The 2026 State of the City will mark the debut of the “Make it Manteca” marketing and business attraction campaign.

The campaign will include website and social media components to promote:

* the advantages of doing business in a growing city with growing household income buying power.

*the strategic advantages of locating distribution centers and other ventures in Manteca.

The event will take place at the Veranda Event Center in the 100 block of East Yosemite Avenue in downtown Manteca on Wednesday, April 29, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Tickets are $25 to the event being staged by the city in conjunction with the Manteca Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are available at https:// manteca.org/2026-state-of-the-city/

Kaiser Permanente is the title sponsor. Major event sponsors are Sutter Health as well as Valley Strong Credit Union.

Organizers expect the venue to be sold out. With 500 seats, it is more than double the previous venue at the Great Wolf Indoor Waterpark resort.

The State of the City will also showcase the services and success stories of various municipal departments during this year’s State of the City.

The venue choice of last year’s event — as well as this year — underscore two major economic efforts of the city.

Great Wolf represented a $180 million vote of confidence when the city’s family entertainment zone was selected for the 500-room resort. The hotel portion is the largest hotel in the Central Valley.

Manteca’s central position to the Bay Area and Sacramento markets enticed Great Wolf

The city is in the process of finding a private sector partner to help it develop the rest of the 100 acres in the family entertainment zone.

The Veranda, when it opened several years ago, was a $5 million investment and remake of the former El Rey Theater turned Kelly Brothers Brewing Co. building.

It is now considered one of the premiere events centers in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com