Speaking from the scenic Tampa River Center at Julian B. Lane Park, Mayor Jane Castor delivered her 2025 State of the City address on Monday, April 28, celebrating a period of unprecedented progress, major infrastructure upgrades, and the continued resilience of the Tampa community.
“We are not the same city we were six years ago,” said Mayor Jane Castor. “We’ve built entire neighborhoods, homes for thousands of families and storefronts for hundreds of small businesses. We’ve made historic investments to modernize aging infrastructure, including the largest upgrade to our city’s water and wastewater pipes in our history."
Under Mayor Castor’s leadership, Tampa launched the PIPES program in 2019, and since then, the city has replaced more than 270 miles of aging water and wastewater lines and repaired or replaced more than 4,800 stormwater structures, preventing countless leaks, breaks, and cave-ins. Long-standing flood-prone areas, like portions of Henderson Avenue in South Tampa, have been eliminated, and new projects like the MacDill 48 Nature Park now serve a dual purpose, offering major flood relief while also creating beautiful public spaces.
Mayor Castor also honored the heroic response of first responders during last year’s back-to-back hurricanes, Helene and Milton. Tampa Police and Tampa Fire Rescue crews rescued dozens of residents and answered over 15,000 emergency calls. Tampa’s Solid Waste workers cleared storm debris totaling enough to fill Tampa’s iconic Rivergate Tower four and a half times. In the aftermath, the city launched a disaster assistance fund to support struggling homeowners. The city has invested $94 million in wastewater upgrades, including 28 critical pump stations, and another $350 million in stormwater maintenance and improvements.
Housing continues to be a top priority. The mayor highlighted the addition of 20,000 new residential units — many of them affordable — and a variety of strategies used to stabilize the housing market, including land trusts, accessory dwelling units, downpayment and rental assistance, and zoning reforms.
“We welcome new neighbors, but we will not price our residents out of the city they built,” she affirmed.
As a result, Tampa rental rates have returned to 2021 levels, offering some relief to working families.
Despite setbacks such as the loss of revenue from the All for Transportation initiative, Mayor Castor emphasized the city’s determination to push forward. Tampa has increased street paving by 50% since 2019, resurfacing more than 235 miles of roads and adding 56 miles of bike lanes. The TECO Streetcar system is on track to serve 1.4 million riders this year, with expansion plans into Tampa Heights underway.
Looking ahead, Mayor Castor described a vision of smart, sustainable growth. Tampa is actively participating in the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance to enhance data-driven policymaking. The city is also updating its land use code, conducting a comprehensive housing needs assessment, and embracing emerging industries like cybersecurity, biotech, and artificial intelligence, with institutions like the University of Tampa and the University of South Florida leading the way.
Tampa’s economy remains strong, with the city recently recognized as the number one metro area in the U.S. for women-owned businesses. Median household income has surpassed $70,000 for the first time ever, and the city maintains one of the highest municipal bond ratings in the nation.
The speech also celebrated community-driven development projects, such as the nearly complete Fair Oaks Recreation Complex in East Tampa and the ongoing expansion of the West Riverwalk and River Arts District. The mayor also acknowledged the continued growth of Tampa International Airport, Port Tampa Bay, and Tampa General Hospital, which are making major investments to accommodate rising demands.
Throughout the address, Mayor Castor emphasized what she believes is Tampa’s greatest strength.
“Tampa’s strength is you. It’s us. It’s this community,” she said. “When we lead with our values, when we invest in each other, we make Tampa a place where everyone belongs, everyone contributes, and everyone can thrive.”
A full recording of the 2025 State of the City Address can be found here.
For Media: B-roll footage of key projects highlighted during the address is available through the links below.