Fremont is accelerating. On Wednesday, June 18, Mayor Raj Salwan delivered the annual State of the City Address with a clear message: the city is stepping into its future with confidence, backed by measurable progress and bold economic ambition.
“Fremont is a place of opportunity,” Salwan said, emphasizing the city’s continued investment in workforce development.
Over the past year, Fremont’s Human Resources department took part in several job fairs aimed at preparing the next generation of workers, including events hosted by Ohlone College, the State of California and Fremont Unified School District.
Salwan also recapped his appearance earlier this year at the Silicon Valley Business Journal Economic and Mayor’s Forecast, where he shared his vision for Fremont to stand alongside San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose as one of the Bay Area’s leading cities.
“It’s an ambitious vision, but if you look around, you’ll see that we’re already on our way,” he said.
Nowhere is that progress more visible than downtown, where over $1 billion has been invested in new development projects. Among them is The Tolman, a new apartment complex that brings 240 residential units and 5,700 square feet of commercial space to the heart of the city. Retailers like Paradox and Pints of Joy have also joined the growing district, with Palmetto Superfoods and Pour Decisions coming soon.
The city council also approved a mixed-use project at the Fremont Hub, dubbed “Future Restaurant Row,” which is set to break ground next year.
‘It’s an ambitious vision, but if you look around, you’ll see that we’re already on our way’
Raj Salwan on his vision for Fremont to stand alongside San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose as one of the Bay Area’s leading cities
Downtown also saw a surge in entertainment, hosting 325 events that drew over 50,000 attendees. Highlights included the city’s inaugural Holidays at the Plaza tree-lighting ceremony, attended by 4,000 people, and the largest Restaurant Week in Fremont’s history, which attracted more than 10,000 guests and boosted business for 95% of participating restaurants. Salwan visited several of them, reporting consistent feedback that business owners want Restaurant Week to return next year.
With more events and projects on the horizon, Salwan closed with a promise that Fremont residents can look forward to more exciting things to come soon.
