MAYOR ALLEN OWEN DELIVERS MISSOURI CITY MAYOR ALLEN OWEN WILL BE UP FOR RE-ELECTION AGAIN IN MAY OF 2016
Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen Highlights Successes, Looks to Future Growth in 2015 State of the City Address
Police Chief Mike Berezin and Mayor Allen Owen At 11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 20, Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen addressed an audience of more than 350 stakeholders at the City Centre at Quail Valley for the 2015 State of the City address. Attendees to the event learned about all of the “Show Me City” initiatives that in 2014 led to the City being ranked the sixth safest City in Texas and the 16th best place to live in the United States. And, following in line with previous addresses, Mayor Allen Owen highlighted the many staff initiatives and citizen partnerships that have paved the way for Missouri City to further establish itself as a major force for economic development and as one of the GreaterHouston area’s premier places to work, live and play. “Throughout 2014 and the beginning of 2015, City staff continued to see economic development initiatives thrive and expand. New business parks such as the Connor Commercial Development and Park 8 Ninety were approved by Council and are under construction,” Mayor Owen said. “These future developments will continue to push the City toward a balanced property and sales tax revenue stream that will ease the burden of our property owners.” The event was hosted in partnership with the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. The Muller Law Group, PLLC served as the Presenting Sponsor, and Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, Houston Community College—Southwest, IDS Engineering Group, Inc., Jones & Carter, Inc., Sterling McCall Lexus, TBG Partners, Inc., Triquest Management Services and TXU Energy served as underwriting sponsors. Donations were
provided by H-E-B, Niagara Bottling, LLC, Paint Party Place, the Quail Valley Golf Course, Mr. Leonard Freeman and Raising Cane’s. The program also featured an Honor
Choral Activities at Elkins High School, Invocation by Pastor Remus E. Wright of The Fountain of Praise and a choral performance by the Elkins Knightbeats. In his speech, Mayor Owen stressed
Guard of Missouri City Firefighters and Police Officers, the Pledge of Allegiance by Dr. Charles A. Murphy Sr., Senior Pastor of Heritage Baptist Church & City of Missouri City Chaplain, the National Anthem sang by Russell Clark, Director of
that strategic economic development initiatives, such as Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones, tax abatements and the City’s newest small business and Texas Parkway corridor redevelopment policies, have pushed the City further away from
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its former status as a bedroom community. In 2014, the City again opened its doors to the public to initiate dialogues and invite feedback from residents, which helped develop and design many of the supportive City policies that were launched last year. Mayor Owen explained to guests that these forwardthinking initiatives and valuable community partnerships were crucial to the City’s success. “This presentation today is part of the Fort Bend Chamber’s joint efforts to work closely with business and local government to bring you valuable information that impacts our region and economy,” said Dr. Brian Machart, the 2015 Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Chairman. Taking place in the City Centre’s Magnolia Ballroom, the State of the City was host to business owners, managers, elected officials, stakeholders and professionals from a range of industries, including energy, healthcare, engineering, construction, manufacturing, food production and distribution, banking, nonprofits, elder care, government and legal arenas. Many of the City’s first-class citizens were present as well, including Troy and Charity Carter, entrepreneurs who are helping to reshape the Texas Parkway corridor by renovating the former Cinema 6 site into a performing arts venue. “On Texas Parkway, another major gateway, we’re looking forward to the Cinema 6 Redevelopment Project and the transformation of the former movie theater into a premier performing arts venue, which will attract other business to the area. Troy and Charity Carter, principals of the project, are here with us today and we salute their vision, invest-