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Impact Update for Thursday, December 16

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

“Some people say I have attitude – maybe I do… but I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does. That makes you a winner right there.”

- Venus Williams

American Pro Tennis Player & Olympic Gold Medalist

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:
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.
Booster shots are now available at the vaccination site at the Orlando International Airport. The site is open from Thursday - Monday, Noon to 6pm and is located on the third floor of the airport near the checkpoint for gates 70 to 129.
Orange County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program remains open for individuals who are behind on rent or at risk of being evicted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, more than $15.3 million have been approved to keep 2,635 families in their homes. Recently, the City of Orlando announced it has depleted its current federal funds dedicated to its Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Orange County is stepping in to bridge the gap and will temporarily offer assistance to Orlando residents, effective now until further notice. Eligible residents include those living in unincorporated Orange County, Apopka, Bay Lake, Belle Isle, Eatonville, Edgewood, Lake Buena Vista, Maitland, Oakland, Ocoee, Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden and Winter Park. Residents can visit ocfl.net/RentalAssistance to review program details and to check if their address is eligible.
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 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.
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.

The Garth Brooks Stadium Tour is coming to Orlando's Camping World Stadium on March 26, 2022! Click here to purchase your tickets starting at 10am on Friday, December 17.
The Orange County Public Art Review Board, in cooperation with the Orange County Planning Department, is looking for two and three-dimensional artwork submissions for an exhibition called "Postcards from the Future." Click here for more information on the exhibit and how to apply. Deadline to enter is Jan. 12, 2022.
From Visit Orlando: 10 Ways to Celebrate a Wondrous Holiday Season in Orlando.
They aren't the kind you can put a present under for the holidays, but you can still get two free trees from the City of Orlando by clicking here.
Step into a spectacular winter wonderland with holiday magic around every corner during Central Florida’s favorite holiday festival, Oh, What Fun! Head to the Lake Nona Town Center, or as it’s known for the holidays, Peppermint Square, for a season filled with celebrations.
Pack your blankets, snacks, and chairs to enjoy Holiday Movies at the Park. Join the Downtown Development Board on Friday, Dec. 17 for The Santa Clause.
The 2021 holiday season has arrived! Throughout December, downtown Orlando is offering free, family-friendly holiday events and activities for all to enjoy.
Tap into science fun! Craft beer connoisseurs 21+ are invited to hop(s) in for an evening of brews, food and science while supporting a good cause. Whether you're a stout drinker, an IPA aficionado or a cider sipper, join the Orlando Science Center to sample over 150 brews from local breweries during this all-new fundraising event!
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.

“Simply put, the history of the Orlando Pride can not be written without Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger. The two have left their mark on The City Beautiful in a way that few have and that deserves to be celebrated. As players, as captains, but most importantly as badass women who refuse to live anything but their truth.

Thank you, Ash and Ali.”

-An Open Letter from the Orlando Pride to Ashlyn Harris & Ali Krieger

See story below...

Around The Horn.

From the Orlando Pride: Harris & Krieger - The Embodiment of Orlando.
Orlando's 2021-22 Bowl Game line up is set! Get your tickets now for the Cheez It Bowl (No. 19 Clemson vs Iowa State), the VRBO Citrus Bowl (No. 15 Iowa vs No. 22 Kentucky), and the Cure Bowl (Coastal Carolina vs Northern Illinois).
UCF Football lands one of the best-recruiting classes in program history, ranked higher than Florida and Miami and on par with two Power 5 conference champions.
The 2022 Major League Soccer schedule was officially released on Wednesday as Orlando City gears up its return to the playoffs for a third consecutive year. The Lions open the season at Exploria Stadium against CF Montreal on Feb. 27.
The Orlando Pride have announced Amanda Cromwell as the Club’s head coach. Cromwell joins the Pride from collegiate powerhouse UCLA, where she led the Bruins to the 2013 NCAA Championship, three College Cup appearances, seven Sweet 16 appearances, and four Pac-12 team titles. Prior to UCLA, Cromwell spent 14 seasons in Orlando as the head coach at UCF.
Join the Orlando Magic for Star Wars Night as they take on the Miami Heat this Friday, Dec. 17 at the Amway Center. Enjoy a night of Jedi and jump shots and meet the voice of "Ahsoka Tano," Ashley Eckstein!
UCF’s Gus Malzahn is expecting to have a ‘full team’ when facing the Florida Gators in the Gasparilla Bowl.
From the Orlando Sentinel: Grading the 2021-22 college football coaching hires.
Dr. Phillips’ trio of high-major college signees all put up big numbers and the Panthers dominated the second half in a 77-50 win against previously unbeaten Windermere Prep in boys basketball.
Sanford Seminole football standouts (and twins) Damari and Ja’Cari Henderson, along with their teammate and best friend Kam Moore, have all signed with UCF.
From the Orlando Sentinel: Urban Meyer’s tumultuous NFL tenure ended after just 13 games and two victories when the Jacksonville Jaguars fired him late Wednesday.
Ed Kershner, former Oviedo and Kissimmee Osceola coach and the winningest coach in Florida high school boys basketball history, died at his Oviedo home Wednesday afternoon after a long bout with kidney failure and other health issues.
Bally Sports Florida, the exclusive network home of the Orlando Magic, announced plans to televise 10 Lakeland Magic games as part of the remaining NBA G League regular season.
Canada will join the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights concerns, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this week.

In The News.

The 2021 State of Downtown was hosted at Exploria Stadium earlier this week, with Mayor Buddy Dyer hosting a "town hall" format for the discussion. Dyer called the last two years "unlike any other" in downtown due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the shifts to the local downtown economy.
The Orlando Economic Partnership announced a five year strategic plan for the tech and innovation ecosystem focused on driving investment into the region in tech that addresses a broad-based increase in opportunities, capabilities and access for Orlando’s workforce.
Visit Orlando has just announced that it succeeded in raising $289,291 this year with its annual Magical Dining initiative.
A Memorandum of Understanding was just issued for review between Orange County, the City of Orlando, and the Community Redevelopment Agency, that identifies the parties’ desire to create a County/Citywide Cultural Arts Plan. Amongst other things, the plan would establish a process for sustainable development and growth of the arts, conduct a comprehensive arts inventory and analysis, determine suitable sites for art and art venues, determine ways to enhance diverse and inclusive participation and representation, create a local and regional framework for arts funding, and develop a process for building strategic partnerships.
Wildlife officials said Wednesday an infusion of projects to improve water quality is a good start, as they seek to avoid a recurrence of large numbers of manatee deaths due to a lack of seagrass and degraded water in the Indian River Lagoon.

Fun & Games.

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