The Mayor of Fresno’s annual state of the city luncheon took place Tuesday, June 3rd at the Fresno Convention Center.
The annual event is hosted by The Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce.
Among the hundreds attending were business people listening to Mayor Ashley Swearengin reflect on the city’s accomplishments over the past year.
“In July, the California Employment Development Department indicated that the City of Fresno was the 5th best job creating city in the state. In September 2014, the U.S. Department of Commerce came out with their report that showed exports in Fresno County grew by 17%. That’s 2 ½ times the national average. And the real-estate website Trulia.com put Fresno on its list of top 10 housing markets to watch in 2015.” – Mayor Ashley Swearengin.
Mayor Ashley Swearengin delivered a positive report card – stressing restoration and growth and as the city’s accomplishments over the past year.
Since she took office, the fiscal picture has been improving, debt is zero, and the city’s assets are bigger than ever.
She has taken on refurbishing parks and addressing the issue of the homeless.
“For all of us who have been in the trenches, fighting for every inch of recovery and believe…truly…madly…deeply…that we‟re on the cusp of something epic happening right here in Fresno, let me state for the record – it‟s about damn time somebody noticed!” – Mayor Ashley Swearengin.
The Mayor says Fresno needs to push to become a global community.
With 18 more months to go, Mayor Swearengin is almost finished with her term.. but she has said herself there are many things she plans to accomplish before it’s over.
Budget Hearings are this month as she continues her plans for growth Downtown, the Blackstone Corridor, and the SE and SW sides of Fresno.
The response to her speech was positive: “I think Ashley highlighted that we are on the way up and that AG is leading the way.” David Rogers, Madera County Supervisor.
Marianne Collins King is the Associate Director for the Office of Community & Economic Development at Fresno State: “This is my 4th year of attending this luncheon and this particular year I see this pendulum swing in reference to people working together as far as the collaboration among the city council, the county of Fresno which has been a challenge the years past.”
The Key to the City Award” went to Stacey Gonzalez, mother of Janessa Ramirez who died from gunfire in January.
The 2015 champion award is handed out to an individual and organization best exemplifing the spirit and strength of the city of Fresno, and this year, Wells Fargo received the Champion Award for their work in the community.
