OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A coalition of local businesses in Kissimmee is trying to grow its neighborhood watch–style safety group aimed at protecting employees, visitors and the tourism industry by sharing information and coordinating with law enforcement and emergency management.
The Osceola Chamber Tourism Safety Coalition, led in part by Jim Nickels, director of sales for the Calypso Cay Way Holiday Inn Express on Vine Street, meets regularly to discuss incidents ranging from e‑bike theft to cybercrime and to develop common responses.
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“We want our employees safe, and of course, the tourism industry is our main function here, so you want to keep your tourists safe,” Nickels said.
“It’s really sharing information to make a safer community,” Nickels added, noting the value of communication among businesses, law enforcement and emergency-management officials. “So why not do it between businesses, between law enforcement, emergency management, that type of thing?”
John Newstreet, president and CEO of the Osceola Chamber, said the coalition relies on community partnerships to identify trends and marshal resources.
“Knowledge is power,” Newstreet said. “If something is happening on one property right next to you or down the street that could impact your business, it gives businesses a chance to prepare. If we start to see trends, we are able to engage additional stakeholders like destination marketing organizations or the sheriff’s office, the county, to address those issues together.”
At a meeting held last night, organizers encouraged members to sign up for a WhatsApp group to improve real‑time information sharing. They also extended an invitation to Osceola County Sheriff Chris Blackmon to speak at an upcoming meeting and said they hope he will participate.
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Nickels emphasized that the group’s success depends on broad participation from the business community.
“Everyone watching out for each other — it’s like family,” he said, urging more businesses to join the coalition and contribute to a coordinated, communitywide approach to safety.