Central Florida News

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer gives annual State of the City address

Published

3 years ago

May 24, 2023

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer speaks with media after delivering his 2023 State of the City Address at the Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre in Orlando, Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Photo by J Willie David, III / Florida National News

ORLANDO, Fla. – Today, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer delivered his annual State of the City address, highlighting “The Promise of Orlando,” a city where everyone and anyone has the opportunity to thrive.

“It’s an incredible time to be a part of our Orlando community,” said Mayor Dyer. “We have worked together to build one of America’s premier 21st century cities, a modern melting pot where we create unmatched quality of life, where we expand opportunity for everyone, and where we embody the uniquely American ideal that success doesn’t depend on being born into wealth or privilege, what you look like, who you love, or where you worship. It depends on effort, merit and opportunity. That is the promise of our Orlando.”

As part of the speech Mayor Dyer highlighted the stories of Orlando businesses, residents and city employees, all who showcase how the city puts that promise into practice.

“The promise of Orlando is hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of individual stories that are being written in our community every single day,” said Mayor Dyer. “Those stories, our stories, are the best measurement of the state of our city.”

Through these different perspectives, the address emphasized Orlando’s continued commitment to provide an exceptional quality of life, further ensure a safe community, offer opportunity for all and invest in solutions to challenges, like affordable housing and homelessness.

Mayor Dyer noted that the city of Orlando continues to look ahead and has laid the foundation from which the city will continue to embrace differences, rise to meet challenges and further opportunity for all.

“In Orlando, we’re certainly proud of our history and our accomplishments, but we are fully focused on our future,” said Mayor Dyer. “We know that our best days are ahead of us. That’s because we choose collaboration and partnership over partisanship and division, that’s because we welcome everyone to take part in the incredible city we are building together and that’s because of the promise of Orlando. Because of that promise, the state of our city is as strong as it’s ever been.”

Highlights of the speech and “The Promise of Orlando” included:

PUBLIC SAFETY
Decreasing Crime and Increasing Officers

Since Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith took over the department in 2022, the city has experienced a 22% decrease in shootings and a 7% overall decrease in violent crime.
By restructuring the department, OPD has increased the number of police officers taking calls and patrolling Orlando’s streets by 20%.
And this fiscal year, the city will pursue funding for the addition of more than 20 new officers and eight new 911 dispatchers.

Community Response Team

Instead of a traditional law enforcement response, this new team is dispatched to give immediate help to nonviolent individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis, along with follow-up support services.
In just over two years, the team has responded to 2,000 service calls and helped save more than 2,200 hours of police time.
Because of this success, the team was recently expanded by adding an in-house clinician who is able to triage calls directly at the 911 center.

QUALITY OF LIFE
Investing in Parks and Shared Spaces

The city continues to invest in parks and neighborhood spaces. This includes Prince Hall Park in the west that includes new a playground and shaded picnic tables that are solar powered and outfitted with a free Wi-Fi hotspot and charging stations. In the southeast, the new Poitras Park will include a splash pad and pickleball courts. In the east, Commander Drive Park will include new fitness stations and a playground for everyone with wheelchair access.
These investments also include the larger, signature parks like the newest regional park, The Grove, in the Packing District in partnership with Dr. Phillips Charities that will open later this month. And later this year, renovations to Lake Eola Park will begin.
Equally important, the city is focused on improving the built and social environment to equitably enhance the lives of Orlando residents of all ages with the first-ever Age Friendly Livability Plan which will result in the expansion of services for adults aged 55-plus at the Jackson, Grand Avenue, Ivy Lane, Rock Lake and Dover Shores neighborhood centers.

Making Transportation More Efficient and Sustainable

In just the last four years, the city has grown its bike trails by close to 70%.
In partnership with regional governments, the Northern Expansion of SunRail to Deland just broke ground this week. And the city remains committed to connecting SunRail to the airport, to the convention center and expanding service to weekends.
This fall, Brightline will launch service between Orlando International Airport and South Florida. And the city continues to work with regional partners to help develop a Brightline route that will connect Orlando to Tampa.

A HAND UP – PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
Investing in Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

The city has committed $7.5 million this year to support programs that help businesses start and grow here in Orlando.
The city also remains hyper-focused on supporting the growth of minority-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs. This last fiscal year, minority-owned businesses received $30 million in contracts from the city with more than 60% to Black-owned firms, 37% going to Hispanic-owned firms, and 29% to women-owned firms.

Helping Our Homeless

Through Accelerate Orlando the city is leveraging $58 million in federal funding to make a once-in-a-generation investment to work with local partner service providers to accelerate efforts to address homelessness. These investments in the Christian Service Center, Salvation Army and Coalition for the Homeless, among others, will help modernize their campuses to better serve those experiencing homelessness.
Alongside Accelerate Orlando, the city has made great strides in placing more than 1,600 people in the region into permanent, supportive housing with 97% remaining in those homes.
Since 2021, through a partnership with First Step Staffing the city has helped place more than 280 residents in jobs and help them overcome barriers to employment.
To further these efforts the city continues to bring resources and partners to the table to develop shared solutions to these shared challenges. The city recently unveiled a Homeless Action Plan that establishes bold goals to reduce the number of unsheltered residents by 50% in the city and ensure that no child sleeps on the streets.

Increasing Housing

To help further access for residents to affordable housing, in 2015 the city invested nearly $7 million to purchase seven vacant, foreclosed, uninhabitable properties in the greater Washington Shores and Mercy Drive areas, with a goal to transform these sites into safe and affordable housing. Today that investment resulted in the creation of 600 new housing units and has yielded more than $115 million in private investment or a return of nearly $16 for each dollar invested by the city.
In addition to these investments, since 2015 the city has supported and championed the construction or rehabilitation of more than 3,100 housing units either completed, in progress or planned.

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Central Florida News

Lift Orlando and Valencia College Launch Free-Tuition Scholarship for Jones High Graduates

Published

1 day ago

January 23, 2026

Dr. Jessica Henlon

By Dr. Jessica Henlon | Education Contributor for Florida National News

On January 7, 2026, Valencia College and Lift Orlando announced the launch of the Lift Scholars program, offering full tuition and fee coverage at Valencia for every graduate of Jones High School’s Class of 2026 through 2029. Whether pursuing an associate degree or short-term technical certificate, students will now have the opportunity to earn credentials without the burden of tuition.

Lift Orlando CEO Eddy Moratin called the initiative a commitment to removing obstacles: “Cost should never stand in the way of a student’s future” (Valencia College, 2026). Valencia President, Dr. Kathleen Plinske, noted that the program builds on the success of Osceola County’s Prosper initiative and affirmed that “the lives of hundreds of Jones students and their families will be transformed by today’s news” (Valencia College, 2026). Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez described the scholarship as “an extraordinary gift” that “opens doors” for students who might have otherwise seen college as out of reach (Valencia College, 2026).

The announcement was met with tears, cheers, and celebration. Perhaps no moment captured the joy more vividly than when OCPS District 5 Board member and Jones High alumna Vicki-Elaine Felder took the mic, pointing to students proclaiming: “You get a scholarship, and you get a scholarship!” On social media, she shared her pride with fellow alumni, calling the news a “wonderful opportunity for my Alma Mater JHS🧡💚🐅🎉🥳🙌🏾.”

Building on Proven Promise Programs

The Lift Scholars model joins a national movement of place-based Promise scholarships. Since Michigan’s Kalamazoo Promise launched in 2005, more than 400 similar programs have emerged nationwide. These scholarships have shown powerful results: Bartik et al. (2021) found recipients were significantly more likely to enroll in and complete college compared to similar students without aid.

Closer to home, Osceola County’s Prosper program has enrolled over 10,000 students since its launch in 2022 and helped more than 1,100 earn associate degrees through Valencia (Mead, 2025). The initiative raised Osceola’s college-going rate from one of Florida’s lowest to among its highest, a compelling model for Lift Scholars’ potential (Valencia College, 2026).

Cost Is Still the Biggest Barrier

Research consistently affirms that financial strain is the top barrier to college enrollment. A Gallup–Lumina Foundation survey found that 85% of adults who never enrolled or who left college early cited tuition and fees as a major factor (Carrasco, 2024). Removing those costs measurably boosts participation.

Even modest scholarship programs have demonstrated impact. A multi-state study by Mayer et al. (2015) showed that performance-based aid increased both persistence and five-year graduation rates. More recently, Berlanga and Corti (2025) found that scholarship recipients earned higher GPAs and graduated at significantly greater rates than peers.

A Personal Lens: Support Must Follow Access

My doctoral research explored how financial support, when paired with meaningful engagement, drives student persistence. I interviewed first-generation online learners who described how virtual co-curricular experiences boosted their motivation, belonging, and academic follow-through (Henlon, 2025). Financial access opens the door, but relationships, visibility, and mentorship sustain the journey.

A Gift That Multiplies

For Jones High families, this is more than a scholarship. It’s a public affirmation that their children’s futures matter. It’s also a community investment with long-term dividends. As Dr. Vazquez noted, this program will empower students “to pursue their goals with confidence” (Valencia College, 2026).

When students are relieved of tuition burdens, they gain freedom to explore careers in healthcare, logistics, education, or advanced manufacturing. To dream, to plan, and to persist. And when communities like Orlando come together to send a bold message of hope, everyone benefits.

About the Author: Dr. Jessica Henlon holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Education. She is an Education Contributor for Florida National News. Dr. Henlon can be reached at Education@FloridaNationalNews.com or book.jessicahenlon@gmail.com.

Central Florida News

Mayor Demings Announces 2026 Orange County Open House and Job Fair

Published

2 days ago

January 23, 2026

Willie David

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) — Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings will host a free open house and job fair on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orange County Administration Center in downtown Orlando.

The family-friendly event will give residents an opportunity to meet Mayor Demings and members of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners while learning more about county services and career opportunities.

Interactive Activities and Career Opportunities

The open house will feature more than 30 interactive booths hosted by county departments, offering attendees hands-on experiences and information about services provided to the community. Human Resources staff will also be available to provide a one-stop opportunity for visitors to learn about current job openings and career paths with Orange County.

Guided tours of the Mayor’s Office and the County Commissioners’ offices will be offered throughout the event.

Event Details and Parking Information

The event will take place at the Orange County Administration Center, located at 201 S. Rosalind Ave., Orlando, FL 32801. Free parking will be available at the Administration Center as well as in the parking lot at the corner of Jackson Street and Liberty Avenue.

Residents are encouraged to RSVP in advance or seek additional information by visiting ocfl.net/OpenHouse, calling 407-836-7370, or emailing mayor@ocfl.net.

Central Florida News

ThreatLocker Expands Orlando Magic Partnership With Garage Naming Near Kia Center

Published

2 weeks ago

January 8, 2026

Willie David

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — A downtown Orlando parking garage adjacent to Kia Center has been renamed ThreatLocker Garage, marking an expanded partnership between the Orlando Magic and Central Florida-based cybersecurity company ThreatLocker.

Formerly known as the GEICO Garage, the ThreatLocker Garage is located directly across from Kia Center and features two entrances off South Street and Division Avenue.

ThreatLocker Expands Partnership With Orlando Magic
ThreatLocker, an Orlando-based leader in cybersecurity, continues to grow its partnership with the Orlando Magic through the garage naming and its role as a Champions of the Community (COTC) partner. The company also provides its market-leading Zero Trust Platform to help protect the Magic’s digital infrastructure.

“The Orlando Magic are thrilled to continue elevating its existing partnership with ThreatLocker,” said Charlie Freeman, president of business operations for the Magic. “As a leader in the cybersecurity space, we are excited to help grow their brand through the naming of the ThreatLocker Garage. As COTC partners since 2023, our organizations share a strong commitment to the Central Florida community.”

Commitment to Central Florida Community
ThreatLocker is one of nine Champions of the Community partners, a group of organizations recognized for their shared dedication to supporting the Central Florida region.

“As ThreatLocker has grown from a local startup into a leading global cybersecurity company, our roots in Central Florida remain at the core of our identity,” said ThreatLocker CEO and co-founder Danny Jenkins. “The Orlando Magic’s long-standing support for local businesses has played an important role in our journey, and we are proud to take the next step in our partnership with the ThreatLocker Garage.”

Cybersecurity Leader With Global Reach
ThreatLocker offers a cost-effective approach to cybersecurity by using advanced controls to prevent threats such as ransomware. With 24/7 support from a team of skilled cybersecurity professionals, the company serves businesses worldwide while continuing to invest in the Central Florida community.

The renaming of the garage further solidifies ThreatLocker’s presence in downtown Orlando and underscores its growing relationship with the Orlando Magic.