Live Like a Local

How you fit into downtown Dallas' plan for success

Pacific Plaza recently opened.

Photo courtesy of Downtown Dallas, Inc.

Behind every great downtown is an even greater advocate, champion, and steward, and in Dallas' case that means Downtown Dallas, Inc.

The dedicated nonprofit touches anything and everything that has to do with downtown, from public safety to maintenance to economic development. But the residents, workers, and visitors of downtown Dallas help make a difference too.

As Downtown Dallas, Inc. president and CEO Kourtny Garrett outlines in the video, here are four ways you can get involved.

1. Get involved with committees and volunteer groups
When you join DDI, your membership dues are invested in the area's growth and success. From Main Street District and Victory Park to Dallas Arts District, Dallas Farmers Market, and Deep Ellum, downtown is evolving faster than ever, and you can have a say in how it grows.

2. Support local businesses
This is the fun part (that you're probably already doing). Eat at downtown restaurants and shop at local boutiques, knowing that each choice you make to support downtown businesses helps strengthen the area. Need tips on how to live like a local? Don't worry, we got you.

3. Enjoy parks and festivals
Green space in the urban core is a priority for DDI, and it maintains most of them: Main Street Garden, Belo Garden, Pegasus Plaza, Browder Plaza, and many more. In addition, three new signature parks are being built in the city center in the next few years, with the newest, Pacific Plaza, having just opened. And there's no shortage of events to attend, from family movie nights to pop-up markets to holiday parades and parties. You'll find a complete list of upcoming events here.

4. Be an advocate for urban issues
The Dallas Downtown Improvement District (DID) was created by Downtown Dallas, Inc. in 1992 to fund services and improvements to the area. It's what helps keep downtown Dallas clean, safe, and fun for the entire community. The DID is currently petitioning to be renewed for the 2021-2027 term, and you can read more about that here.

holidays shopping families festivals promoted urban-renewal downtown parks

money woes

Texas is no longer the No. 1 most financially distressed state in U.S.

Credit card and cash

Photo by Image Source/Getty Images

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After spending an unfortunate year as the No. 1 state with the most people in financial distress, Texas has slightly recovered. But the Lone Star State isn't out of the woods yet: it's still among the five most financially distressed states in America for 2026.

According to WalletHub's 2026 report, Texas sits in the No. 4 spot this year, while Kansas, Louisiana, and Florida moved up to become the top three states with the most financially distressed residents.

The personal finance website's experts compared all 50 states based on residents' average credit scores, the share of people with "accounts in distress" (meaning an account that's in forbearance or has deferred payments), the one-year change in bankruptcy filings from March 2025, and search interest indexes for "debt" and "loans."

Despite improving in the overall ranking, the study found Texas has had the fourth-biggest spike in bankruptcy filings nationally from March 2025 to March 2026. Texas residents also have the 10th worst average credit scores in the country, according to the findings.

This is how Texas ranked across the study's six key dimensions, where No. 1 means "most distressed:"

No. 4 – Change in bankruptcy filings from March 2024 to March 2025 rank
No. 5 – Average number of accounts in distress rank
No. 8 – "Loans" search interest index rank
No. 8 – People with accounts in distress rank
No. 12 – Credit score rank
No. 13 – “Debt” search interest index rank

It feels like inflation and affordability are top-of-mind for many Americans over recent years, and uncertainty around the national economy also adds another level of distress. That's especially true for Dallas residents, which were dubbed the fourth most financially distressed people in America earlier in 2026.

"Americans have faced significant financial challenges in recent years, as inflation, shifting unemployment levels, public health emergencies, and natural disasters have made it more difficult for many households to stay on top of their bills," the report said.

The top three states that have the least financially distressed residents are Maine (No. 50), Rhode Island (No. 49), and Hawaii (No. 48).

The top 10 most financially distressed states in America for 2026 are:

No. 1 – Kansas
No. 2 – Lousiana
No. 3 – Florida
No. 4 – Texas
No. 5 – South Carolina
No. 6 – Wyoming
No. 7 – Georgia
No. 8 – California
No. 9 – North Carolina
No. 10 – Kentucky

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