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Greetings,
On April 7, I welcomed hundreds of citizens and community leaders to the 2017 State of the County address at
I-Drive 360, home to the
Coca-Cola Orlando Eye - the region's newest attraction and the largest observation wheel on the East Coast of the United States.
In addition to an update on the strong state of Orange County's economic and operational abilities, a significant part the State of the County address was dedicated to remembering the 49 lives lost in the 2016 Pulse Nightclub tragedy and the heartbreaking loss of two law enforcement officers earlier this year. Additionally, the address highlighted the region's culture of collaboration, compassion and confidence which continues to be a beacon of light, hope and unity worldwide.
To further honor the victims of the Pulse tragedy, immediately following the end of the State of the County address on the I-Drive 360 Courtyard, attendees and I joined hands in a worldwide peace and unity movement known as "Let's All Connect." Hundreds of guests helped to form a vast heart-shaped figure - the largest gathering to date of the global movement. Learn more by visiting LetsAllConnect.org. To watch a recap of the 2017 State of the County address or to read the speech, please visit www.ocfl.net/SOC17.
Thank you to all who attended the annual State of the County address and the thousands who watched online. As always, I thank you for staying connected with your local government, and for making Orange County the best place to live, work and raise a family.
Sincerely,
Teresa Jacobs
Orange County Mayor
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Mayor Jacobs Issues Local State of Emergency
and Burn Ban in Orange County
On April 13, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, in her capacity as Director of Emergency Management, issued Executive Order 17-01 declaring a local State of Emergency and formal burn ban to protect citizens, visitors and properties from extreme fire conditions.
During this State of Emergency, all outdoor burning is banned within Orange County, unless a written permit is first obtained. The burn ban order follows a period without extensive rain, which has resulted in a severe drought and extremely unsafe fire conditions that allow wildfires to start easily and spread quickly.
April is also Water Conservation Month, and increased awareness is particularly important this year. While residents are encouraged to use water wisely every day, this particular dry season highlights the need for being good stewards of this natural and limited resource. As part of Orange County's effort to make the community sustainable for current and future residents, Mayor Jacobs encourages all citizens to take an active role in preserving this natural resource, which is essential Orange County's sustainability plan, "Our Home for Life."
Mayor Jacobs encourages all citizens to
download the
OCFL Alert
app and sign up for
OC Alert
to stay informed on rapidly changing weather conditions and warnings.
Learn More>
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Orange County Students Attend Mayor Jacobs' Sixth Youth Leadership Conference
Nearly 250 Orange County Public Schools students from 24 local high schools attended Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs' sixth annual Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) at Valencia College's west campus on March 11.
Mayor Jacobs created the program for student leaders when she took office in 2011 in an effort to connect students with their local government. About 1,200 local student leaders have participated in the program since its inception. Learn More>
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Orange County Welcomes Orlando City Soccer Club to New Home
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs joined the City of Orlando, Parramore Advisory Board, Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) as well as partners and fans from Lion Nation for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Orlando City Soccer Stadium on Church Street in downtown Orlando on February 24.
The stadium, located two blocks away from the Amway Center, will be the official home to both the OCSC Lions and Orlando Pride professional soccer clubs. The first game in the stadium was March 5, when the Lions took on the New York City Football Club and won. Learn More>
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Orange County Government Celebrates New Affordable Housing Communities
Through Mayor Teresa Jacobs' INVEST in Our Home for Life initiative and innovative community partnerships, Orange County is working to transform Central Florida's affordable housing marketplace - not just by increasing inventory, but also by transforming how the region approaches workforce housing.
At the recent 2017 State of the County gathering, Mayor Jacobs reported on three pioneering workforce housing initiatives, including a partnership with area Habitat for Humanity agencies in South Apopka and Wayne Densch Charities, for the most at-risk homeless families, and in east Orange County, Golden Pointe, a new 70-unit family apartment complex with an emphasis on low-income families, which will celebrate its grand opening on May 17. Through these and other initiatives, Orange County is helping to transform how Central Florida approaches the complex challenge of providing affordable housing. Learn More >
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Mayor Teresa Jacobs Honors the Legacy of Arnold Palmer and Unveils Expressway Sign
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs honored the legacy of the late golf icon Arnold Palmer at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (API) in Bay Hill on March 11 and recognized the impact of his life's work as a philanthropist and ambassador of goodwill.
To close the annual API Volunteer Kickoff Breakfast, Amy Palmer Saunders accepted a resolution from Mayor Jacobs honoring the life and legacy of her father, Arnold Palmer. Mayor Jacobs then announced in partnership with the Central Florida Expressway Authority, a portion of State Road 408 had been renamed the "Arnold Palmer Expressway," and unveiled a replica of the signage. The portion of the renamed highway is located between Kirkman Road and Clarke Road, in close proximity to the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. As a way to remember Palmer's legacy, a sign will be installed in that section of the expressway. Learn More>
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News Worth Noting ...
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In March, Orange County observed Colon Cancer Awareness Month and encouraged employees to participate in "Dress in Blue Day." Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. "Dress in Blue Day" honors colon cancer survivors and helps raise awareness about the importance and need for early screenings.
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Mayor Teresa Jacobs welcomed student athletes from Bishop Moore Catholic High School to help complete her NCAA bracket for #MarchMadness. Through the discipline of teamwork, personal responsibility and accountability, athletes learn the core values of personal discipline, integrity and commitment to hard work and each other. In addition to producing phenomenal student athletes, collegiate and high school sports programs leave a deeply positive, life-long mark on student athletes. These Bishop Moore High School football players also acted as heroes and helped save the life of a local mother recently in a tragic accident in College Park.
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