Tough times felt nationwide are not halting progress in the fledgling city of Doral was the message Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez recently relayed at the sixth annual State of the City address.

Though the economic crisis has forced the city -- like most South Florida municipalities -- to do more with fewer resources, Doral continues to grow and expand, Bermudez said before a crowd of more than 200 residents and leaders on Nov. 22 at Doral Academy Charter School.

``Like so many families and businesses throughout this city, we too are tightening our belts,'' he said. ``But at the same time, we are not compromising our commitment to the people we serve.''

Bermudez pointed to some projects the city will push forward in coming years, including dozens of road improvements, proposals to expand the boundaries, a study to decide whether to build a convention center and plans for a police building and city hall.

Perhaps the best news of all, Bermudez said, is that the city will be richer after it pays Miami-Dade County the final installation of a $7.6 million tax for the right to incorporate.

``Beginning 2010, those funds will stay here and be used for our community's needs,'' he said.

Sounding like a proud father, Bermudez also noted some accolades the city has received in the past year.

Forbes.com recently honored Doral with the No. 2 spot in America's Top 25 Town to Live Well.

BusinessWeek named Doral one of the best small cities in the country to start a business. Doral was one of 50 cities to receive the recognition, and the only one in Florida.

Doral also came in at 51 in the nation and No. 2 in the state in a report by CNN Money last summer that named the Top 100 U.S. cities to live in and launch a new business.

Though the national recognition points to how far the city has come since it incorporated six years ago, Bermudez said there's still more to be done.

``Today we continue to work to grow our economy and build for the future most importantly, build community,'' he said. ``As the original city council moves toward its last year together we continue to work to pass along this legacy from this generation to the next.''

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