Impact Update for Thursday, September 2 |
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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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“All great changes are preceded by chaos.”
- Deepak Chopra
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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.
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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.
- Orange County:
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Mayor Demings lifts the mask mandate for 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 Health Services continues to administer free drive-thru COVID-19 vaccinations at Camping World Stadium. Both Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are available at the site — first and second dose only, seven days a week from 9am-5pm or until capacity is reached. Third-dose booster shots are not available at this time. Camping World Stadium also provides Monoclonal Antibody therapy treatments.
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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.
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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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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:
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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.
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Covering Central Florida offers health coverage and a Special Enrollment Period for individuals who have been laid off related to COVID-19.
- Additional Resources:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Orange County Clerk of Courts will host an upcoming Legal Matters Forum on post-moratorium evictions on Thursday, Sept. 9. The free event will provide the public with valuable resources and insight on the evictions process, as well as inform them of their rights in the event of an eviction. Speakers from the Clerk’s Office, Orange County Government, Legal Aid Society, Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Judiciary will present and be available to answer questions during the event.
Stay Engaged.
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Our partners at Visit Orlando are proud to announce the return of Magical Dining, which runs through Oct. 3. Now in its sixteenth year, the wildly popular culinary event allows residents and visitors alike to taste top Orlando-area restaurants while benefitting a great cause.
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Wawa is giving teachers and school staff a free coffee or fountain drink every day during the month of September.
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Nominations are now open for the 2021 Schwartz Innovation Award, the region’s most prestigious business innovation award. The winner will be announced during the return of Synapse Orlando on Friday, Oct. 15.
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Know someone who's made a positive impact in our community over the last year? Now's your chance to nominate them for Heart of Florida United Way's 2021 Change Maker Impact Awards. The deadline is next Friday, August 27 and there are some new categories this year. Beyond the recognition, honorees will also receive a grant to be donated to the non-profit of their choice!
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Celebrate the return of Country Thunder Florida as it storms into Osceola Heritage Park with Old Dominion on Friday, Sept. 10, Eric Church on Saturday, Sept. 11 and Dierks Bentley on Sunday, Sept. 12 plus dozens of your favorite artists playing all day long! Get your tickets and get ready to party all weekend long!
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TECHNICOLOR TUESDAYS is a new film series at CityArts that occurs on the first Tuesday of the month. It is completely free to attend but space is limited, so all guests must register for a spot. September's film is Moulin Rouge!
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“Queer Eye” star and best-selling author Antoni Porowski is coming to Orlando on Friday, Sept. 10, to host an evening at The Plaza Live. The evening will celebrate Porowski’s new cookbook, with demonstrations of recipes from the book and opportunities to answer questions about casual entertaining and kitchen hacks.
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Orlando Economic Partnership’s new podcast, Orlando’s Own, is out now! Hosted by Tim Guiliani, the podcast takes listeners behind-the-scenes of the region’s most impactful companies and highlights our region’s diversity of industry through thought-provoking conversations with some of the region’s top business leaders.
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Help the Orlando City SC license plate become a reality by purchasing your pre-sale voucher today! In order to be manufactured, the organization must sell at least 3,000 presale vouchers within 24 months.
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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 as well as select dates for Halloween Horror Nights.
“I feel really good about everyone and I know we put in a lot of hard work, especially with this heat. For the most part personally, my body feels good, my mind is good and once I got all those in check, I’m good to go.”
-Dillon Gabriel, Quarterback
UCF Football
See UCF story below...
Around The Horn.
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The Greater Orlando Sports Commission announced the four local award winners that will be honored during the 2021 Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. Stacey Allaster (USTA), Trish Highland (Orange and Lake County Public Schools), and Kay Rawlins (Orlando City Foundation) will receive the Women in Sports Leadership Award, while Megan Rose (USTA) will receive the Rising Star Award. The 3rd annual luncheon will be hosted on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at UCF's Addition Financial Arena. Purchase your tickets now!
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UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel said he is ready physically and mentally to face an experienced Boise State defense as Thursday’s season-opener against the Broncos quickly approaches.
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Orlando City faces reigning MLS Cup Champs, Columbus Crew, this Saturday, Sept. 4 at 7:30pm. It's also Kick Childhood Cancer Night, presented by Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children - get your tickets now!
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Here's some good news: youth sports is breaking all registration records, according to a new report released by sports management and communications software provider TeamSnap, in collaboration with The Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, the Families in Sport Lab at Utah State University and Louisiana Tech University’s Minds in Motion Lab. It notes the uptick can be traced to a combination of pent-up demand and parents wanting to decrease their children's screen time.
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A total of six UCF rookies participated in the 2021 NFL preseason and four of them made the cut to earn roster spots.
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From Orlando Sentinel's Julia Poe: 3 things we learned from the Orlando Pride’s win over Gotham FC.
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To mark Women’s Equality Day, Michelob Ultra has announced it will commit $100m over the next five years to help increase visibility for women’s sports and female athletes.
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A top-5 matchup between Sentinel Super 16 football teams headlines Week 2 of the high school regular season. No. 3 Apopka hosts No. 4 West Orange on Friday at 7pm. Both teams made easy work of season-opening opponents while turning in shutout wins on the road.
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Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac and Jump Ministries Global Church will be hosting a seafood festival to benefit Project Life at 4pm on Sunday, Sept. 5, at the Magic Mall in Orlando.
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Sloane Stephens pulled away for a 6-4, 6-2 victory over friend and rival Coco Gauff in the latest match of the 2021 U.S. Open.
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The NBA announced that it has struck a deal with the National Basketball Referees Association for all NBA Referees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus this season.
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MLB Power Rankings: Where all 30 teams stand as final stretch begins.
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Anyone can play EA Sports' Madden NFL 22, but these three Orlando artists are really winning with features on the game's tracklist.
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NBC Sports has announced its first all-female broadcast team for an LPGA event at this October's ShopRite LPGA Classic.
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Facebook announced the launch of Facebook Fantasy Games, a product that offers users the ability to create their own fantasy leagues. The social media and technology giant is partnering with Whistle Sports and launching a daily sports prediction game called “Pick & Play Sports.”
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In The News.
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The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), one of the first convention centers to receive GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™, (GBAC), was recently reaccredited after a successful year of hosting in person events. Through its dedication to upholding GBAC STAR infection prevention protocols, as well as its Recovery and Resiliency Guidelines in cooperation with the Florida Department of Health, and its pioneering collaboration with Orlando Health, the OCCC hosted more than 100 live events since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Residents in Orlando are passionate about the future of their transportation options. MetroPlan Orlando, the transportation planning organization for Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties, released the results of a survey they conducted from April to June of this year.
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Orlando’s foodie scene is growing by the day and restaurants are adding more unique dishes to their menus. Check out these Central Florida chefs that are bringing regional flavors to the table.
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Two long-awaited roller coasters have opening dates. SeaWorld Orlando’s Ice Breaker will debut in February 2022, followed by Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in March.
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Orange County Sheriff John Mina appeared on CBS This Morning yesterday, speaking about the loss of a local deputy to COVID-19 and encouraging other law enforcement to get vaccinated.
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A new daytime show is coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom that will feature massive three-dimensional kites modeled after beloved characters.
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Halloween Horror Nights is almost upon us, and Universal Orlando Resort has shared a look at what devilish delights will be on the menu at this year’s event.
Fun & Games.
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