Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said he's alert to the threat of tariffs on the region but his focus is on things he can control.
That was his main message at his State of the City address Wednesday.
"Let's focus on the things we can control and when we look at what we're doing and the things that are under our control, and the way we're moving things forward we're making great progress as a community," said Dilkens.
He said despite the "stubbornly high" unemployment rate, the city is doing a good job attracting new investment with the city's economy growing at twice the national rate.
Dilkens outlined 39 investments that have been solidified since the NextStar Energy plant was announced. The investments have led to an additional 2,700 jobs.
"We've had more people move here than jobs created," said Dilkens. "It speaks to our geography, it speaks to the excitement that is happening here in Windsor-Essex but it also speaks to the need to continue to attract these investments to make sure that there is gainful employment for people who want to move here and people who live here today."
Dilkens acknowledged that the threat of tariffs has caused many potential investors to hit pause.
"The uncertainty is very bad for business and bad for families. People are probably not booking vacations right now, and squirrelling away pennies in case things go south, and that's not good for any economy," said Dilkens.
To weather the potential storm that's ahead, Dilkens encouraged people in the community to stick together.
"I'm not going to sugar coat it for anyone in this room, and I hope that I am dead wrong, but it may get rough," he said. "And if it does, we're going to need to stick together. It's going to be up to those of us elected to lead and all of you here today to take ownership and work to make a difference in the areas that you can control."