In March, the City of Glendale temporarily changed its name to Swift City to welcome pop star Taylor Swift. In addition to generating international media coverage for the city, some say the moniker fits the city due to the speed with which the city has become an entertainment mecca.
On Friday, Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers delivered the State of the City address and outlined the remarkable progress the city has seen since he first took office.
Unlike many surrounding communities, Glendale is in good financial health. Under Weiers’ leadership, the city has gone from operating with nearly a $30 million dollar deficit and having one of the worst bond ratings in the nation to budget surpluses and an AAA bond rating that reflects Glendale’s thriving economy.
“I proudly report to you, that the state of your city is strong,” said Weiers before a large gathering at Desert Diamond Arena. “We have come a long way. As your Mayor, I promised to be in this for the long haul – together we have come out of hard times stronger and more successful as a city. My promise to all of you, as we have done in the past, is – to keep our city’s positive momentum moving forward into the future.”
That positive momentum is reflected in voters’ early response to a special bond election approved by the Glendale City Council. With confidence in the City’s fiscal management, many seem willing to give the nod to two proposed bonds to continue the city’s progress.
If approved, one bond will cover the costs of street and intersection improvements and the other will cover the cost of public safety projects.
While other communities are wasting valuable taxpayer dollars on infrequently used and costly light rail project, the Glendale transportation bond will direct $82 million to critical street and intersection improvements to reduce congestion, save time, and enhance safety for all roadway users.
Weiers said the bond projects will “allow for more economic development to continue to move forward.”
At the same time that communities like Phoenix are creating obstacles for first responders and defunding their police department, Glendale is asking voters to approve a $78 million bond “directed to essential public safety projects to keep emergency response times low and address important safety issues including constructing, modernizing and improving fire stations, police stations, police and fire training academies, police department forensics laboratories and other public safety facilities. All to provide the best service for our residents and the most up to date facilities and equipment for employees,” Weiers told the crowd.
Responding to the needs of residents and the men and women who serve them – and hope to serve them – has been a hallmark of Weiers’ tenure.
“Just last month, we honored 350 high school aged military recruits that made the decision to serve our country as soon as they graduate. Along with more than 700 members of their families and friends, we recognized these new recruits and their families at a military induction ceremony hosted by my office. We are so grateful to those who volunteer to defend our freedoms and we are grateful to their family members who support them,” said Weiers referring to a project he started years ago for Glendale students. The program became so popular, that now Weiers and his nonprofit partners host young men and women from across the state.
Each young recruit receives a challenge coin and a stall embroidered with the insignias of their chosen military branch. The emotional ceremony leaves not one dry eye in the house. Support for the military doesn’t end there. Glendale also supports veterans in need and Weiers’ office hosts an annual Stand Up for Veterans event with local partners aimed at assisting veterans gain meaningful employment and connecting veterans with service organizations whose mission is to raise veterans up.
The popular annual “Stand Up” event will be held on October 14 and hosted with Arizona Christian University.
Weiers also won approval by the City Council last month for a proposed solution to the veteran homelessness issue that is plaguing communities across the country. Weiers proposed a similar public/private partnership benefiting homeless veterans to one he had seen on a recent trip to Kansas City. That initiative, known as the “Veterans Community Project,” aims to get veterans who are experiencing homelessness into single family homes.
According to Weiers, “the project would include wrap around services which are provided as a mandatory condition to moving into one of the homes, to help veterans who enter the program gain skills and employment to become self-sufficient and able to move into their own permanent housing within 24 months. This model has been proven to work in Kansas City and is being implemented in St. Louis, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Sioux Falls, and Longmont.”
An 8,000-capacity amphitheater is under development at the $1 billion VAI Resort in @glendaleaz and is expected to open in 2024. #experientialentertainment #glendaleaz #destination https://t.co/sIjYpHC24T pic.twitter.com/TjUaaXNYx6
— Glendale, Arizona Economic Development (@GrowGlendale) May 26, 2023
The city’s commitment to economic development is as strong as its credit rating.
Currently, a $1 billion resort is being built near State Farm Stadium. According to Howard Weiss, VAI Resort’s vice president of entertainment, the resort is expected to open in 2024 and hopes to attract top acts to the 8,000-capacity outdoor venue.
According to the city’s Department of Economic Development, “The city is also home to Luke Air Force Base and major defense contractors including Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Magellan Aerospace and Honeywell. Other major employers include Red Bull, Ball, Bechtel, and Nestlé. Leading healthcare organizations such as Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Banner Health, Abrazo Health and Dignity Health all call Glendale home employing over 14,000 healthcare professionals.”
Life for Glendale residents is also getting more family friendly. While most Glendale residents used to commute outside the city, most are now finding work in the city, cutting down on commute time and increasing the time they can spend at home or on family-related tasks. And Glendale’s schools are also showing improvement.
A mere thirty-six Arizona public schools earned the A+ School of Excellence Award, however a remarkable ten schools in districts serving Glendale families were among that small but prestigious group.
Beginning in August, Glendale’s high school graduates will be able to earn certain bachelor’s degrees at Glendale Community College due to legislation passed in 2021 expanding the offerings of junior colleges to include baccalaureate degrees.
Glendale was praised last year by the Arizona Commerce Authority for securing three of seventy-five companies, Nestlé, Enviro-Log and U.S. Merchants “that committed to creating more than 31,000 projected new jobs while investing over $41 billion in the state.”
So, Glendale is expecting more jobs on the horizon to be filled by families flocking there.
At the conclusion of his State of the City address, Weiers asked, “How do you think we are doing – do you believe we are accomplishing our goals and making positive progress in Glendale?” Judging by the loud applause in response, it would appear that Glendale residents agree.