On October 20, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs hosted the Regional Affordable Housing Summit at the Orange County Convention Center. Planners, developers and local government leaders from across the region gathered to explore affordable housing solutions for Central Florida, including strategies, tools and best practices being implemented throughout Florida and across the country. The goal of the summit was to utilize the community's collective experience and knowledge to create a regional approach to address affordable housing needs. 

The Summit featured the State of Regional Housing Outlook, two panel discussions and a keynote address by renowned urban planner Andrés Duany. The speakers included housing-industry experts from Atlantic Housing Partners, Florida Housing Coalition, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Pinnacle Housing Group, Palm Beach County's Planning Division, RCLCO Real Estate Advisors, University of Central Florida's Institute for Economic Competitiveness and the University of Florida Shimberg Center for Housing Studies.  

The Regional Affordable Housing Summit is one of the first steps toward finding affordable housing options for the region's growing population. To increase the production and availability of affordable housing, subsequent implementation workshops will explore regulatory mechanisms, possible development or infill locations and available marketplace incentives. Summit attendees, community leaders, elected officials, housing and planning experts, developers and citizens will be invited to attend the implementation workshops in 2017.

 

For details on this story, visit Orange County's online Newsroom. 

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs invites Orange County employees and the extended community to help make the holiday season brighter for children who may otherwise go without by joining the 2016 Holiday Heroes Toy Drive. 

Now in its sixth year, Mayor Teresa Jacobs' Holiday Toy Drive begins on November 15 and collection ends on December 14. Since the Toy Drive's inception, more than 17,250 toys have been distributed to local children through the Holiday Heroes Toy Drive. 

The Toy Drive unites citizens and Orange County employees in assisting families during this annual season of giving by providing new, unwrapped toys for infants, children and teens in need. Last year, Orange County employees and the community collected more than 5,100 toys for local children. 

Toy donations are provided to local families and children experiencing hardships through Orange County's Neighborhood Centers for Families, the Orange County Public Schools' Homeless Program, Wraparound Orange and United Against Poverty (formerly known as the Community Food and Outreach Center). 

This annual tradition began in 2011 and has truly evolved into Orange County's signature holiday initiative. Suggested donations include basketballs, soccer balls, model cars and trucks, sporting equipment, craft kits, junior board games, dolls, Barbie sets, LEGOs, action figures, skateboards, helmets and tea sets. For teens and preteens, recommended items include electronics, accessories, custom jewelry and gift cards. For more information on drop-off locations, please visit www.ocfl.net/HolidayHeroes. 

Additionally, Mayor Jacobs invites neighborhood groups, businesses and non-profits to show their appreciation for Orange County Fire Rescue professionals by adopting a local fire station this holiday season. Through the Adopt a Fire Station program, groups can show their appreciation by helping provide holiday meals at their local Fire Station. 

 

To register and participate, contact Tiana Davis of the Orange County Neighborhood and Revitalization Division at 407-836-5531 or [email protected]. The Adopt a Fire Station sign up deadline is December 16.

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs joined City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer as a Grand Marshal for the Orlando Come Out With Pride Festival and Parade, celebrating the LGBTQ community and all those who stand united with Orlando. 

 

The parade was held on November 12, five months after the Pulse nightclub tragedy. Mayor Jacobs also presented a proclamation declaring November 12 as Come Out With Pride Orlando Day in Orange County. 

In October, the New Orleans LGBTQ Hospitality Alliance and the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation presented Orange County's Regional History Center with a one-of-a-kind New Orleans fleur-de-lis sculpture honoring the victims and families of the Pulse Orlando nightclub tragedy. 

 

The five-foot monument, which displays personal messages of condolences and support from New Orleans citizens, was dedicated into the One Orlando Collection. The One Orlando Collection Initiative is a partnership between Orange County Government and the City of Orlando. Following the Pulse tragedy, Orange County's Regional History Center became the repository and caretaker of Pulse tribute items, and has photographed, catalogued and preserved thousands of Pulse mementos and remembrances. 

For more details on the Coming Out With Pride Parade and the memorial fleur-de-lis presentation, visit Orange County's online Newsroom.

The Orange County Farm Bureau recently held its annual Membership Dinner at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. The event recognizes the contributions of local farmers and ranchers in the region. 

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orange County District 1 Commissioner S. Scott Boyd, Orange County District 2 Commissioner Bryan Nelson, Congressman John L. Mica and other elected officials attended the event to show their longstanding support for the region's agricultural community.  

The Orange County Farm Bureau assists in upholding the state's reputation as a national leader in the agriculture and farming sector and is a part of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF). The FFBF was founded to promote and protect the agricultural interests of farmers and ranchers as they work to responsibly provide an abundant food supply using Florida's natural resources. 

As of 2015, more than 155,000 jobs in Orange County are related to agriculture, according to a study by the University of Florida. Studies show that nearly 18 percent of Orange County residents work in an agriculture-related field, including those producing and processing food goods. 

 

Orange County, specifically West Orange County, is a citrus industry leader. For decades, West Orange County's viable and robust agricultural sector has propelled Orange County forward as an industry leader in agriculture. Today, Orange County's citrus industry is ranked number 19 in the state, and its nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod industry is ranked second in the state and fifth in the nation.

 

For more details on the Orange County Farm Bureau Membership Dinner, visit Orange County's online Newsroom.

Hurricane Matthew impacted Orange County and the greater Orlando area during the early morning hours of Friday, October 7, 2016. The Category 3 hurricane was the first major storm to impact Central Florida since 2004 when the state experienced four back-to-back hurricanes - Ivan, Charley, Frances and Jeanne. 

 

The Orange County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated on Thursday, October 6, to mobilize rapid response teams from partner agencies, local municipalities, utilities, roads, drainage, fire and rescue and law enforcement to monitor and assess Hurricane Matthew. 

One of the key functions of the EOC was communicating life-saving information to residents across the County. Through multiple platforms - including web updates, social media, live broadcasts of media briefings by Orange TV and continuous updates pushed through Orange County's emergency notification and information smartphone apps - OCFL Alert and OCFL News, Orange County provided critical information before, during and after the storm. 

More than 1,400 citizens took refuge in Orange County shelters, including 80 citizens with special needs. These shelters opened with the support and coordination of Orange County Public Schools and the American Red Cross of Greater Orlando. 

To help prevent damage caused by stormwater, Orange County Public Works began distributing sandbags to residents on Wednesday, October 5. By Thursday afternoon, Public Works had distributed more than 78,000 sandbags to area residents. 

Orange County began damage assessment Friday afternoon and deployed teams to evaluate the overnight impact of Hurricane Matthew. After assessing roadways and evaluating safety concerns, Mayor Jacobs lifted the curfew for Orange County citizens at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 7. 

For more details on the effects and response to Hurricane Matthew, visit Orange County's online Newsroom.

- Join Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs as she hosts the 2017 Economic Summit on January 18 at the Orange County Convention Center to discuss the expanding economy, international trade and business-related programs. The event is free and open to the public, although seating is limited.

- Orange County and the Hispanic Heritage Committee of Greater Orange County recently hosted the fourth annual Orange Fiesta in the Park at Jay Blanchard Park in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. This family-friendly event included live Latin music, salsa dancing, food, information booths and games. Orange Fiesta in the Park also hosted the championship games of the second annual Orange County Mayor's Cup soccer tournament. Mayor Jacobs provided a warm welcome and presented awards to the winners of the annual poster art contest and the Mayor's Cup soccer tournament.

-  Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs hosted a diverse group of leaders from area chambers of commerce and economic development organizations for coffee and conversation on October 14. The goal of the informal meeting was to gather local business leaders to connect and to strengthen relationships with one another.

- In honor of the 15th anniversary of 9/11, Orange County Fire Rescue held its fourth annual 343 Hero Challenge fitness competition on September 17 at Orange County Fire Rescue's Training Facility, also known as the Fit Pit. The charitable event brought together firefighters, athletes, vendors and spectators in honor of the 343 fallen firefighters of 9/11.

-  Orange County firefighters reunited recently with a burn patient that they treated in July 2012. Following a violent accident that resulted in a car fire, Nam-Hai Le made it his mission to locate the crew who tended to his injuries at the scene and thank them for their care and extraordinary efforts that saved his life.