MAYOR DEMINGS' SPEECH
Good morning and welcome to the 2024 State of Orange County!
Today, I’m joined by my wife, the first lady of Orange County, the former Congresswoman Val Butler Demings, my sons and other members of my family. I couldn’t do this job without their support.
I know our County Commissioners have already been recognized, but I want to thank my colleagues again for their presence today. I also want to express my gratitude to all the elected officials for being here and for your continued support.
This year marks my 43rd year of public service and my sixth year as mayor of this great county.
Did you know Orange County was founded on December 29, 1824, as Mosquito County? Thankfully, in 1845, the name was changed to Orange County. This year marks our 200th anniversary.
We’ve had a year of remarkable achievements and continued strong economic growth. It’s also been a year filled with opportunities, challenges and significant milestones that have helped shape our community. Today’s presentation will highlight how we’re building a better Orange County together.
Whether it’s improving access to affordable housing and transportation, enhancing business and educational opportunities, or promoting environmental sustainability, our collective efforts are addressing the pressing issues before us and unlocking new opportunities for growth and prosperity.
So, let’s embark on a journey of building a better Orange County together.
In order to build better, Orange County must remain financially strong, and to that end, Orange County Government continues to receive Fitch’s highest triple-A rating across the board, and this has not changed for many years.
Building on our strong economy, we’ve continued to see growth in commercial and residential activity. In 2023, Orange County issued more than 80,000 permits, with a development value of $2.2 billion.
This was due in part to Team 400, a cross-section of County employees focused on innovative permitting solutions. Our customer-first approach is central to our service delivery, with the goal of increasing production of much-needed housing.
In addition, Orange County's Procurement Division organized its first Contracting Academy to assist local businesses in navigating the County's bidding process. The goal is to increase the number of small and medium-sized businesses working with Orange County.
Another important project wherein we've made significant progress is the Orlo Vista Flood Mitigation Project. Currently, we’ve completed the excavation work at three ponds by removing what amounts to 23,000 dump trucks filled with dirt. The additional pond storage will protect the surrounding neighborhood against major flooding. As a result, Orlo Vista is in a much better condition to face a major storm than ever before.
We’re also working to improve flooding conditions countywide. After Hurricane Ian, we received $219 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding.
We held a series of community meetings and developed a comprehensive plan to address unmet needs, including infrastructure improvements, housing repairs, job training, mental health counseling, small business loans and flood mitigation efforts.
Most of the funding will be used for Hurricane Ian-related projects that will benefit low to moderate income individuals or areas.
From Disaster Recovery dollars to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, the federal government has provided local communities with the necessary funding to address the most critical issues. Thanks go to our local members of Congress for their advocacy on our behalf. Representatives Soto and Frost, you delivered.
Over the past two years, Orange County has strategically allocated over $240 million in ARPA funding across crucial areas. These include small business assistance, health services and public safety, and increasing access to broadband.
Regarding broadband, we used ARPA funding to target unserved areas in Bithlo, Christmas, and South Apopka to ensure residents have access to internet service. That project will be completed this summer.
More recently, the Board allocated the remaining $23 million to provide additional financing for select projects including affordable housing, mental health and homelessness, food insecurity and medical debt relief. These funds have given us the flexibility to address our unique local needs while building a strong recovery.
Since I took office in 2018, addressing affordable housing has been one of my top priorities. According to a 2024 report from the University of Florida, there are more than 862,000 low-income, cost-burdened renters in Florida who spend more than 40 percent of their income on housing. Sixty percent of these households are in Florida’s seven largest counties.
As one of only a few counties in Florida with a Housing Trust Fund, the Board of County Commissioners has committed over $160 million to address housing needs. We’ve been intentional in stimulating the building of more affordable and attainable housing through public-private partnerships.
We’re proud to partner with Universal Resorts and Wendover Housing Partners on a first-of-its-kind affordable housing solution that will transform 20 acres of land in the International Drive area into workforce housing. Additionally, Catchlight Crossings will be a 1,000-unit housing community offering on-site amenities and services. We broke ground on Catchlight Crossings this year and expect it to open in 2026.
In addition, the Board approved transmittal of Walt Disney World's plans to build 1,400 affordable housing units on 80 acres in west Orange County. The community will be uniquely designed to complement the surrounding area and provide amenities focusing on wellness.
Today, more than 2,300 affordable housing units have been built or are under development.
Here are some of the projects Orange County has invested in:
In Apopka, The Mira and Southwick Commons, and in the Pine Hills Community, Barnett Villas and Emerald Villas Phase III. In addition, through our partnership with the Hannibal Square Community Land Trust, we’ve invested in Cornerstone at Sixth, a 24-unit affordable townhome community in Apopka. The community land trust model ensures these homes remain owner-occupied.
This year, I attended three Habitat for Humanity key presentations for new affordable homes built on County-donated surplus lots. I heard emotional testimonies from families who struggled with housing but successfully transitioned to homeownership as a result of County partnerships with Habitat.
I met the Saffold Family, a mother who lived in one room with her four children at a homeless shelter, and who now have a beautiful home. I saw the excitement on their faces as the children ran through the house and straight to their very own backyard.
This is just one story of how our surplus lot program is helping build the dream of home ownership.
Last year, the Homeless Services Network received more than $8 million from HUD to launch the Brighter Days Community Initiative to specifically address youth homelessness. With data in hand, we know homelessness is on the rise, and Orange County will allocate additional dollars in the coming fiscal year to address these growing issues.
According to census data, Central Florida remains the state's fastest growing region. Today, Orange County has more than 1.5 million residents with 400 new people moving here each week. In fact, by 2050, we expect to add another 700,000 residents, which will increase our population to over 2 million. This growth will continue to add pressure on our infrastructure and social services.
To build a better community together, we need a transportation system that’s reliable, accessible and affordable for our residents and visitors. Earlier this year, we re-engaged the community on the prospect of a Transportation Sales Tax. We hosted six community meetings and conducted a survey to hear from our residents about their transportation needs.
After much discussion among County Commissioners, the initiative was suspended and will be relaunched in 2026, but the County will use this time to address incremental changes to the transportation plan.
We’re identifying priority safety projects related to pedestrian, bicycle and motorist safety improvements, as well as transit enhancements, through the Accelerated Transportation Safety Program. The Board of County Commissioners allocated $100 million over the next five years to advance these projects.
This year, we broke ground on a LYNX $15 million state-of-the-art transfer center in Pine Hills. Some of the busiest bus lines in Orange County are in Pine Hills, and this new center will significantly improve access to public transit for thousands in the West Orange and Pine Hills area.
The Orlando International Airport had another record-breaking year for passenger traffic with nearly 58 million travelers. Five new airlines started service and eight additional gates are being added to Terminal C.
In September 2023, we were all excited to see Brightline begin inter-city rail service between Miami and Orlando. We’re now home to one of the boldest private new rail projects in the nation. Brightline is the only inter-city passenger rail station connected to a U.S. airport.
With Brightline’s expansion to our region, projects like the proposed Sunshine Corridor have the potential to link the airport to the Orange County Convention Center, South International Drive and ultimately to Disney Springs.
Now let’s move on to the rest of the story …
As we build better together, let’s highlight some industries integral to our thriving economy.
Tourism and Hospitality are the primary economic drivers in our community. In 2023, Orange County welcomed 74 million visitors generating an $87.6 billion economic impact. Nearly 40 percent of the region’s workforce works in tourism, and we’re fortunate to see multimillion-dollar projects planned for our theme parks.
Universal Epic Universe is set to open next summer and will be Central Florida’s newest major theme park, which will contain rides and attractions themed to some of Universal’s most beloved films. Celestial Park is the main hub and the link to four distinct themed worlds.
In the meantime, Universal is set to open new attractions this summer and debut Sensational – a nighttime fountain show with drones and 4K video projection over the park’s lagoon.
At Walt Disney World, expansions at the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are in the works. On a site west of Frontierland, or “Beyond Big Thunder,” Disney is planning what could be the largest Magic Kingdom expansion ever. And at Animal Kingdom, they’ve announced plans to transform an area into a Tropical Americas land. In just a few weeks, the reimagined Splash Mountain will open as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — the same exciting log-flume with a new Mardi Gras theme.
More importantly, Disney has just announced that over the next 10-20 years, they intend to invest $17 billion into the Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts in Central Florida. Disney hopes to contribute to economic growth and job creation while also maintaining environmental stewardship and pursuing workforce housing initiatives.
SeaWorld Orlando celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2023 and will soon open “Penguin Trek,” a new, family launch coaster. You’ll be able to zoom through Antarctica in snowmobiles, ending up in a real penguin habitat. This new ride is the 8th addition to the Coaster Capital of Orlando.
And let’s send our heartfelt congratulations to the area’s first theme park, Gatorland, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
As I shift from theme parks, let’s talk about our Convention Center. For more than 40 years, the Orange County Convention Center has helped fuel our local economy and boost tourism. According to a recent study, the Convention Center provides nearly $4 billion in economic impact annually to the Central Florida economy. More than 28,000 workers are employed there either directly or indirectly, and an estimated 1,200 local businesses depend on its events.
In 2023, the Convention Center hosted record crowds at MegaCon, IAAPA and the AAU National Volleyball Championships, just to name a few.
Vital to the tourism industry is the Tourist Development Tax. In March of this year, Tourist Development Tax collections hit a record $40 million, the highest monthly collection since its inception. And as of April of this year, our TDT reserves have climbed to a strong $388 million.
All indications are that tourism will remain strong and tourist development tax revenues will continue to climb. This creates new funding opportunities for community investments. This year, the Board approved three projects for TDT funding to include Phase 5 of the Convention Center, upgrades to Camping World Stadium, and a tower at the University of Central Florida Football Stadium.
The Board also significantly increased funding for arts and cultural organizations by allocating $75 million for capital projects, and we also increased funding for various cultural tourism grants to over $11 million a year.
In addition to tourism and hospitality, we’re making great strides in diversifying our economy. We want to recognize one of our local superstars, Yanet Herrera, the owner of Kings Service Solutions. This year, she was named the Small Businessperson of the Year for Florida by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
For our economy to thrive, we need educational institutions that build the talent pipeline. The gift of learning is within everyone’s grasp. (Presentation shown at event)
Another key Orange County industry that might be surprising to some of you is Agriculture. From citrus groves to cattle, Orange County has 600 farms and generates more than 220,000 jobs in agriculture and related industries. Statewide, agriculture is second to tourism in economic impact, with $160 billion in economic activity.
Let’s shift gears and turn our attention to the Simulation and Technology industry. Orange County is proud to be home to the fourth largest research park in the nation – the Central Florida Research Park, the epicenter for military modeling, simulation and training. This is a $6 billion industry in Central Florida.
Top industry players such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman all have a significant presence here. Organizations such as TEAM Orlando, a military partnership focused on technology, and the National Center for Simulation, are also based in Orange County.
Another industry vital to the County is Life Sciences and Medical Technologies. We’re building a globally competitive industry cluster, with more than 700 employees in 63 companies focused on specialty pharma, medical devices and telemedicine. This year’s Florida Simulation Summit showcased the Transformation of Healthcare Through Intelligent Technologies. Engaging presentations emphasized the importance of modeling, simulation and artificial intelligence in improving patient outcomes.
As we explore ways to innovate healthcare, equally important is equity and access to medical services for our uninsured and under-insured residents. For 25 years, Orange County’s Primary CARE Access Network of 22 clinics has been focused on building the community’s safety net of healthcare providers.
PCAN serves more than 91,000 patients annually. The Orange County Medical Clinic has served residents for over 30 years in its current location and offers free healthcare services to patients. Grace Medical provides healthcare services to low-income residents, and, in addition to primary care, offers dental services, behavioral health and spiritual support.
The PCAN partners have one goal in mind, and that’s making healthcare available for everyone.
Another one of my top priorities is public safety. To ensure our firefighters are trained to handle the demands of their job, we broke ground earlier this year on a state-of-the-art training facility for Orange County Fire Rescue. We look forward to the grand opening early next year.
As our community continues to grow, we’re committed to providing quality fire service. We recently opened Fire Station 80 in East Orange County and Fire Station 44 in West Orange County.
This year, the Fire Rescue Department launched the Blood Transfusion program in partnership with our EMS Director and our local hospitals. Orange County Fire Rescue is proud to be the first fire department in Central Florida to offer this lifesaving program. There’s no question many lives will be saved because of this innovation in emergency response.
In fact, since we started the program in March, we know half of the patients treated in the field wouldn’t have survived without a blood transfusion. Not long after the program was implemented, a mother of six children survived a serious auto crash because she received a blood transfusion in the field.
Another public safety concern is gun violence. The Orange County Citizens Safety Task Force was reconvened last year to review current crime trends and update past recommendations to address today’s needs. The Task Force completed its work last summer, producing 16 recommendations that build our prevention and intervention initiatives.
Orange County continues to support violence-prevention initiatives, with most of the funding going to small, grassroots non-profit organizations. The good news is law enforcement is reporting reductions in violent crime. Thank you Sheriff Mina and all area police chiefs for your leadership.
Let me take a moment to congratulate one of our youth organizations working to reduce juvenile delinquency. The Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida is celebrating its 80th anniversary of dedicated local service to improving the lives of children. Overall, Orange County dedicates nearly $89 million annually to provide more than 500 programs and services for individuals and families across the county.
Before moving on, let me recognize Great Oaks Village, the largest and oldest residential foster care group home in Florida, celebrating 100 years of dedicated service.
Another issue impacting communities across the nation is mental and behavioral health disorders. Last month, during the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Roundtable in Washington, D.C. I highlighted how we’re addressing these issues in Orange County as a model for the nation.
Over the next 15 years, Orange County will receive more than $60 million in Opioid Settlement funding to implement treatment programs.
Law enforcement continues to respond to individuals in mental health crisis through the Sheriff’s Behavioral Response Unit and the Orlando Police Department’s Community Response team. These responder models provide an opportunity for individuals in crisis to get the support they need.
Orange County has identified a $49 million funding gap in meeting the needs for mental and behavioral health services, and we’re contributing $10 million annually to help close the gap.
We continue to build partnerships that strengthen and support our behavioral health system of care. Just last week, Ability Housing and AdventHealth opened a new Community Center at the Wayne Densch Apartments that offer support services. The 2,500 square feet of flexible space will provide residents with a computer lab, library, group therapy sessions and health services.
Additionally, Orlando Health is building a 144-bed behavioral health hospital that will expand capacity for behavioral healthcare.
I want to thank our hospitals and healthcare partners for their continued support.
As we build upon services in our community, we’re also committed to building a better, more sustainable environment for generations to come. Recently, Orange County unveiled the largest floating solar array in the southeastern United States at the Southern Regional Water Facility. This solar array will generate enough energy to power 179 homes while limiting the impact on land and wildlife.
Our GreenPLACE program is one of the most impactful conservation initiatives in Florida. In 2021, the Board approved $100 million to preserve our natural habitats. To date, we’ve acquired 24,000 acres and opened more than 18,000 acres to the public for recreation.
Within our Sustainability Plan, we’re committed to doubling Orange County’s acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands. I want to thank Congressman Soto for his efforts to earmark $500,000 to assist with these purchases.
Enhancing our parks and recreation spaces is also essential to a growing community. In 1924, Wilbur and Rose Warren donated 8 acres of land to create the first park in Orange County. Now, 100 years later, we have 113 parks and trails with more than 14 million visitors annually. Happy 100th Anniversary to Orange County Parks & Recreation!
You don’t have to go far to discover what makes this community special – it’s people and its culture. The programs and initiatives I’m highlighting today wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated individuals who work for Orange County. I’m honored to lead them as they provide critical services for our residents and visitors.
Again this year, our employees went above and beyond in the United Way Fundraising campaign. For the first time ever, Orange County employees raised more than $1 million for residents in need.
Our departments and divisions continue to shine with local, state and national awards for their outstanding work in their profession and in the community. I’m proud of the work being done by our employees.
This year, the Mayor’s Orange County MLK Initiative participated in the MLK Day of Service, packing 1 million healthy meals with U.S. Hunger. Along with more than 3,000 volunteers, we exceeded our goal.
There are several occasions throughout the year when we celebrate the diversity and strength of our community, and many local groups and organizations are making significant contributions to our society and economy.
The Multicultural Center, located in West Orange County, has been bustling with activity since opening in September. We’ve hosted more than 80 events in the spacious ballroom, and we’re eagerly anticipating the completion of the Innovation Lab and Senior Center. At a recent town hall meeting at the Multicultural Center, Congressman Maxwell Frost announced a $1 million federal appropriation to assist in the build out of the Senior Center.
And the funding continued with $370,000 to support the County’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Thank you to Congressman Frost for working hard to bring much-needed federal dollars to Orange County.
We’re proud of the work we’re doing to help our seniors, but let’s not forget the impact young people are having. I’d like to highlight a few exceptional young individuals who are helping build a better community.
This past holiday season, 9-year-old entrepreneur Audrey Wooten donated $700 from her body scrub business to the Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive. Her actions demonstrate that she already understands the true spirit of the holidays – the gift of giving.
I met Prateek Seela, the creator of Gen Z Votes. Prateek is busy empowering voter participation through his bipartisan platform and podcast, and he has been hitting the streets to see what’s important to voters. It’s amazing to see what this high school senior has accomplished.
I also met Sumer Strawbree, a professional speaker, author, illustrator and CEO of Sumer Strawbree Publishing. She has authored three coloring books with positive affirmations. Her writing and illustration journey began after being bullied. Sumer, 14, has been featured on national and local news programs for her impactful work, including an appearance on the Kelly Clarkson Show.
That's what building better together looks like when youth are involved. Thank you and keep up the incredible work.
With community engagement that includes our youth, we’re building a better community through sports, arts and culture.
We’ve had a thrilling sports season in Orlando and Orange County. In fact, Orlando was ranked as the No. 1 Sports Business City in America by the prestigious Sports Business Journal. Kudos to the City of Orlando, Florida Citrus Sports and the Central Florida Sports Commission for this achievement.
I join all of our residents in saying we were proud to host the U.S. Olympic Marathon Men’s and Women’s trials in Downtown Orlando.
The field at Camping World Stadium was also busy this year. Thousands of sports fans and spectators gathered for the Florida Classic matchup, and top-ranked collegiate teams showcased their skills in annual bowl games.
The NFL Pro Bowl was back in Orlando, and this was an opportunity to see the league's best players compete in an AFC vs. NFC competition.
Our hometown team, the University of Central Florida Knights, became the nation’s youngest program in the Power Five conferences. This is a major milestone for UCF’s athletic programs and gives them a competitive edge to recruit the best student-athletes in the country.
And congratulations to YOUR Orlando Magic for making it to the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. All seven games were thrilling, and our team made us proud. This young team is one to watch.
Equally impressive are the arts in this community. This year, we recognized more than 40 organizations with cultural and tourism grants totaling $4.2 million made possible by Tourist Development Taxes.
The Orlando Science Center opened the Life Exhibit – a beautiful new immersive experience for everyone to enjoy. With $10 million dollars from TDT funding, the exhibit looks at nature and conservation and features animals in their habitats. It’s the largest and most complex exhibit in the Science Center’s history. The arts are the building blocks of a strong and connected community.
We are building better together through partnerships in affordable housing, public safety and transportation.
We are building better together by supporting innovation, collaboration and inclusion.
We are building better together by increasing access to behavioral health services.
We are building better together by preserving and sustaining our environment.
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We are building better together by embracing diversity and promoting arts and culture that uplift our community.
If you want to live in a better community, we can only build better together.