In the year 2023, both the cities of Midland and Odessa made efforts to improve their downtown areas.
Starting out with Odessa, they attempted to approve new projects to try and bring new entertainment avenues to Downtown Odessa.
Some of those projects include new restaurants, bars and chain businesses.
One project they are excited for is the new sports complex that will be coming soon. Odessa city officials are already making plans to build around it.
“We've just allocated $6.5 million for infrastructure for an industrial park," Larry Robinson - a board member with Odessa Economic Development Board - said. "It will be north of the complex, further north. So once that gets in there and we have the sewer and water run out there, that will bring other businesses in hopefully.”
Odessa city officials believe that the new sports complex, combined with a new industry park, will be what attracts new businesses to their city.
However, there are still some parts of Odessa with older and dilapidated buildings.
According to Robinson, the City of Odessa would either renovate or demolish those buildings depending on their status.
Robinson also says city officials are studying a grant that would see an outside party renovate one of those older buildings, but they would have to tear it down and start anew.
There is a good chance, however, that city officials would pull the trigger on this grant.
"A lot of the old is going out and a lot of the new is coming in, so it's somewhat revitalizing Odessa," Robinson said. "We're already through the economic obsolescence period and now it's gone through a regeneration and regrowth in a very wise way."
Meanwhile out in Midland, City Council has been focusing on making improvements to Centennial Park.
This will also come with a new entertainment overlay district, which is already being zoned out.
“The Downtown Entertainment District or the Centennial Entertainment Overlay District is an area of forty-nine and a half acres of Downtown Midland that we've designated to really bring more activity and more opportunity downtown," Midland Mayor Lori Blong said. "So the overlay district is going to allow us to have more approved usage administratively so that people don't have to go to city council for approval.”
With these improvements, Midland city officials are confident that they can bring in more events such as concerts, vendor markets and festivals to their downtown area.
Blong says many businesses are interested in downtown spaces while the farmer's market will be relocated north of City Hall in the coming future.
But what makes the downtown section of a city so important?
According to Blong, a cities downtown is the heartbeat of a city itself, making them worth the investment.
“In communities around Texas where the downtown is thriving, the city is also thriving and where we've seen downtown's languishing, we've also know that a lot of those communities have been struggling," Blong said. "We believe that a flourishing downtown is a reflection of a flourishing community. It's part of why we are dedicated to investing in downtown and making sure we are looking for opportunities to make this a great place to be.”