Mayor Delivers First State of the City Address: "Powered by Garden Grove"
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Garden Grove Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein delivered her first State of the City address at the Hyatt Regency Orange County. This year’s theme, “Powered by Garden Grove,” celebrated the community’s shared vision and energy that continue to drive the city’s progress and future growth.
“I believe Garden Grove’s power is its people. We stretch our collective imaginations, push the envelope, and drive ourselves to be innovators,” said Mayor Klopfenstein.
The opening video highlighted Garden Grove’s vibrant community, including world-class cuisine, live entertainment, a thriving tourism corridor, a robust industrial business sector, and an award-winning school district.
Key announcements from the mayor’s address included the upcoming launch of Phase II of the Street Medicine Program in 2026, which will provide additional 48 supportive housing units at the former Hospitality Inn.
Mayor Klopfenstein also announced that Garden Grove, in partnership with the cities of Fountain Valley and Santa Ana, was awarded the “Jobs First” grant in the amount of $300,000. The funding will go toward the collective cities to launch a Community Benefits District in Little Saigon.
The mayor continued by introducing the newest members of the Garden Grove Police Department’s Support Canine Program: support canine Shelby and her partner, Master Officer Lea Kovacs. The program provides trained police therapy dogs to offer social-emotional, and de-escalation support to local students.
The final video featured personal stories from local business owners, community members, and organizational partners, illustrating Garden Grove’s spirit of collaboration and shared growth.
The mayor concluded her address with heartfelt words that expressed her gratitude for the people of Garden Grove.
“I am proud that I grew up in Garden Grove. I got my values here, so I set my sights high for the city that I love. We are building the brightest future that we can here, and we’re doing it with our brilliant partners, which are, all of you.”
A complete transcript of the mayor’s speech and supporting videos are available on the City’s website at www.ggcity.org/state-city-2025.
