Farmington Hills Mayor Delivers 2026 State of the City Address Focused on City Potential, Progress and Pathways

Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich delivered the 2026 State of the City address outlining a bold strategic vision, continued economic growth, and more at the Greater Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce State of the Cities event at Farmington High School on Friday, March 6. She opened the speech sharing key details from the City’s recently adopted Strategic Plan, which includes new vision and mission statements.

“Following a year-long effort, Council and I recently adopted a new strategic plan to guide the City toward the community’s future,” said Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich. “This strategy sets a new vision for Farmington Hills as a City that strives to be a vibrant destination—preserving a welcoming and safe community where innovation, culture, and green spaces inspire people and businesses to flourish.”

This plan also defines an organizational mission to deliver best-in-class services that sustain a high quality of life for everyone who calls Farmington Hills home. Mayor Rich also revealed the City’s new tagline, “A Place for Every Path,” which is part of an upcoming refresh of the City’s brand and logo.

Major highlights from Mayor Theresa Rich’s speech included:

Strategic direction and streamlined services

City Council aligned its 2026 goals with the newly adopted strategic plan, prioritizing improvements to planning, zoning, engineering and building processes. The City continues expanding online services and modernizing operations to make processes fair, fast and predictable. While these changes will take time, the mayor emphasized that they will have lasting positive impact.

Economic momentum

Investment continues in key corridors, including along Grand River Avenue and Orchard Lake Roads. After recent market studies revealed a goldmine of potential in the Grand River Corridor, the City is working toward making the area a vibrant, walkable district with more options for dining.

Along Orchard Lake Road, there has been significant demolition progress at Hunter’s Square, two years after the project’s approval. When completed, the northern gateway to the City will be transformed to an immersive retail center featuring Meijer, Nordstrom Rack and Total Wine, as well as public art and green spaces for gathering.

Moving forward, community members can look forward to more public art across the City, as it is now a requirement for developments of over $2 million.

Public Safety and Preparedness

Mayor Rich highlighted the City’s commitment to a safe community. Police responded to nearly 53,000 calls in 2025, while the Fire Department handled more than 14,000 incidents. The City also opened a new $3 million, state grant-funded Emergency Operations Center in 2025, strengthening disaster preparedness without impacting local tax dollars.

The Fire Department’s educational outreach impacted more than 16,000 community members last year. Community policing efforts expanded through more than 150 engagement events and the launch of the Youth Police Academy.

Infrastructure and neighborhood investment

The City invested $38 million in roads and infrastructure in 2025, with $41 million more planned for 2026.

Grant funding and sponsorship partnerships are supporting neighborhood enhancements, including crosswalk improvements and the creation of an accessible nature trail at The Hawk campus, with more sponsorship opportunities on the horizon.

Recreation and Community Connection

Recreation participation reached record levels in 2025, which the mayor said was evidence of the community’s desire for high-quality gathering spaces. This record included approximately 6,000 children enrolled in summer camps, generating $1.2 million in revenue while fostering youth engagement and community connection.

The City is advancing plans to replace the Costick Activities Center with a new, modern standalone facility that will feature a full kitchen to continue Meals on Wheels and congregate dining, as well as other amenities designed with community input in mind. Construction could begin as early as 2027. The City recently secured an $850,000 federal grant to support the project.

Community-based and inclusive initiatives

Mayor Rich highlighted Feed the Need FH, an initiative which she launched in late 2025 to address food insecurity and essential needs by bringing together nonprofit, faith, education and government partners.

The City is also expanding inclusive initiatives, including plans for an adaptive playground at Heritage Park supported by $500,000 in funding. At the same time, modernization efforts continue across the City, including expanded online services for employment applications, building permits, and inspection scheduling to improve accessibility, efficiency, and customer experience.

Excellence and recognition

Mayor Rich also highlighted several brag-worthy accomplishments. Farmington Hills maintains a AAA bond rating and has received its 41st consecutive recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association for excellence in financial reporting and budgeting. In 2025, the City was named to Architectural Digest’s list of the 25 best places to live in the United States. The Cultural Arts Division celebrated its 25th anniversary, and record voter turnout in 2025 demonstrated strong civic engagement.