The small North Texas city of Ferris will be featured in an upcoming episode of “Advancements with Ted Danson,” a documentary TV series that goes behind the scenes to explore major innovations across industries and economies.
The Ferris episode will showcase how technology and innovation are being used to transform and empower local government and public administration, producers said.
“Advancements” airs nationwide, reaching around 450 million households via Bloomberg TV and distributed on Amazon Prime Video following broadcasts.

Brooks Williams
Ferris is a city in Ellis County, 20 miles south of downtown Dallas. Its 2023 population, per the Census Bureau: 3,370 people.
“In Ferris, we believe local government should be built on trust, accountability, and a relentless commitment to serve,” Brooks Williams, city manager and CEO of Ferris, said in a statement. “Our focus is simple: Deliver real results that improve lives.”
Williams said that innovation has been a key component in the process.
“We’ve strengthened our infrastructure, enhanced public safety, and driven economic growth, all while significantly lowering the tax rate to the lowest of any full-service city in Ellis County,” he said. “By embracing innovation, leveraging technology, and leading with transparency, we’re building a government that works smarter and serves better. This is what responsive, high-performing government looks like.”
Williams added that while the TV show’s spotlight is beneficial, it’s not the goal.
“We’re not chasing recognition—we’re focused on building a stronger, more resilient future for the people who call Ferris home,” he said.
Small city embracing smart city technologies
“Advancements” will explore some of the challenges facing local government and public administration today, as it shares how innovations in technology and economic development are helping city officials to navigate challenges and opportunities. With Ferris, viewers will discover how the city is accomplishing its goal to improve economic development, public safety, quality of life, fiscal management, and infrastructure, producers said.
The show will highlight the city’s strategic plan that was developed in 2019 to address both challenges and opportunities facing the community.
Viewers will learn how smart city technologies are enhancing efficiency and sustainability; how IoT-enabled infrastructure is helping to monitor systems and provide transparency; and how energy-efficient solutions are resulting in reduced environmental impact and operational costs.
The episode will also explore how Ferris uses automation and AI to streamline processes, improve services, and ensure that resources are used efficiently, while integrating technology into its education and workforce development initiatives to align education with community and economic goals.
Andrew Stuhl, senior producer for the “Advancements” series, said his team is “excited to educate about the great work that the city of Ferris is doing to accomplish its goals and bring better resources and quality of life to the surrounding area.”
“We hope this will act as a road map for other cities looking to improve their community,” Stuhl added in a statement.
Strategic planning and investing—with innovation as a lodestar
Ferris has achieved “transformative growth” under the leadership of Mayor Fred Pontley, the City Council, and Williams, “Advancements” producers said.
The city has eliminated budget deficits, quadrupled its fund balance, reduced crime rates, doubled in population, earned its first bond rating upgrade in 15 years to AA-, and celebrated a litany of other achievements, all while dramatically lowering its tax rate to the lowest of any full-service city in Ellis County.
Ferris said it prioritizes innovation, sustainability, and transparency in every decision.
The city said that strategic investments in infrastructure, public safety, and economic development have created a stronger, more resilient community. This intentional focus on excellence extends to education through the proposed Leaders at Heart Academy, a public municipal charter school currently under review by the Texas Education Agency and the State Board of Education.
Leaders at Heart Academy will provide an individually tailored and intentionally unique learning environment, offering bilingual education and opportunities for students to earn college credits and industry certifications.
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