Orlando City News

November 6, 2009 - City News

Mayor's Message

Dear Residents, Colleagues and Friends,

Today, a terrible tragedy occurred in one of our Downtown office buildings. I know I speak for our entire City when I say our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this crime and their families.

While I am shocked and saddened by this act of violence, I am enormously proud of the response by the Orlando Police Department (OPD), the Orlando Fire Department (OFD) and our partners in the Central Florida law enforcement community. OPD and OFD were on the scene less than a minute after shots were fired. They had the suspect in custody within a few hours.

Again, I extend my sincerest sympathy to the victims of this crime, their families and everyone affected by this tragic action.

Sincerely,

Buddy Dyer
Mayor

Florida Housing Help

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer invite you to participate in Florida Housing Help. Florida Housing Help is a community outreach program designed to educate and assist families facing foreclosure. The event will be hosted by District 2 Commissioner Tony Ortiz on Saturday, November 7, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Engelwood Neighborhood Center located at 6123 La Costa Drive. This free workshop will include legal assistance, information on foreclosure assistance programs and the opportunity to meet with mortgage lenders, Housing and Urban Development certified counselors, local housing authorities and credit counseling services. For more information or to register, please call 850.413.3089 or 1.877.MY.FL.CFO (1.877.693.5236). Registration is not required.

Upgrade Your Connections

On November 18, 2009, the City’s Purchasing & Materials Management Division will be participating in a vendor networking event titled “Upgrade Your Connections.” The reverse trade show is a unique opportunity for local businesses to meet and connect with City of Orlando purchasing professionals and other governmental agencies throughout Central Florida. Participants will gain important insight and opportunities on how to do business with government. The event will be held at the Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center in Winter Park from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The reverse trade show is sponsored by the Central Florida Chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing. More information is available at nigp-cfc.org.

Buy Local Orlando Highlight

Buy Local Orlando is under way and each week we want to make sure you know that you can get great deals, discounts and offers. There are more than 300 merchant members participating in the Buy Local Orlando campaign offering special offers and discounts exclusively to Buy Local Orlando consumers.

Buy Local Orlando consumers receive $250 off video production services over $2,500 at Foster Productions, Inc. Call 407.704.7991 or visit fosterproductions.com for more information.

Looking for a realtor? Buy Local Orlando consumers receive a free Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) at Midtown Realty Orlando (925 West Central Blvd.). Call 407.481.0900 or visit midtownrealty.com for more information.

Need new eyeglasses or sunglasses? At MyOptics Inc. (703 North Orange Ave.), Buy Local Orlando consumers receive a15% discount on eyeglasses and sunglasses. Call 407.245.7800 to make an appointment.

For more information on the Buy Local Orlando initiative, please visit buylocalorlando.net.

Economic Green Leaf Program

During these tough economic times, many local businesses have been challenged in terms of finance, growth and opportunity. A new statewide pilot program, the Economic Gardening Loan Program, is designed to provide the help that small businesses need to expand, creating jobs and opportunities for our residents.

Businesses with 10-50 employees and annual revenues of $1-25 million are invited to apply for this pilot loan program which offers eligible businesses the opportunity to receive a low interest loan of up to $250,000-and the applications are being administered right here in Orlando.

The Black Business Investment Fund of Orlando was recently selected to be the administrator of the State’s Economic Gardening Loan Program. Businesses do not need to be minority-owned to qualify. For more information, visit bbif.com or call 407.649.4780.

Volunteers needed for Project Homeless Connect

The City of Orlando is co-sponsoring the fourth annual downtown Project Homeless Connect on Friday, December 4, 2009, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Downtown Recreation Center on Livingston Street next to the Amway Arena. Mayor Buddy Dyer will be volunteering and encouraging the community to do so as one of his service work-along projects.

The City encourages residents to volunteer for a four-hour shift that morning. Many people who have participated at previous events found it extremely rewarding. If you are interested, please sign up online at hsncfl.org. There will also be information on this website about the mandatory training. It is a one-hour session offered earlier in the week either at lunchtime or early evening. Please consider being a part of this community wide event and thank you in advance for helping to make it a great success. The City co-sponsors Project Homeless Connect with Orange County and the Homeless Services Network.

Engelwood Neighborhood Cleanup

Join Keep Orlando Beautiful on Saturday, November 14, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to help make the Engelwood Neighborhood sparkle! Volunteers will be removing litter, applying storm drain markings and sprucing up some road sides throughout the area. Meet at the Engelwood Neighborhood Center at 6123 LaCosta Drive. Water and light snacks provided. This is a great way for students to earn community service hours. Any questions, please call 407.246.2752 or e-mail jody.goostree@cityoforlando.net.

Community Venues Update

Amway Center Topping Off Ceremony

On Thursday, the City celebrated another milestone for the Community Venues - the topping off of the Amway Center. Topping off ceremonies recognize the last steel beam going into place in a building. For the Amway Center, this action also represents an important milestone in the effort to ensure that residents benefit from the construction.

The steel beams were built by Schuff Steel whose headquarters is just seven miles from Downtown. Schuff Steel contracted with multiple local, minority and women owned businesses, including the native American-owned company that drove the beams to the construction site and the woman-owned business that supplied the nuts and bolts.

These steel beams represent the local impact promised when the City proposed the BLUEPRINT, a commitment to ensure the project provided a direct economic benefit to the Central Florida community. To date, more than $79 million has been awarded to 101 minority and women-owned businesses, including African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and other minorities.

When the City started this project, Mayor Buddy Dyer and the City Council wanted to do more than just raise a building. They wanted the project to have a lasting, positive impact on the community. With the construction in full swing, residents can already see the opportunities it has created for local and minority-owned businesses and look forward to more positive impacts in the year ahead.

Amway Center Webcam

You don’t have to drive Downtown to see the progress of the Amway Center. Watch the progress of the construction with the Amway Center Webcams. Showing a bird's eye view of the two blocks south of Church Street and west of I-4, which will become the home of the City's new venue for sports, music and entertainment, the cameras take a picture every 15 minutes and save the photos so viewers can watch the progress like a movie. The webcams can be found online.

The City Council accepted a 21st Century Community Learning Centers federal grant for $2.2 million over five years for the Orlando After-School All-Stars program. The grant is specifically targeted for Howard, Memorial and Stonewall Jackson middle schools for increased educational services and enrichment programming. The After-School All-Stars provides middle school children with activities and on-going relationships that increase confidence and encourage success at home, in school and in the community.

The City Council also approved funding agreements with the Black Business Investment Fund, the National Center for Simulation, Central Florida Sports, the Disney Entrepreneur Center, the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund and Digital Media Alliance. These organizations provide services to Orlando’s entrepreneurs and businesses and help build a stronger economy for our City and region.

Did You Know?

Fall Fiesta in the Park

Head out to beautiful Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando for Fall Fiesta in the Park on November 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and November 8 from 12 to 5 p.m. Hundreds of artists will display unique pieces for purchase including ceramics, jewelry, glass, painting and more. Enjoy food, live entertainment and a huge kids’ area. This event is free to the public and a great way to spend time with your family as we welcome in the fall season. For more information, please call 407.649.3152.

67 Days of Smiles

On Monday, the Orlando-Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau held a farewell reception for Kyle Post and Stacey Doornbos who visited 100 Central Florida attractions as part of the 67 Days of Smiles campaign. Kyle and Stacey wrote about their adventures on their blog and through various social media formats, with more than 9,000 followers on Facebook at the end of their stay. To read about the pair’s adventures at area attractions and restaurants, visit 67daysofsmiles.com.

Week of the Family

The Orange County Week of the Family is celebrating its seventh year with numerous events, including festivals, music and films. It starts on Saturday, October 31, with the City of Winter Park’s 6th Annual “Family Fall Festival” at Central Park in downtown Winter Park. It ends on November 7 with the Orange County“Family Fun Kite Festival” at Jay Blanchard Park. Visit weekofthefamily.org for a complete event listing and take part in this community festival.

Upcoming Events


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Date Event
 
Oct. 31 – Nov. 7 Week of the Family details
November 6 Date Night at Leu Gardens details
November 8 Music in the Gazebo details
November 14 Veterans Day Parade details
November 21 How to Plan Neighborhood Events details
Sundays Orlando Farmers Market details
   
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City Halll
400 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.246.2221 buddy.dyer@cityoforlando.net

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