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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE:
Orlando, FL (October 3, 2008) – Yesterday, Mayor Buddy Dyer hosted his annual State of Downtown event at the Church Street Ballroom in Downtown Orlando. Mayor Dyer, along with community leaders, small business owners and other elected officials, celebrated the accomplishments and progress in reshaping and revitalizing Central Florida’s urban core. While Mayor Dyer recognized that our country is in the midst of a crisis on Wall Street and facing a larger economic slump that will mean challenges for families, local businesses, state and local governments, and Downtown Orlando, he also stressed that Downtown Orlando will continue to be the economic engine that will propel Central Florida’s future economy. Mayor Dyer made several major announcements including: UCF will further invest and expand its presence in downtown Orlando with the birth of UCF’s Center for Emerging Media. Along with the House of Moves and Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), the Center of Emerging Media will anchor the Creative Village – a place where, in the future, professionals in the emerging media industry can live, work and play - all in one location in Downtown Orlando. The City is launching a newly-enhanced Mayor’s Business Assistance Team which will continue to allow the City to set the stage for businesses to succeed and give business owners help during tough economic times. A new project is on the horizon that will continue to revitalize Parramore and Downtown: The Renaissance at Carver Square (To be built where the historic Carver Theater once stood) is a mixed-use project that includes a community theater and commercial space along with a small business incubator, providing education and networking components. The anchor tenant for this facility will be The Urban Trust Bank. Founded by Robert Johnson, owner of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats and founder of B-E-T, the Urban Trust Bank will not only serve as a Downtown branch, but as the home office for the entire company. This year’s event also featured a panel discussion lead by Mayor Dyer. The Panel featured nationally-known experts in the fields of downtown development and urban revitalization and focused on how Orlando can sustain the revitalization of its downtown core during tough economic times. The group also discussed ways the community can best-position Downtown Orlando to propel Central Florida’s future economy. "The biggest challenge and opportunity for Downtown Orlando," Panelist John Thomas, Director of Policy and Political Affairs for the Florida League of Cities, noted, "is a focus on a retail component to complete the entire Downtown package Orlando has built thus far." He also advised the need to create a clear identity for Downtown that captures that "complete package." Panelist David Feehan, president of International Downtown Association (IDA), agreed a focus on retail was needed for the future growth and expansion of Downtown Orlando. "Orlando needs to continue building on the success of clustering at Lake Nona and in digital media and entertainment in Downtown, creating a unique and appealing cluster of retail amenities focused on giving patrons a Downtown experience," Feehan said. Dr. Jerry Mitchell, professor of public affairs at Baruch College at the City University of New York, noted the future is bright for Downtown Orlando with the strong foundation the City has laid with innovative ideas and dedicated leaders to tackle new challenges. "If Orlando can continue to build on the idea and success of clustering certain industries together, which will in turn create spins off around it, cities will find it hard to be able to compete with that level opportunity and innovation, "Mitchell said. Panelist Thomas also complimented Orlando and called it "Florida’s best Downtown," noting its leaders in both the public and private sectors are willing to solve problems and put differences aside to get things done for the community. Feehan also applauded Orlando for valuing the power of partnerships between businesses, non-profit, governments and credited this strategy for building a Downtown community between sectors and possible partners as one of the main contributors to Downtown Orlando’s success and a continued opportunity for the future. Overall, the panel concluded that Downtown Orlando’s economic engine remains well-positioned to meet the challenges the future brings and continue to drive the future of the entire Central Florida economy. Downtown Orlando has a unique opportunity to keep building and growing with innovative leadership and continued development of strong partnerships. #### |
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