Ocoee Construction Project Begins and more news …

compiled by Lauren Salinero


Ocoee construction project begins

City Center West Orange in Ocoee will cover 100 acres and is expected to create more than 8,000 jobs.

Developers held a groundbreaking ceremony for the start of construction of City Center West Orange in Ocoee. The $400 million mixed-use destination will be a city-style mix of retail, condominiums, a hotel and office space on 100 acres of lakeside property facing West Colonial Drive, near the junctions of state roads 429 and 408 and Florida’s Turnpike. Construction will commence on the roads and stormwater pond first and should take 10 months before building construction begins. Phase I is expected to be completed by the third quarter in 2019.

When finished, City Center West Orange will include 1,720 condominium apartment homes, 400,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a hotel and another 100,000 square feet of office space. The project is expected to create more than 8,000 jobs, including construction, manufacturing of materials for the project in the U.S., and on-site jobs at the project’s completion.

For more information, visit citycenterwestorange.com.


Penguin gets its feathers

Wonder Twin, the female penguin who received a custom wet suit as part of her specialized care at SeaWorld Orlando, started the new year with a fresh coat of feathers. The 26-year-old Adelie penguin had experienced feather-loss, which can happen to penguins in their natural habitats and wild populations.

The wet suit, created by SeaWorld’s aviculture and wardrobe teams, was designed to mimic the penguin’s natural coat of feathers so it could regulate its body temperature. With the help of the wet suit and continued care from the SeaWorld Orlando team, Wonder Twin successfully grew a new coat of feathers and no longer needs to wear the wet suit.


Windermere mayor joins board

Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn is elected to Florida Business Watch’s board of directors.

Florida Business Watch’s board of directors elected Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn to the board. FBW is a trade association serving the unique needs of government contractors. Its members work hand-in-hand with elected officials and administrators as colleagues, solving problems together.


BUSINESS BRIEFS


West Orange Chamber of Commerce members celebrate the opening of the Orlando Health Medical Pavilion — Spring Lake (Photo courtesy of WOCC).

West Orange Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Orlando Health Medical PavilionSpring Lake. WOCC builds partnerships, strong businesses and commitment to the community by serving as the leading business advocate in Central Florida, facilitating opportunity to nearly 1,000 member businesses. For more information about WOCC, call 407-656-1304 or visit wochamber.com. For more information about Orlando Health, visit orlandohealth.com.


Long & Scott Farms, located at 26216 County Road 448A in Mount Dora, will host the fourth annual Field to Feast dinner March 25 from 5-8 p.m. The event features locally sourced cuisine prepared by award-winning Disney World chefs; wine, craft beer and cocktail pairings; live music and farm tours. Tickets are $175, and all proceeds benefit The Kid’s Cafe Program of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, an after-school meal service program for local children in need. For tickets and more information, visit www.edibleorlando.com or www.longandscottfarms.com.


Officials of Health Central Hospital, the West Orange Healthcare District, and Orlando Health held a groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of the Horizon West Medical Campus in Winter Garden. The expansive medical campus will have the capacity to provide emergency services, inpatient care, outpatient diagnostics, and primary and specialty care to the residents of west Orange County. 💓