Concerned residents and business owners packed City Hall in Winter Garden on Thursday night, filling commission chambers to capacity as they voiced fears over how recent downtown property sales could reshape the community and force out small businesses.

Downtown Orlando’s traditional Orange Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve will happen in the Thornton Park neighborhood district.

While it seems increasingly unlikely the U.S. economy is headed for recession, small businesses still face headwinds like higher costs and difficulty retaining qualified workers.

In 2021, the IRS received a whopping 5.4 million business applications — an all-time high since the U.S. government began tracking this data in 2004.

Small businesses contribute significantly to job creation, innovation and community development.

In addition to its grand opening, Sampaguita is featuring special flavors and hosting some events leading up to Saturday to celebrate Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Three businesses in Lake County are being forced to shut their doors because of nationwide problems — workforce shortages and inflation.

Small businesses are struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, facing days or weeks without power and Internet, storm damage and difficulty communicating with clients or customers.

Cocoa Beach ends mask mandate but businesses can still require face coveringsIf you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.

U.S. businesses sharply reduced hiring last month suggesting that the resurgent viral outbreak this summer slowed the economic recovery as many states closed parts of their economies again and consumers remained cautious about spending. U.S. firms added just 167,000 jobs in July, payroll processor ADP said Wednesday, far below June's gain of 4.3 million and May's increase of 3.3 million. July's limited hiring means the economy still has 13 million fewer jobs than it did in February, according to ADP, before the viral outbreak intensified. Hiring collapsed among companies of all sizes and in nearly all industries. A category that mostly includes restaurants, bars and hotels added just 38,000 jobs last month, after gaining more than 3 million in May and June.

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)NEW YORK Small businesses can still get help from the governments coronavirus relief plan after Congress extended the Paycheck Protection Program until Aug. 8. The program that was set to expire Tuesday still has nearly $132 billion left after giving out more than 4.8 million loans since it began April 3. On Monday, the Small Business Administration, which oversees the program, disclosed the names of companies that received loans of more than $150,000. The program aims to motivate small businesses to retain their employees or, if they have laid them off, get them back to work. The SBA approved more than 4.8 million loans in less than three months, far more than the 58,000 it approved in 2019.

Businesses adapting to mask requirementsPublished: June 20, 2020, 11:34 pmMost bar patrons wearing masks as part of the Orange County Mayor's order to limit the spread of COVID.

Orange County to hand out PPE to small businessesPublished: May 10, 2020, 7:00 pmOrange County is preparing to hand out one million masks and 200,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to small businesses in an effort to help them reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic.

ORLANDO, Fla. – In an effort to provide details on essential businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, News 6 is compiling a list of what companies remain open and ready to help the community. Nearly a dozen categories of essential businesses are listed on clickorlando.com/directory. The Central Florida COVID-19 resource list is a place for businesses to communicate changes in business hours, services offered and share contact information. Stanley Steemer of Central Florida is one of the companies that has remained open. “What makes Stanley Steemer essential is No.

Businesses taking a hit after art festival canceledPublished: March 21, 2020, 11:46 pmShop owners worry about their futures after closures and curfews keep away customers.

Businesses hopeful for Spring Break profitPublished: March 15, 2020, 11:33 pmDaytona Beach businesses are concerned about the coronavirus and it's financial impact