Impact Update for Thursday, January 27
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Each week, we will distribute our Impact Update newsletter on Thursdays. We encourage you to share this information with friends, families, and business owners who may be able to take advantage of the resources, programming options, local highlights and industry news below.
Jason Siegel
President & CEO
Greater Orlando Sports Commission
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“I think the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice.”
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
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Local Resources.
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Visit these pages for the most critical local health and government updates:
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City of Orlando: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites
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Orange County: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites
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Osceola County: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites
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Seminole County: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites
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Lake County: Homepage
- City of Orlando:
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Last days to apply! The Downtown Development Board is accepting applications to support events located in the Community Redevelopment Area of Orlando. Click here for more information, applications close on Tuesday, February 1 at 11:59pm.
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The Downtown Development Board (DDB) and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) created a webpage to assist with identifying grants and incentives that may be available to downtown businesses.
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Orlando's City Council approved the Safety Awareness for Everyone (S.A.F.E) Program, creating an incentive for businesses and properties to purchase and install security measures that are intended to help deter crime and provide a safer environment for business owners, employees, and visitors. Entertainment businesses including, but not limited to, bars, nightclubs, and entertainment venues located within the City of Orlando’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) footprint shall be eligible for funding to purchase and install security measures which include identification scanners, security cameras, and metal detection systems. Other properties located within the CRA shall be eligible for funding to purchase and install security cameras only. Applicants are eligible to receive up to $10,000 or 50% of the total cost of eligible products, whichever is less. Click here for more info and to apply now.
- Orange County:
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The #IGotMyShot mobile vaccination trailer continues to visit neighborhoods and businesses throughout Orange County. For next week’s schedule, or for more information about the #IGotMyShot campaign, visit ocfl.net/IGotMyShot.
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Orange County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program remains open for individuals who are behind on rent or at risk of being evicted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, more than $15.3 million have been approved to keep 2,635 families in their homes. Recently, the City of Orlando announced it has depleted its current federal funds dedicated to its Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Orange County is stepping in to bridge the gap and will temporarily offer assistance to Orlando residents, effective now until further notice. Eligible residents include those living in unincorporated Orange County, Apopka, Bay Lake, Belle Isle, Eatonville, Edgewood, Lake Buena Vista, Maitland, Oakland, Ocoee, Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden and Winter Park. Residents can visit ocfl.net/RentalAssistance to review program details and to check if their address is eligible.
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CareerSource Central Florida is helping career seekers and displaced workers apply for the Reemployment Assistance program through the Department of Economic Opportunity.
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The Orange County Library System offers Right Service at the Right Time, a free online tool and public resource that is particularly useful to those who have had their income affected by COVID-19. The service provides a platform to easily find information on government-assistance and community-support programs.
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Osceola County:
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Osceola County is currently accepting applications for emergency utility assistance for households impacted by COVID19. Funding is available for electric, gas, and water utilities only. If you reside in Osceola County and your household is impacted, please click here to complete the application.
- Lake County:
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For Lake County residents, United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties is able to assist with CARES/ERA/SHIP Federal funds for rent and utilities. For more information on eligibility and documents needed, or to make an appointment, please visit their Family Stability Services page.
- Seminole County:
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If you have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and live in Seminole County, The Sharing Center is currently accepting applications for rent/mortgage and utilities assistance. Click here for program criteria and to learn how to apply.
- Additional Resources:
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The US Small Business Association has compiled a database of private funding options to help small businesses. Browse the options available nationally, or input a zip code to explore location-specific funding.
Stay Engaged.
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The Amway Center is hosting a job fair on February 15. Job openings include positions in guest services, security, food and beverage and cleaning. The event will be hosted on the East Terrace Level concourse within the Amway Center from 4 - 8 p.m.
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Join the Soulful Celebration at Disney Springs and ignite your senses as you immerse yourself in culturally inspired dining for brunch and happy hour, spirited music performed by Motown in Motion, House of Blues folk art and more - including Drawn to Life Presented by Cirque du Soleil & Disney.
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The Tenth Annual Dragon Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year will take place on Sunday, February 13 in the Mills 50 District. This event acknowledges the ever increasing number of Asian businesses as well as the relevance and importance of the Asian influence in Orlando and recognizes the unity of immigrants from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea and other Asian countries who live and work here.
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The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park will host its 87th Annual Bach Festival this February 4-27, which will feature seven ticketed concerts and five community events, including free recitals and masterclasses. Programs will take place on the campuses of Rollins College and Trinity Preparatory School and at Dr. Phillips Center’s Steinmetz Hall.
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Trash 2 Trends: An Evening of Recycled Fashion on Feb. 5 is not only a fundraiser for Keep Orlando Beautiful 501(c)3, but a night that brings the fashion and art world together alongside the environmental community to promote and inspire sustainability. This event is part of the City’s continued efforts to be one of the most sustainable cities in America to ensure Orlando’s natural resources and amenities are protected for residents and future generations to come.
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The Orlando Science Center will open a new exhibit later this month called "Science Fiction, Science Future" from Jan. 29-May 9. The exhibit will be a key feature of this year’s Otronicon Science Festival and Tech Expo when it returns during Presidents Day weekend, the science center said.
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The Orange County Regional History Center’s exhibition highlighting the achievements of the Downtown Development Board is open until Jan. 30. Through a timeline of important events and photographs, visitors have the chance to see the growth of the City Beautiful.
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Florida residents can save big while visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Click here to view the current list of special offers.
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Universal Orlando's Florida resident specials include discounts on vacation packages.
“From the get-go, Epson said, 'If we're going to be involved, we want to build this partnership out from the players. What we want you to do is bring us three big ideas that would make a difference in the lives of players.' It's really cool to have a partner who's really putting their money where their mouth is and trying to make a difference in the lives of these women who are chasing their LPGA Tour dreams.”
-Mike Nichols, Chief Business Officer
LPGA Qualifying Tours
Speaking to ESPN about the new Epson partnership
See LPGA story below...
Around The Horn.
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The official qualifying tour of the LPGA will now be named the Epson Tour, after a five-year agreement between the LPGA Tour and Epson America, Inc. was announced. Formerly known as the Symetra Tour, the circuit enters its 42nd year and will raise entry prize money to $200,000 (nearly double from previous years), establish a Epson Tour Ambassador Program and lower tournament-entry fees. The Epson Tour makes a stop at Mission Inn Resort & Club (Lake County) on May 27-29, 2022.
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XL Soccer World announced that Sydney Leroux from the Orlando Pride is joining their staff as Girls Director of Coaching in Orlando and will be a Global Ambassador for XL Sports.
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The Orlando Magic's Jalen Suggs has shot 48.4% on his 11.5 drives per game and has made 63.9% of his attempts within five 5 feet of the basket in his six games since Jan. 14, when he returned from a hand injury.
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In what became an instant NFL classic, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis had a historic performance against the Kansas City Chiefs during Sunday’s AFC division playoff game. The former UCF Knight and Sanford Seminole product made his name known on one of the biggest stages, becoming the first NFL player to catch four touchdown passes in a single postseason game.
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Danielle Kang navigated chilly, windy conditions to card a final-round 68 for a 3-shot victory during the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club.
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Ahead of the club's 2022 MLS campaign, Orlando City SC has signed forward Alexandre Pato to a new one-year contract. Pato saw his 2021 campaign season cut short following an injury in the team’s season opener.
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UCF track and field star Rayniah Jones has launched a new partnership with Addition Financial. Jones is the second UCF athlete to land an endorsement from Addition Financial since the NIL first went into effect in 2021.
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Dick Vitale announced Monday that he won’t appear on ESPN for the remainder of the college basketball season because of ongoing treatment for precancerous dysplasia on his vocal cords.
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Ayoka Lee broke the NCAA women’s single-game scoring record for Division I with 61 points to help Kansas State romp to a 94-65 victory over No. 14 Oklahoma.
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Émilie Castonguay, a player agent, has been hired as an assistant general manager by the Vancouver Canucks, becoming only the second woman in NHL history to hold that title.
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Top-ranked player Novak Djokovic could be allowed to defend his French Open title under the latest COVID-19 rules adopted by the French government, even if he is still not vaccinated when the clay-court Grand Slam starts in May.
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Locked-out Major League Baseball players removed the first of three major obstacles to a labor contract, withdrawing their proposal for more liberalized free agency when the sides met face-to-face Monday for the first time since the management lockout began Dec. 1.
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Big Papi is bound for Cooperstown. David Ortiz was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first turn on the ballot.
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In The News.
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Congratulations to Orlando International Airport CEO, Phil Brown, who is retiring on Monday, January 31 after 11 years in the position.
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Bad Bunny already has a full-fledged arena tour scheduled this year, but he’ll follow it up with his first stadium trek in the summer. The Latin pop star’s World’s Hottest Tour will launch with a U.S. leg on Aug. 5 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
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Universal’s newest Orlando theme park, Epic Universe, is expected to open by summer 2025, executives for parent company Comcast said, as the Orlando resort reported record-setting earnings last quarter.
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The Florida Department of Transportation is in the final stages of construction on the new I-4 Express lanes as part of its ongoing I-4 Ultimate overhaul. FDOT is currently working with emergency response personnel on extensive training on how to best use and access the new routes along the 21-mile corridor and finalizing emergency procedures for the new lanes, which are ready for traffic.
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The Festival of Fantasy parade will be returning to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom on March 9, 2022, almost two years after it paused performances due to COVID-19. March 9 will also be the parade’s 8-year anniversary.
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The hundreds of bicyclists and walkers who use the popular Seminole Wekiva Trail daily may soon find it easier and safer to cross two of the busiest roads in Central Florida. Seminole County commissioners agreed to move forward with a plan to build a pair of tunnels about a mile apart in Altamonte Springs that would allow trail users to travel underneath State Road 436 at Laurel Street and State Road 434 at Orange Avenue.
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Florida has seen an influx of new residents even during the pandemic. In 2020, 167% more people were moving into the state than those moving out., according to the moveBuddha 2021 Migration Report. In 2021, inbound moves jumped another 43%, meaning that for every 100 move-outs, 210 moves were coming into the state, according to the survey.
Executive Opportunity Spotlight.
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The City of Orlando is seeking an Interactive Media Coordinator to join the marketing team at Orlando Venues. The Orlando Venues department oversees the Amway Center, Camping World Stadium, Tinker Field, Harry P. Leu Gardens and the Mennello Museum of American Art. Click here for more information and to apply.
Fun & Games.
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