ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs gave her 2015 State of County address in front of hundreds of people Friday morning.
The event was held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Fittingly, Mayor Jacobs opened up her remarks by acknowledging the accomplishments of the new performing arts center in downtown Orlando.
The Dr. Phillips Center is one of 25 new local attractions that opened last year.
"With our record-breaking 62 millions visitors, we continue to be a premier global destination," said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.
It's not secret tourism drives the economy in Central Florida, but Mayor Jacobs also drove home advances made in services available to those who call the region home and what still needs to be done when it comes to homeless veterans, mental health, domestic violence victims and improving infrastructure.
"From the debut of SunRail, our new Citrus Bowl, and the Dr. Phillips Center, to more groundbreaking ceremonies than we can keep track of, we are building a thriving community. And there's so much more to come.. Ultimate I-4, Lake Nona's new US Tennis complex," said Mayor Jacobs.
Setting the stage for her second term, Jacobs says she had a particular interest in bringing more companies and employment opportunities here. "Orlando, you don't know the half of it" is a new branding campaign aimed to reach business decision makers.
Jacobs also proposed a $300 million dollar capital investment project involving the construction of roads, parks, pedestrian safety, public and fire safety facilities and affordable housing. She says the proposal will not increase taxes and will be presented next month.
Jacobs told the media following her address, that a $1 million dollar donation was made Friday morning to go towards the new orchestra theatre at the Dr. Phillips Center, Steinmetz Hall. In regards to her request for unused city funds going towards that construction due to the new soccer stadium being privately funded, Jacobs says the Tourism Development Council, which she and City of Orlando Mayor, Buddy Dyer, both sit on, will have to vote.