HOUSTON – Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced a new initiative Friday to help people find work.
In her annual speech to business and community leaders, Parker painted a rose picture of the state of Houston.
Parker said the city is the envy of the world, a place where people come to find opportunity and stay to create a life for themselves and their families.
"The state of our city is strong, and getting stronger," said Parker. "Call us the city of change, city of the future, call us the best city in America and a city to working to live that up."
According to the mayor, in the last two years, Houston has created more than 250,000 jobs.
However, the initiative announced Friday, called Tweet My Jobs Houston, combines the power of social media with a free phone app, to help connect the unemployed to new careers.
"We'll give you words and things to stay, learn how to interview practice questions," said Robin Wright of Tweet My Jobs.
"I can look on my phone and see there's a job right around the corner and put a search pattern, and look for certain types of jobs," said Parker.
Her speech drew warm applause from the sold out Greater Houston Partnership luncheon.
It also comes at a time when the mayor is preparing to run for her final term in office. Parker's only announced opponent, Houston Attorney Ben Hall, was also in the audience.
"I think people can look at historically what she's done," said Hall. "She has not put forth convincing and compelling."
"I still love going to work every day," said Parker.
The mayor never mentioned November's election in her speech, but she stressed her record of balancing the budget and cutting waste, a strong foundation, she said, that will guide Houston into its future.
"It's not going to be enough until every Houston family's life is better, to roads we drive, jobs we work, neighborhoods, schools, and parks where children play."