Daniel Aleman, Mayor, City of Mesquite

In an interview with Invest:, Mayor Daniel Aleman of Mesquite emphasized the city’s rapid growth, driven by strong collaboration between local government, businesses, and educational institutions. He highlighted efforts to modernize infrastructure and expand housing options to support the local workforce.

What makes Mesquite stand out as a unique city in Texas?

Mesquite, on the east side of Dallas County, is experiencing significant growth. What sets us apart is our strong focus on collaboration. With a population of around 155,000, our city government works closely with the chamber of commerce, schools, and local businesses to make Mesquite a great destination for companies and residents.

We’ve seen a lot of positive changes, and I think that collaboration is key, especially in a time when there’s so much division. People who come here find ways to give back and get involved. We’ve built strong partnerships with higher education and public schools, which has been crucial to our success as our economy grows and more companies move in.

How is rapid growth influencing your approach to managing infrastructure and public services?

With our growth, we’re focused on upgrading infrastructure, especially since Mesquite is one of the older suburbs. We’re developing new projects on the south side, including road improvements along the Interstate, which is where much of our future growth is headed. Public safety is a top priority. Our recent budget funds additional police officers, firefighters, and a new fire station to serve our expanding population.

We envision Mesquite as a place where residents can live, work, and play without needing to commute across the metroplex. We’re creating local job opportunities and enhancing entertainment and recreation options to keep everything within reach.

We’re also working with the Regional Transportation Council on major infrastructure projects like the expansion of the George Bush State Highway 190 loop, which will connect directly to our city, boosting industrial growth and economic opportunities near the Mesquite Metro Airport.

How do you ensure that your local workforce can live in the city?

We’re focused on creating housing options for our local workforce. With 10,000 homes in development, many already under construction, we initially aimed for affordability, but inflation and rising property values required adjustments. We’ve conducted housing studies and are now working with developers to address the need for more workforce housing, partnering with various developers to get projects underway. Our goal is to provide housing options for the workforce so that people can live and work here in Mesquite, finding jobs close to home. Our council is committed to ensuring these multifamily developments include quality amenities for families, supporting a high quality of life.

Looking ahead, the metroplex population is projected to grow from 8 million to 15 million by 2045. With Mesquite’s prime location and infrastructure improvements, like the George Bush SH 190 expansion, we’re preparing for that growth with housing and infrastructure that meet future demands.

How does the public school system in Mesquite help prepare the workforce?

I have a deep passion for youth because they are our future, and we need to give them every opportunity to succeed. There are so many distractions out there, pulling them away from their potential, so we must guide them toward higher education and good jobs.

One of the key institutions is Vanguard High School, our newest high school. We have six high schools and 10 middle schools in Mesquite, and I encourage all elected officials to support these young people. Vanguard High School is particularly innovative, teaching students skills in robotics, architecture, mechanics, and more.

But it goes back to collaboration. When businesses partner with schools and higher education institutions like Dallas College, everything starts flowing together toward a common goal — preparing students for the workforce. This collaboration also extends to mentoring programs. Many companies are not only offering jobs but also mentorship, which is critical for the holistic development of our youth.

In fact, the new city budget included a position specifically focused on youth programs. We’re developing a Youth Council and other initiatives to engage young people more actively in the community. Just as we want to engage their parents, we want to educate and involve the youth, making them an integral part of our city’s future.

How are small businesses thriving in Mesquite, and what role does your administration play in supporting them?

One small business that comes to mind is a restaurant called Espadas. It’s a Brazilian steakhouse that opened right here in Mesquite — our first one. The owners started it from scratch, picked a storefront, and made it happen. Now, they’ve become so popular that people are lining up outside, waiting to get in. I love seeing success stories like that.

We’re in a time where a lot of different small businesses want to get started, and it’s exciting to see. Supporting them is crucial and collaboration is key. Whether it’s connecting them to resources or helping them through the red tape, we want to ensure small businesses succeed here in Mesquite.

How is your office facilitating community involvement and getting feedback from both businesses and residents?

We engage the community in several ways. For residents, we host town halls and district meetings across our six districts, allowing city council members to gather feedback directly. Events like National Night Out also bring people together — I personally attended many neighborhood events this year to stay connected and hear from residents. We have implemented bi-lingual (Spanish) communication for businesses and residents whether in-person, on social media, or through our written resources.

For businesses, we work closely with the chamber of commerce, which plays a key role in attracting new business owners. We regularly organize luncheons and roundtable discussions where large manufacturing companies and small businesses can network and share ideas.

One initiative I’m especially proud of is fostering entrepreneurship. Recently, I attended a local event where children set up small businesses in an open market-style setting, and it was inspiring to see their enthusiasm. We encourage entrepreneurship at all ages, creating a community-wide spirit of innovation.

How does your office’s focus on the community help strengthen and build connections between residents, businesses, and local organizations?

Our economic development team, city staff, and community partners do outstanding work to ensure companies feel welcomed and connected from the onset. From our airport’s red-carpet treatment for corporate jets to the continued growth of our school district, we’re doing everything we can to make Mesquite an attractive destination for both businesses and residents.

We value family and hard work, and it’s exciting to see our diverse community thriving in our schools, businesses, and organizations. I’m proud to see how our culture is growing and thriving.

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do, between government, businesses, schools, and churches. A great example is Addressing Mesquite Day on Oct. 5. For 20 years, this event has brought together businesses, civic organizations, churches, schools, and city staff to give back to the community. Volunteers help spruce up homes for elderly, disabled, or veteran homeowners in need. It’s a beautiful example of unity and the positive things happening in our city, despite the challenges we face today.