Recap: October 29 Neighborhood Working Group Meeting
Topic: Economic Development and Commercial Activity
October 29, 2024
L. Claudia Allen Senior Center
Neighborhood Working Group Co-chair, Ayub Fleming from Orlando Housing Authority kicked off the meeting at 6:15, welcoming the group to continue to give valuable input to the plan.
Kathy Carton from EJP reviewed a presentation (found here) and several local partners provided details about their programs and initiatives to support and attract local businesses as follows.
Note: There was a question about whether the FNI community survey asked participants if they were business owners. Answer: FNI did not ask that exact question, however it did ask if they had accessed a small business loan to which no one answered yes.
City of Orlando Business Development Programs
Jennifer Mihalcoe from the City of Orlando presented about the Small Business Façade, Site Improvement & Adaptive Reuse Program, and Business Assistance Program. Some information is provided in the presentation at the link above. You can also learn more at the city’s website linked below.
Orlando.gov -> Go to Building Development -> Business Incentives
https://www.orlando.gov/Building-Development/Business-Incentives/Business-Incentive-Programs
Jennifer Mihalcoe
Economic Development Coordinator
jennifer.mihalcoe@orlando.gov
407.246.3123
The following programs were also mentioned by participants:
Take Action Against Graffiti Program (TAAG)
Non-profit Impact Fee Program
Orlando Main Streets – West Lakes District is a Market Street. Is there a possibility of creating an additional MainStreet in the Washington Shores neighborhood?
National Entrepreneur Center at Fashion Square Mall for people who want to start a business or grow their business. African American Chambers of Commerce and Small Business Institute are housed there as well and offer classes that are free or extremely low cost.
Central Florida BizLink
Lift Orlando
Tara Gilbert, Director of Economic Viability, shared information about Lift’s Small Business Institute. This 8-week program exposes participants to subject experts on topics including branding, knowing your customers, using AI, pricing, etc. 25% of the businesses in the current cohort are from the 32805 zip code. Tara noted that Lift and West Lakes District are doing a survey currently to better understand the needs of local businesses. Next year, Lift plans to host job fairs quarterly, continue the Small Business Institute by hosting a cohort specifically for non-profits, and create a Workforce development program for the Construction and Healthcare industries.
Florida Citrus Sports (FCS)
Sandy Hostetter explained that Steve Hogan, Executive Director of FCS, is committed to ensuring the stadium expansion benefits local residents. There are plans in development to add a field house that will hold up to 7,000 people, providing a smaller venue for people who can’t sell out an enormous stadium. The overall goal is to create additional entertainment amenities as part of the expansion to incent people who come to an event to stay and eat and hang out in the neighborhood. The hope is to also add housing to create a mixed-use development with retail. And, ideally, the intent is to incorporate local businesses into the newly created spaces. Sandy suggested setting up a community meeting directly with Steve Hogan to discuss the conceptual plans before they are finalized.
The following are highlights from the group discussion:
How will the new field house and amenities impact noise and traffic in the area?
Will people who live there now be displaced?
Is there a community committee working with Florida Citrus Sports on the plans? How can people provide comments on the proposed project?
Universal Studios built a sound barrier between the park and neighboring homes. Is that an option here?
What happened with the plan that was already created for Washington Shores? How does it factor into this new planning effort?
Will the residents be able to enjoy the new amenities that are developed at the stadium? Will they be able to afford to rent the space?
Lift Orlando has a goal to attract a major employer to the area who will provide local jobs for the neighborhood residents.
How can we ensure that residents benefit from the stadium expansion? One participant referenced the example of Tampa Bay Rays new development and how profits can be shared with the community.
There is currently a CRA or special tax district that includes the stadium but not the surrounding community. So any fees collected from the stadium are reinvested in the downtown area. Is it possible to expand the CRA boundaries to include the Choice footprint? District 5 Commissioner would need to bring it to City Council.
New Market tax credits attract investment into an underserved area. Is there a possibility to use this tool in the Choice footprint?
Suggestion to install a sign that can generate money via advertisements that can be reinvested into the Choice footprint.
Osceola Prosper is an example of a local program to make college free for students. Lift Orlando is looking to develop a similar program to make college degrees more accessible for Jones High School students.
Façade Money could be used for the boarded up business between the bank and the fire station. There is also a gray blue building right next to Washington shores plaza (a fish restaurant). Could Choice Neighborhoods implementation grant funding be used to acquire blighted properties for re-use?
OHA has an existing partnership with Portofino Bay Hotel that makes jobs available to public housing residents. How can we leverage this partnership and grow additional opportunities?
Universal is opening Epic Universe which is expected to employ 15,000 people. How can we leverage this for the neighborhood’s benefit?
Other topics raised:
How will OHA and its partners support seniors in their relocation?
They will still be in affordable housing. Many people who are relocated don’t choose to come back because they feel at home after settling into their new location.
It is a grant requirement to write a relocation plan that is approved by HUD. OHA would pay the moving cost and pay for families to be packed up, moved and unpacked.
Follow up: Lift to set up a meeting with Florida Citrus Sports for the community.