Jacobs: "The State of Orange County is strong, resilient, unified"

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs delivers the State of the County address

From the Orange County Government Media Relations Office

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs welcomed hundreds of citizens and community leaders to the 2017 State of the County address last Friday at I-Drive 360, home to the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye — the region’s newest attraction and the largest observation wheel on the East Coast.

“The State of Orange County is strong, it is resilient and it is unified,” Mayor Jacobs said during the address. “It is proud, compassionate, and confident — confident in our ability to overcome challenges and confident that together, we are going to achieve in ways that will continue to change lives and transform Orange County into the best we can be.”

Under Mayor Jacobs’ leadership and through strong economic growth and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars that continue to support public safety, affordable housing, infrastructure, parks, pedestrian safety, road construction and transportation improvements, Orange County has undergone transformational quality-of-life enhancements that will benefit the region for generations to come.

In addition to an update on the strong state of Orange County’s economic and operational abilities, a significant part of Mayor Jacobs’ address was dedicated to a poignant remembrance of the 49 lives lost in the 2016 Pulse tragedy, the heartbreaking loss of two law enforcement officers earlier this year and how the region’s culture of collaboration, compassion and confidence continues to be a beacon of light, hope and unity worldwide.

To further honor those lost, the audience joined Mayor Jacobs immediately following the end of the State of the County address on the I-Drive 360 Courtyard to take part in a worldwide peace and unity movement known as “Let’s All Connect,” in which hundreds of State of the County guests helped to form a large heart-shaped figure – the largest gathering to date of the global movement. Learn more by visiting letsallconnect.org.

For additional statistics, to watch a recap and read the 2017 State of the County address, please visit www.ocfl.net/soc17.