It wasn’t that long ago that Fremont was a rural landscape of farms, ranches, and towns, and a stop along the way for commuters headed into the big cities. Now, Fremont is an impressive hub for advanced manufacturing and other innovative Silicon Valley companies. We had a chance to reflect on that progress last Thursday, March 24, 2016, during the annual State of the City address at the Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley, hosted by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s event was particularly momentous in the context of Fremont’s 60th anniversary. Over the last six decades, Fremont has become a strategically urban ecosystem and this event allowed all cross sections of our Fremont community to share experiences from the past, and look forward to the future.

advanced industries research.

    As we look back on the successes and challenges we experienced in 2015 and anticipate what’s on the horizon for our City, it’s apparent that Fremont is taking these lessons to heart and continuing to make a name for itself in Silicon Valley, California, and across the nation. Here are a few highlights.

  • The Brookings Institution selected Fremont for its Silicon Valley stop on advanced industries research.
  • Delta Products opened its new 180,000 sq. ft. headquarters, LEED Platinum building—a first of its kind in Fremont—that will serve as an iconic gateway into the Innovation District.

    • Startup Grind.

  • The City’s Warm Springs Community Plan won two awards and was recognized by the Association of Bay Area Governments and by the State for its American Planning Association Award of Excellence in Urban Design.
  • Progress continues to be made on construction of an iconic bridge and plaza that will connect properties such as Tesla and ThermoFisher to the Warm Springs/South Fremont BART station that will open later this year.
  • Downtown Fremont’s first mixed-use private development called State Street will break ground in June and work is underway on development plans for the City’s future Civic Center.
  • It’s been a landmark year for sustainability in Fremont — named America’s 10th Greenest City of 2015, signed onto the Compact of Mayors, installed 1.2 megawatts of solar carport structures, and is one of 50 semifinalist competitors in the $5M Georgetown University Energy Prize.

    • If you would like to learn more about Fremont’s recent accomplishments and where we see the City heading, you can view the speech at www.Fremont.gov/StateoftheCity.

    I would like to thank everyone who made this year’s State of the City another spectacular event to add to the books, and a special thanks to the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, the Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley, and all of our City employees for continuing to push Fremont to success.