Mission’s State of the City Address

Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza delivered the 2026 State of the City Address on July 8 at the Mission Event Center to outline ongoing developments, future projects and accomplishments over the past years. The theme for the address was “Mission Driven.”

 

 

Mayor Garza thanked all those in attendance, including community leaders, elected officials, business owners and first responders. She recognized the nearly 90,000 Mission residents she serves and emphasized the rise of the city as an economic hub attracting innovators across the region.

 

“Today is a story of a city,” she said. “A city that continues to dream…build bigger, and believe bigger. A city that refuses to stand still. A city that continues to push forward. A city that is Mission Driven.”

 

Mayor Garza highlighted the city’s housing cost as one of the lowest in the region. She celebrated millions of dollars in tax revenue that she hopes to allocate to public infrastructure and provide grant funding.

 

Council members shared achievement metrics and plans for the future regarding quality of life developments, including those in parks, recreation, aquatics and animal shelters.

 

“This is about building a future that serves everyone,” Councilman Alberto Vela said. “A future where our parks continue to inspire health, happiness, inclusion and community pride.”

 

 

The mayor spoke to the future of flood impact mitigation efforts for neighborhoods and schools through plans for numerous drainage projects and water treatment plants. She also expressed her excitement for transportation projects in partnership with TxDOT for increasing movement efficiency.

 

The mayor spotlighted the Lakota first response drone and thanked the Mission Police Department for their work in reducing crime rates.

 

In attendance were Congressman Henry Cuellar of Texas’ 28th congressional district, Chief of Staff Loradel Mariano representing State Rep. Sergio Muñoz, McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa, Hidalgo County leadership, City of Mission council members, City of Edinburg council members, MEDC staff, Sharyland ISD and Mission CISD Board Trustees, local judges and other valued members of the community.

 

“The future is not happening to Mission,” Mayor Garza said. “The future is being built in Mission.”