Osceola County Funds Osceola Prosper 2023
Published on December 07, 2022
PR22-109
State of the County Strong as it Continues to ‘Be First to What’s Next’
Osceola County, Florida – The State of Osceola County is strong, prosperous and well-positioned to provide new, high-paying job opportunities to residents for generations to come, County Commissioner Brandon Arrington announced during the 10th annual State of the County address on Wednesday.
Chronicling a litany of bold and innovative steps the County has taken in the past year to diversify the local economy and invest in the County’s future, Arrington announced that all of Osceola County’s 2023 graduating seniors will benefit from a second round of a program that provides them – free of charge -- the opportunity to earn a 2-year associates degree or technical training from Valencia College or oTech.
“We continue our Commission’s commitment to our residents and we’re changing lives with this investment of more than $8 million,” Arrington said. “I’ve always felt a well-educated workforce can create better opportunities. We want to make sure people have opportunities to expand and grow their wealth right here in Osceola County. A lot of the kids I grew up with and went to college didn’t come back. That brain drain had a serious impact on our community. That’s what’s so significant about our investment. We’re giving every kid an opportunity that is really going to be impactful to their future.”
Osceola Prosper 2023 was announced Wednesday -- during the address and at local high schools -- is similar to the $12.4 million made available to 2022 graduates – with current enrollment topping 2,000 students. For more information go to osceolaprosper.com.
"I want to thank the Osceola County commissioners for their extraordinary vision and investment in the future by making Osceola Prosper available to the class of 2023," said Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia College. "We know that postsecondary education – whether it’s an industry certification or a college degree – makes a huge difference in the earning potential of high school graduates. Osceola Prosper will make for a brighter future, not just for students and their families, but also for the county’s economic prosperity."
The idea of Osceola Prosper started after the COVID 19 pandemic wreaked havoc with the local economy. Many residents were devastated by the economic fallout as the unemployment rate hovered at around 30 percent – among the highest in the state – and others faced reduced work hours and incomes.
The Osceola Prosper program is open to every graduating senior, including home-schooled students and those who attend private and charter schools. Students can attend two years of college for free – at either Valencia College or Osceola Technical College – and those who want to earn a bachelor’s degree can then transfer those credits to a four-year college or university.
Arrington also highlighted the importance of the County’s partners and its $50.8 million Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant award. Out of 529 applications, Osceola was one of 21 coalitions nationwide, and the only organization in Florida, selected to receive a grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The funds will be used to expand NeoCity’s micro-chip fabrication lab and its manufacturing capabilities at the County’s emerging high-tech cluster, creating opportunities for scores of new, high-wage jobs in the advanced technology field.
Life-long Osceola County resident Clarence Thacker also was honored with the Chairman’s Person of the Year award for his service to the community. He served for eight years on the Osceola County School Board – where he honed his reputation for disciplined fiscal management and educational innovation. Most recently, Thacker was among the first of our community leaders to envision what Osceola County’s future could hold, serving first as the Director of Business Development for the fledgling NeoCity technology cluster and currently, as a member of the Board of Directors for BRIDG, which is leading the micro-electronics revolution at NeoCity. He was a member of the Osceola County Planning Commission, the City of Kissimmee Planning and Advisory Board, the Toho Water Authority Board of Supervisors and the Central Florida Sports Commission Board of Directors.
The Orlando Economic Partnership, BRIDG and the University of Central Florida also received the 2022 Chairman’s award for their leadership in securing the Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant.
Among other highlights Wednesday:
- Tourist Development Tax collections for the fiscal year that ended in September were at an all-time high – at $76.6 million -- $15 million more than the previous high.
- An additional $18 million of funding was allocated over the last two fiscal years to the Sheriff’s Office.
- Two new fire stations under currently construction – near the Austin Tindall Sports Complex and Calypso Cay Resort – which will be complete in 2023. As well as moving station 65 out of Polk County and into Osceola and also adding a new level of service with a station that will soon go under design at Funie Steed Road and Entry Point Boulevard. Those four stations represent a $40 million investment in infrastructure improvements – excluding fire trucks and staff.
- Fitch’s upgraded the County’s IDR rating to 'AA+' – it’s highest rating ever, signifying an investment grade of very high quality. The IDR rating is important because it is an independent, unbiased analysis of the County’s credit quality due to sound fiscal management over the years.
- The County continued efforts to improve its transportation network, working on about $2 billion worth of projects in the County over the next four years, including improvements to Neptune Road, Poinciana Boulevard, Boggy Creek Road, Partin Settlement Road, Simpson Road and Bill Beck Boulevard.
- Millions of dollars were earmarked in support for affordable housing. Since 2016, Osceola County has added more than 1,000 units to its affordable housing inventory and continues to explore new and innovative opportunities to address this issue.
Condado Osceola Financia Osceola Prosper 2023
Estado del Condado fuerte mientras continúa siendo el Primero en lo que Viene’
Condado Osceola, Florida – El estado del Condado Osceola es fuerte, próspero y está bien posicionado para brindar nuevas oportunidades laborales bien remuneradas a los residentes de las próximas generaciones, anunció el miércoles el comisionado del condado, Brandon Arrington, durante el décimo discurso anual sobre el estado del condado.
Haciendo una crónica de una letanía de medidas audaces e innovadoras que el condado ha tomado el año pasado para diversificar la economía local e invertir en el futuro del condado, Arrington anunció que todos los estudiantes que se graduarán en el Condado Osceola en 2023 se beneficiarán de una segunda ronda de Osceola Prosper, un programa que les brinda – gratis – la oportunidad de obtener un título de asociado de 2 años o capacitación técnica de Valencia College u oTech.
“Continuamos con el compromiso de nuestra Comisión con nuestros residentes y estamos cambiando vidas con esta inversión de más de $8 millones,” dijo Arrington. “Siempre he sentido que una fuerza laboral bien educada puede crear mejores oportunidades. Queremos asegurarnos de que las personas tengan oportunidades para expandirse y crecer aquí mismo en Osceola. Muchos de los niños con los que crecí y fui a la universidad no regresaron. Esa fuga tuvo un grave impacto e