Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes held the 14^th State of the City address during his tenure Friday afternoon at the Brownwood Event Center, marking the first time the event has been held on City-owned property.

Growth was among the focal points of Haynes’ presentation, and the role the new Brownwood Event Center can play in those efforts.

“We want events that bring people from all across the state of Texas because we want to expose all the great things we have here in Brownwood as far and wide as we can,” Haynes said. “If you’re on a board that has reach beyond the boundaries of home, please tell them about this facility, please tell them we want them to have their events here. This is an incredible marketing opportunity we have got to do. We have got to tell our story. If we don’t tell our story, no one will tell it for us. The more we can do to continue to tell people that Brownwood feels like home, and why it feels like home, the more likely we are to succeed in developing new business.”

The Brownwood Area Chamber Commerce and Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood sponsored the event, which was catered by Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, as hundreds were in attendance.

The following are additional highlights of Haynes’ speech:

• The City of Brownwood and Brownwood Municipal Development District generated $9,455,232 in sales tax in 2024. Though down from the record $9,721,836 generated in 2023, the 2024 number is still a 44 percent increase over the last decade, with the 2014 number being $6,545,855.
• The Building Improvement Incentive Program, which encourages renovation and rehabilitation of commercial businesses within Brownwood, has resulted in a $1,071,197 investment by the City over the life of the program, which has then resulted in $7,151,211 in private investment money.
• Building valuation in Brownwood reached an all-time high of $47,550,967 in 2024, easily topping the previous high of $37,632,998 in 2022. Annual building valuation is tracked by the City of Brownwood Development Services Department and represents residential, commercial and infrastructure construction inside the city limits.
• Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood made $10 million in capital improvement investments in 2024 followed by Howard Payne University at $6.5 million, while Brownwood ISD is continuing $59 million in upgrades thanks to a bond that passed by voters in May 2023.
• Phase II of the Indian Creek Community housing development has been completed. It features 112 mixed residential single and two-story units, and additional acreage of future expansions with a $9 million investment
• The South Hampton Phase II build out of residential homes is taking place on Brooks Lane, and there are available lots on Duckhorn Town Ranch.
• The City has received requests to create Public Improvement Districts (PIDs) for  P3Works LLC and JRM Land & Cattle Co. LLC to provide public utilities for possible new residential developments.
• The average sale price of a home in Brownwood in 2024 was $209,435, up from $152,584 just five years ago in 2020. There were only 195 home sales a year ago, while each of the previous five years featured at least 200.
• Phase I of the Downtown Master Plan, which includes Fisk Streetscaping, Baker Streetscaping, the Art Park and the Silo Promenade and Courtyard, is anticipated to begin in January 2027.
• Allcorn Park has installed its new ADA accessible playscape, while ramps and sidewalks are expected to soon be completed at the 9.34 acre park.
• Phase II of Coggin Park renovations will feature two new basketball courts side by side, along with the extension of the walking trail.
• Riverside Park Phase I renovations are nearing completion which feature the demolition of existing roadways, reconstruction of new asphalt roadways, 180 additional parking spaces, new road ribbon curbing, fencing, electrical, lighting and landscape improvements, a new modern pavilion and an expanded patio of the pavilion with string lighting, food truck hookups, entrance signage, and sidewalk improvements.
• Phase II of the Riverside Park project will include improvements of native landscaping, additional site amenities, a playground with inclusive elements, paved trail improvements, river view picnic facilities, signage, a rain collection system for the pavilion, restroom improvements, sand volleyball court improvements, public art, and additional lighting.
• The Bennie Houston Center renovation will be aided by a total of $4.5 million in grant money from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Improvements include maximizing the existing floor plan allowing for a larger reception hall and lobby, a kitchen with a serving bar and prep tables, a multi-purpose room for study/tutoring or a classroom/game room, new ADA restroom facilities, and a staff office.
• The Brownwood-Brown County Health Department has been relocated to a 13,411 square foot facility at 305 Booker Street, where an open house will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29.
• The City received a $368,542 grant from FEMA Hazard Mitigation that will go toward replacing Brownwood’s 12 storm sirens.
• The Brownwood Event Center held more than 30 events since opening in June, including four concerts, with 10,840 in attendance. There are already 61 events booked for January 2025 at the Event Center.
• The City of Brownwood will host an undisclosed collegiate national sporting championship in 2026 and again in 2028. The official announcement will come from the organization, but 12 teams will compete featuring more than 200 student-athletes. Attendance is expected to be more than 3,200 over the four-day event and result in more than 400 hotel nights. The previous host cities of this tournament have all had a population of more than 100,000.
• The 2024 Feels Like Home Festival resulted in 9,557,664 total media impressions and resulted in $1.2 million in direct visitor spending. Visitors from 14 states and 260 cities attended the Feels Like Home Fest, and the 2025 event is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 4.
• 7Brew Coffee is now open, Panda Express will follow later this spring, and the Tropical Smoothie Cafe is set to open its doors in 2025 as well.

A video of Haynes’ State of the City address can be viewed here.