college are beginning to discover Fort Worth," she says. "Even the nightlife, cultural scene and the food are really growing. You've just got to build on the momentum.
Fort Worth set up the display for the first time last year. This year's exhibit will be on Rainey Street, closer to the center of the festival.
"This is a big piece of our economic development package to recruit more young people and more technical people," Price says.
She will also lead a 15K bike ride.
Companies in Tarrant County will also have a presence at the display, called "Fort Worth on Rainey." Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopter will set up flight simulators.
Chef Tim Love will offer presentations on local cuisine.
Price says the display at South by Southwest gives Fort Worth a chance to build a reputation with an international crowd.
"Oftentimes, they just don't know anything about Fort Worth. If you poll the average person about Fort Worth and ask, 'How big is Fort Worth?' They'll think it's probably anywhere from 30th to 40th in size. We're the 15th largest city in the nation," she says.