Join Mayor Teresa Jacobs on live TV

January 2012

Dear Neighbor,

Welcome to the Orange County Connect newsletter!

We've hit the ground running in 2012 and I'm excited about the year ahead.

In this issue, I focus on two January initiatives that will engage our citizens through new media platforms and strengthen the economy through job creation.

As always, I thank you for your continued support and for staying connected with your government.

Sincerely,

Teresa Jacobs

Orange County Mayor

Orange County's job creation initiative goes to voters on January 31

To encourage job growth and new investment in Orange County, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) agreed to hold a voter referendum that, if approved, would authorize the BCC to grant property tax exemptions for new or expanding businesses that are creating new jobs.
0.9415204678362573
All registered voters in Orange County are eligible to vote on this nonpartisan issue, which will appear on the January 31, 2012 Presidential Preference Primary Election ballot.

More than 20 Florida counties and 30 cities have already adopted this incentive to attract businesses, entrepreneurship and capital investment in their communities.

This initiative is about creating high-value jobs by targeting industries such as biomedical, aerospace, life sciences and emerging green technologies. I hope you will see this as a worthwhile investment in our local economy.

Orange County LIVE! debuts on January 25

As part of my commitment to engage our citizens, Orange County LIVE!, a new technology driven outreach initiative, will air on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, from 7 to 8 p.m.

This first episode will provide an overview of Orange County's new Office of Public Engagement and Citizen Advocacy (OPECA).

Whether you plan to watch us live on cable, on your computer, or even on your smartphone, this is a great opportunity to engage me and key staff members of Orange County Government.

We'll be broadcasting the inaugural program in real time from our Orange TV studios in front of a live audience. Our goal is to create a dialogue with Orange County citizens through social media platforms, Skype, and mobile phone applications.

Orange TV can be viewed on Bright House Channel 199, Comcast Channel 9, and AT&T U-verse Channel 99.

Viewers can ask questions while we're live on the air by calling 407-685-5483, or by emailing us at live@orangetvfl.net. To stream the show live over the internet and use live chat, go to www.orangetvfl.net.

Back to top .

Heartwarming turnout for Holiday Heroes Toy Drive

0.9761092150170648

I truly felt the spirit of the holidays during the distribution of our first Holiday Heroes Toy Drive at the Community Food and Outreach Center in Orange County.

I am so proud of our supporters and employees who generously donated almost 1,000 toys to needy children. A portion of those toys were distributed at the Community Food and Outreach Center, which helps out-of-work and homeless families by providing food and other crisis services.

It was both a pleasure and an honor for me to assist parents in their selection of toys and meet some of their precious children.

If you were one of our heroes, thank you for your generous support and for contributing to the success of our first Holiday Heroes Toy Drive. You made the holidays brighter for needy children. And if you weren't aware of our toy drive or were unable to participate, watch for more opportunities in upcoming newsletters to join me in future projects to help friends and neighbors in need.

Join me in celebrating the achievements of our African-American leaders

As we celebrate and honor the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 16, 2012, I'll be attending several special community events that highlightthe achievements of our African-American leaders. 0.7469287469287469

On Saturday, January 14, 2012, I'll be joining the Town of Eatonville in their annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. parade. Eatonville was incorporated in 1887 and is the oldest African-American incorporated municipality in America. On the same day, I will also be participating in the 28th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade in downtown Orlando.

It humbled me to receive an invitation to speak, for the second year, at the Annual "Pappy" Kennedy Prayer Breakfast, which honors the legacy of Arthur "Pappy" Kennedy, Orlando's first African-American elected city official. Mr. Kennedy was elected to the Orlando City Council in 1972 and served until 1980. He passed away in March 2000, but his name and legacy live on today.

Now in its 21st year, the breakfast will also commemorate the memory of Dr. King. The event on Monday, January 16, 2012 is open to the public and begins at 7:45 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Orlando, 3000 S. John Young Parkway, Orlando.

Following the breakfast, I will join the City of Ocoee for their Martin Luther King Unity Parade which begins at 10 a.m.

Polish crew films feature on Orange County's community of Christmas

$Jan\TVNPoland$

Over the holidays, I had the pleasure of welcoming TVN Poland, a news crew from a major commercial European network, who contacted us about filming a feature on Orange County's community of Christmas and its famous post office.

For years, Floridians from across the state have arranged to have their holiday cards and packages mailed from this Orange County landmark just to have "Christmas" postmarked on their mailings.

The news crew and I discussed what it's like to enjoy sunshine instead of snow during the winter months in Orange County. I also shared some of our unique Florida traditions, such as decorating palm trees and the Jacobs' family custom of baking key lime pie during the season.

We all recognize that Orange County is the world's top vacation spot, but it's also a wonderful place to live, work and play. Now, our friends in Poland can see why Orange County is such a special place to celebrate and enjoy the holidays.

Issue 6