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, 129 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09 MIDLAND, TX
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