Impact Update for Thursday, October 28

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

“I don’t know if God is a sports fan or not, but I do know this: He loves a good comeback.” - Lane Kiffin

Orange County Mayor Demings, Orlando Mayor Dyer and Dr. Pino from the Dept. of Health in Orange County along with partners from the Orlando Economic Partnership, Visit Orlando, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando launched a public safety initiative to combat COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. This is a county-wide initiative to debunk myths, highlight trusted voices and drive home the true benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more at ocfl.net/IGotMyShot. #IGotMyShot  Local Resources. Visit these pages for the most critical local health and government updates: City of Orlando: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites Orange County: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites Osceola County: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites Seminole County: COVID-19 Homepage | Testing Sites | Vaccine Sites Lake County: Homepage City of Orlando: 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. Orange County: Mayor Demings lifts the mask mandate for Orange county. 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. Following the most recent announcement regarding federal eviction moratoriums, Orange County residents are urged to apply for the County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program if they are behind in rent payments due to the pandemic. The program may be able to help eligible residents pay 12 months of past due rent and 1 month of future rent, up to a total of $20,000. For more information and to confirm eligibility, click here. CareerSource Central Florida is helping career seekers and displaced workers apply for the Reemployment Assistance program through the Department of Economic Opportunity. 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.  Osceola County: 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: Lake County residents can reach out to the Lake County Department of Housing and Human Services for information on SHIP rental assistance. Click here for more information. Seminole County: 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. Covering Central Florida offers health coverage and a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who have been laid off related to COVID-19. Additional Resources: The CDC has issued updated COVID-19 guidance, freeing fully-vaccinated Americans to gather indoors in small groups without masks or social distancing, even with unvaccinated people.  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. Orlando Health has a website specifically designed for the business community. The site features tips and best practices from medical experts, including facts about COVID-19. AdventHealth CentraCare's Employer Resources hub provides a vast number of resources to assist businesses. Their team of physicians and clinical experts can assist with business re-opening through consultation, comprehensive safety plan development and key services. OUC has a Small Business Assistance Fund which provides up to $2,500 in utility assistance for small businesses facing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Aid is in the form of a credit adjustment on your next OUC bill. The US Small Business Association is accepting applications for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, which provides critical economic relief program for live venues, museums, movie theatres and more. Businesses interested in seeking assistance can contact Orlando Economic Partnership's BRACE team for guidance. Stay Engaged. Hauntingly good DIYs to add a dose of Disney Parks magic to your Halloween. From the Orlando Sentinel: The 50 best Halloween movies for a good scare, according to fans. The City of Orlando is renewing its grant support for tech events. The city has been funding the Orlando Technology Community Support Program via the Orlando Economic Partnership since 2018. Applications for the 2021-2022 fiscal year are expected to open in Nov. 2021, with awards being recommended in Feb. 2022. It's SpOoOoOky Science Month at Orlando Science Center! Creep in all month long to learn about the science of spook with hands-on STEM activities, live programming, and more! OSC has rounded up some simple STEM activities that you can do at home and included instructions on how to give some activities a spooky twist. Visit Orlando has just launched a “Most Magical Gathering Contest” which will reunite one winner with up to 49 of their closest friends and family for a vacation at Walt Disney World Resort as part of its 50th Anniversary Celebrations. It's Hunger Action Month and Second Harvest Food Bank is making it easy to get involved by sharing ways to help their mission with at-home and socially distanced activities. United Arts is now accepting applications for the next cycle of Project Grants. The next application deadline is Jan. 26, 2022. Organizations can learn more or apply at www.UnitedArts.cc/grants. Rollins College's student-run radio station launched a bi-weekly live concert series this month with performances every first and third Wednesday.  Florida residents can save big while visiting Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Click here to view the current list of special offers. Universal Orlando's Florida resident specials include discounts on vacation packages as well as select dates for Halloween Horror Nights. “We have a lot of confidence in our soccer staff at City. I think that’s pretty much what’s going to take us through the offseason. That’s the theme. We believe in this entire management side of City and that’s who we’re going to work with toward building the team next year.” -Mark Wilf, Owner Orlando City Soccer Club See Lions story below... Around The Horn. Congratulations to Mike Millay, longtime executive at the ESPN Wide World of Sport Complex and past Chairman of the GO Sports Board of Directors, who was inducted into the Sports Events & Tourism Association Hall of Fame at the association’s annual symposium this week. As the Lions chase a second-straight playoffs berth under Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja, co-owner and chairman Mark Wilf is confident in the coach’s long-term leadership of the team. Consistency has been a goal for the Lions ever since executive vice president of soccer operations Luiz Muzzi joined the club in 2019. Early in a wild season of college football, the action across conferences has a lot of teams in the mix for Orlando's bowl games. Click to check out the latest Cheez-It Bowl and Vrbo Citrus Bowl projections from a panel of national college football reporters. UCF’s young secondary is continuing to grow and making big plays for the Knights. Commentary from the Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi: Orlando sports TV legend Pat Clarke wants to ‘Goopify’ you! A Serena Williams autographed rookie card from 2003 was sold at New Jersey-based Goldin Auctions for $44,280. The price was a record for any women's sports card, beating the record sale previously held by a 1992 Mia Hamm rookie card, which sold in late June for $34,440. The Houston Astros evened up the World Series with a 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 2. Manchester United believe they are the only major club in world soccer not to directly monetize their social media presence, instead preferring to use their players as “influencers” that drive value elsewhere.

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In The News. From Orlando Business Journal: Downtown Orlando is coming back to life, and a few ongoing projects and initiatives may help it return even stronger.  The Orlando Land Trust, which recently completed a successful $3.24 million campaign to purchase property adjacent to Lake Eola Park in an effort to add to downtown greenspace, has just announced another project for the downtown park. The Trust will now be donating a sculpture and butterfly garden in the southwestern quadrant of the park. When COVID-19 shut down the cruise industry in March 2020, a lot of hardware had either just arrived or was on tap to debut in Florida. Now that cruising is back from the U.S. a year and half later, here’s a rundown of what you missed and what’s coming. Universal Orlando’s last quarter was its most profitable ever, despite COVID-related travel restrictions limiting international visitors to the U.S., executives from parent company Comcast revealed. With the Orlando Sanford International Airport growing and traffic becoming increasingly congested in the surrounding area, Seminole County commissioners say it’s time to build an easier route from State Road 417 to the airfield. The City of Orlando has granted approval to Wall Street Plaza for an outdoor stage and loudspeaker use, for the first time since the COVID-19 shutdown in March 2020. The Plazaween festivities will kick off at 8pm. Fun & Games. Orlando Sentinel Pictures: Orlando Magic vs New York Knicks Orlando area’s 25 best restaurants, according to Yelp

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