Midland, Texas

Reimagining a Diversified Future 

A bold vision for economic growth rooted in community

The municipality of Midland, Texas, long recognized as an energy hub in the Permian Basin, is firmly focused on redefining itself for the next generation. While oil and gas remain central, city leadership is carefully steering the city toward diversification with a special focus on family amenities and bold infrastructure investments that promise to make Midland more resilient and livable today and for future generations. Keeping the residents in the heart of its long-term economic vision, this dynamic and engaged community has a bright future ahead.

A Young, Forward-Looking Community

“Midland is a very young community, with a median age of about 32 years old, and so we have a lot of bold strategic vision for our future,” said Mayor Lori Blong. “We are prioritizing sound governance, smart investment, and a commitment to operational excellence.”

Although much of the economy still ties to energy, new industries are emerging. “We do have various other enterprises that are coming to our community,” Blong added. “A lot of expansion of retail and entertainment opportunities. We’ve recently added an air and space port component, with space development companies and national defense contractors investing in opportunity here.”

This diversification is building resilience and creating opportunities for residents and investors alike.

Revitalizing Downtown

Downtown redevelopment is central to the city’s overall economic strategy. Chief of Staff Taylor Novak points to key recent and anticipated additions to the city’s downtown corridor that help to define its overall vision.

“The Bush Convention Center and Centennial Park are recent multimillion-dollar facilities that are definitely the anchors of the downtown area. But what we’re most looking forward to is the addition of hotel keys, mainly with the Omni Midland that is coming.”

The five-star Omni will feature a rooftop pool, spa, restaurants, and retail. Alongside it, the Locklin Hotel will further expand lodging. Together, they will support conventions and events like the International Collegiate Rocket Competition, which drew 2,000 students from around the globe.

Blong noted the growing energy that is palpable in the downtown corridor even before hotels are complete.
“We’ve had a lot of additional programming added, which is drawing people from the community and beyond. The interaction in our downtown park area has really exploded in the last couple of years.”

The city’s role is to invest strategically, then open doors for private development. 

“The public investment in the Bush Convention Center and Centennial Park formed that anchor,” Blong said “we have greater opportunity ahead for private investment as well.” “We want to be the facilitating member—facilitating the permitting and construction process. We’ve taken what used to be a multi-week permitting process down to seven days or less for commercial properties.”

Strategic Growth in Retail and Sports Tourism

When pinpointing areas of municipal focus, City Manager Tommy Gonzalez highlights tangible retail growth along Highway 191.

“The Mayor and Council have made a strategic investment in that area and also placed dollars towards infrastructure in order to ensure that it becomes a true retail corridor. Obviously, you mentioned Costco. There’s the Scharbauer Sports Complex facility out there… and I think Costco’s really going to take that to another level.”

Plans, Gonzalez notes, include retail, sports facilities, and a family resort hotel. Midland already hosts numerous tournaments, and Gonzalez wants to leverage that reputation. 

“It’s the hub of tournaments in West Texas. What we want to do is leverage that with retail along that corridor as well as with a family-style hotel resort.”

Transportation investments are also keeping pace. Midland is now positioned along I-20, I-14, and the newly designated I-27 corridor. “The council, the mayor in particular, is really focused on water infrastructure, road infrastructure, highways, and how we connect to other places,” Gonzalez said. “We invested a million dollars in the study and got $26 million back from TXDoT, moving the project up by six years.”

A Destination for Families

Midland is also busy at work enhancing family amenities. One of the most anticipated additions is a privately funded zoo.

“The zoo is a private investment—a group of local oil and gas professionals and large companies coming together to fund it,” Blong said. “The city is deeply engaged in facilitating their success… the way our west side is shaping up, it is becoming a true destination for West Texas.”

The zoo will join the ExxonMobil Soccer Complex at Beal Park, a $40 million+ project with 62 soccer fields and other amenities. “Right now, we have about 3,200 kids playing soccer on any given Saturday,” Blong explained. “This centralized location will ease the strain on families separated by location on gameday and also allow us to host regional tournaments.”

Recreation upgrades extend citywide. “We’re planning a significant investment in our municipal golf course to have forward-thinking, water-conscious irrigation systems and upgrading and replacing the greens and fairways,” Blong said. “All of our parks have seen a total replacement of our play structures in the last few years. Almost all playgrounds in city parks are brand new.”

Planning for Water Security

Blong is quick to point out that in arid West Texas, water supply is critical. Recognizing the area’s continuing supply challenges, Midland has taken steps to secure its long-term future.

“We have about 50 plus years of water supply that’s currently piped in under our existing system,” Blong said. “We made an acquisition of another well field that takes us over that 100-year targeted mark. A hundred years is really the goal that has been set for us by the state and it’s something we’ve taken very seriously. I may not ever drink the water that comes out of those pipes from this new source, but I do believe my children will.”

Housing with Staying Power

Housing policy is also evolving, Gonzalez emphasizes, when discussing the topic of  quality of life in Midland.
“The mayor and council really stressed how they want to create neighborhoods, not just housing. We’ve introduced a public improvement district where more amenities can be added and maintained. It operates like an HOA but as a public instrument, already factored into housing costs. It’s going to make that product better.”

Downtown housing demand is strong as well. The Lofts at Midland maintain 98–99% occupancy. “We feel like we need a second phase of that,” Gonzalez said. “In order for you to have a truly successful downtown, you need housing as well.”

A Strong Sense of Community

For many, Midland’s strength lies in its people.

David Chandler, owner of Red Deer Construction, shares, “The city has been very good to me allowing me to start my business from scratch here. Thirteen years ago, I quit my job, rented a backhoe, and bought a used pickup, and I went to work. I worked indirectly at first and now directly for the city. They have allowed me to learn my trade and grow… I am extremely pro-Midland simply because of my experience and the atmosphere they’ve given us to be able to grow a business.”

Novak echoed the distinct rise in community’s spirit:

“Midland is just such a unique area. Given our oil and gas nature, we have in the past had a larger transient population. But nowadays, especially my generation and younger, are embracing Midland as their home and putting roots down here. We have one of the highest numbers of nonprofits for our population within the nation. We always kind of say we’re out on an island here in Midland because we’re a five-hour drive from everywhere, and so we really lean on each other.”

Leadership and Vision

For Gonzalez, who became City Manager in 2023, the pace of progress reflects leadership’s determination.
“It’s the mayor and the city council. When they hired me, they said they wanted a strategic plan, and they wanted it executed. They didn’t want it sitting on a shelf. What we’re doing now is transforming Midland, and that’s what they asked for.”

That drive is personal. “The mayor said something that stuck with me,” Gonzalez recalled. “She wants us to go to bed tired every night. That’s how hard she wants us to work for Midland. And that leadership bleeds into us.”

Looking Ahead

Asked about her priorities for the next 18–24 months, Mayor Blong relays that she is firmly focused on critical infrastructure services to ensure residents have exactly what they need.

“My focus is going to be on the essential city services… making sure that we have line of sight on the solutions for our hundred-year water plan. Not just that the water itself is secured, but we know how we’re going to be getting it to our residents. I’m also going to have a lot of focus on our public safety. Just in my time as mayor, we’ve reduced by over half the police vacancies that we have, and I’m going to continue that trajectory.”

Midland finds itself embedded in a pivotal civic moment. With investments in infrastructure, water, housing, and recreation, paired with downtown revitalization and economic diversification, the city is building a new chapter in its history. Grounded in strong community values yet driven by bold ambition, Midland is not only preparing for the future—it is creating it today.

AT A GLANCE:

Name: Midland, Texas

What: A dynamic, fast-growing municipality that is dedicated to economic diversification, civic infrastructure priorities and its valued residents

Where: Midland County, Texas

Website: https://www.midlandtexas.gov/