Impact Update for Thursday, February 24
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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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“History has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.’”
- Michelle Obama
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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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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 Sam Flax Wall Project is happening Saturday, Feb. 26 from 10am-6pm! 14 local artists will be painting fabulous new murals with a DJ, beer garden and food trucks on site as well. Head on over for a day filled with art, food, drink & fun!
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Want to de-stress? Try Yoga in the Sculpture Garden at Mennello Museum of American Art! Go with the flow every Sunday at 11:30am, $10 for guests and just $5 for Mennello members. Price includes complimentary admission to the indoor exhibits at your leisure!
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Last year, the City of Orlando’s Community Redevelopment Agency implemented several initiatives to further efforts against violent crime in downtown Orlando. The public is invited to join a one-hour webinar on Tuesday, March 8 at 2pm that will cover the application and application criteria, eligible security products, and disbursements.
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iHeartMedia Central Florida recently announced the Florida Jobs Now Career Expo, an onsite resource event connecting job seekers to companies with exciting opportunities and benefits on Thursday, March 3 from 12pm-4pm. Register now to connect with recruiters from local companies and discover your next career.
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Join the Soulful Celebration at Disney Springs all month long 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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Summer Camp registration is now open for the Orlando Science Center! Keep learning all summer long with exciting STEM camps for Preschool* through Grade 9, featuring topics like chemistry, engineering, nature, and many more.
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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.
“We didn’t want this to be just another white jersey. We heard our fans, ‘We don’t want just another white jersey.’ So we made something a little bit more unique, a little bit more bold.”
-Pedro Araujo, SVP of Brand and Marketing, Orlando City Soccer Club
See Orlando City story below...
Around The Horn.
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Orlando City revealed its new away kit for the 2022 season on Friday, unveiling the “Sunshine Kit” at the 3rd annual City Art Jam at Ace Cafe. Inspired by the “sunshine state of mind,” the jersey pulls inspiration from the beautiful Orlando sunsets, as well as the history of orange groves around the area and “endless summer vibes” in Central Florida.
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Special Olympics Florida is turning 50 years old! That's 50 years of transforming lives and fighting to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities are treated with respect and compassion. They will be celebrating all year, and that begins with the launch of their 50th Anniversary Website. Visit the site now to learn about the history of the organization as well as their plans for the future.
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Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. shared encouragement and insight to a group of young men Thursday night at Boys2Men, an Orlando-based mentorships program. The biggest piece of advice Carter Jr. shared with the group was living in the moment.
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Orlando Pride coach Amanda Cromwell is starting to find her footing in professional soccer. After coaching college for the past 25 years at UCLA and UCF, there still are things she’s getting used to just two weeks into the preseason.
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Brian Flores, the former Miami Dolphins coach who filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL after being fired on Jan. 10, has found his next destination. Flores was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach.
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For the first time in program history, UCF women’s basketball is ranked in a major college basketball top 25 poll. The Knights made their debut at No. 25 in the USA Today coaches poll on Tuesday after winning eight straight games by an average of 17 points.
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Players from the United States women's national team have settled their class action equal pay lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation for a total of $24 million, the two sides announced in a court filing on Tuesday.
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UEFA will no longer host the Champions League final in St. Petersburg after Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, the Associated Press reported.
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Lake Highland Prep will play in an FHSAA girls basketball state championship game for the fifth consecutive year after rolling to a decisive semifinal win Thursday morning.
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For women competing professionally in NASCAR, exposure and sponsorships are key to rising in the ranks, but both can be difficult to come by, drivers told ABC News.
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Hannah Green made history by becoming the first woman to win a mixed-gender professional golf tournament with a victory at the TPS Murray River event in Australia. The Australian world number 30 won by four strokes after carding a five-under-par final round of 66.
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In The News.
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Brightline, the only private passenger rail company in the country, hopes to wrap up construction in Central Florida by late 2022. CEO Mike Reininger joined News 6 anchor Justin Warmoth to talk about the excitement that is building for the future.
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At the Deland Courthouse on Tuesday, 50 couples chose to make their lifetime wedding vows on what’s known as “Two’s Day” or 2-22-22. The couples who participated in the wedding ceremony came from all walks of life, but the common denominator was love.
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The City of Orlando is looking to test out a ghost kitchen program which would give local businesses clear development guidelines for the growing concept. The pilot program -- which Orlando City Council was set to consider on Feb. 21, but was pushed to a future council meeting -- would create policies to help businesses get permits for both temporary and permanent food concepts.
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In a galaxy not so far away, Walt Disney World will soon open its long-awaited, much-anticipated Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, the two-night cruise-like hotel experience that promises to give uber fans a chance to live out their own Star Wars adventure.
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Central Florida’s food scene will be well represented in the 2022 James Beard Awards. The foundation announced its list of semifinalists Wednesday with four contenders coming out of the Orlando area.
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A new Iceland-based airline named PLAY plans to launch service this year between Orlando International Airport and regions including Iceland, Europe, and Scandinavia.
Fun & Games.
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