Mayor Lori Blong shared insights from her keynote address at the 2025 State of Midland on April 2 through a Facebook post.
In her post, Blong said that her speech addressed the question, "What makes a great city?" She emphasized that the answer lies in its people. "People who care enough to lead, work through the hard issues, and build something that lasts," she said.
According to the Midland Chamber, the State of Midland luncheon provided a comprehensive briefing on the region's economic, social, and cultural landscapes. The event was sponsored by West Texas National Bank and the Midland Development Corporation (MDC).
Blong’s address underscored several accomplishments over the past year for the city. These included a more than 10% decline in violent crime, resolving the Firefighter Retirement Fund issue, and achieving fifth place in gross domestic product (GDP) among cities in Texas. "Our goal as a city is to do more than just reacting," Blong said. "We’re planning. We’re executing." She added, "And we’re building a Midland that works for families, for businesses, and for the generations still to come."
The mayor concluded her message by expressing gratitude to the chamber and those she believes contributed to these achievements.