{"id":365649,"date":"2026-08-07T21:52:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/365649\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:52:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:52:14","slug":"the-orlando-regional-perspective-august-7th-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/365649\/","title":{"rendered":"The Orlando Regional Perspective | August 7th, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to this week\u2019s\u00a0Regional Perspective,\u00a0where I share stories that bring the\u00a0Orlando 2045 Vision<\/a> to life and highlight the progress shaping our region\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

\"DSC09645\"DSC09645<\/p>\n

1) Orange County Mayoral debate recap \u2013 As voters prepare to elect Orange County\u2019s next mayor ahead of the\u00a0August 18\u00a0primary election and\u00a0November 3\u00a0general election, this week\u2019s debate on WFTV Eyewitness News 9 offered an important look at the leadership priorities that will help shape our region\u2019s future. With direct responses to the community\u2019s most vocalized issues including how Orange County\u2019s $9 billion budget should be spent, Amendment 3, changes to Downtown Orlando, growing jobs and finding smart solutions to housing affordability and more transportation options, the hour-long debate offered a deeper look into how the candidates would lead Orange County in the future. If you didn\u2019t see it live, I encourage you to watch it here.<\/a><\/p>\n

2) An exclusive look at the mission behind Artemis II \u2013 This week on The City Playbook, I sit down with Barry Bohnsack, Production Planner for Lockheed Martin\u2019s Orion spacecraft program, to discuss the nation\u2019s most important aerospace and space exploration hub. This episode will take you behind the scenes of the Artemis Program, explaining how the Orion spacecraft is designed, assembled, and prepared for missions beyond Earth\u2019s orbit. You\u2019ll also hear how Central Florida public schools and robotics competitions help build NASA\u2019s next generation of spacecraft. You won\u2019t want to miss this episode!<\/a> Be sure to like, share and subscribe to The City Playbook podcast.<\/p>\n

3) Tourism continues to boost Central Florida\u2019s economic growth \u2013 A new collaborative regional study from Visit Orlando, Tourism Economics, the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association (CFHLA), Experience Kissimmee, and Seminole County underscores the tremendous impact tourism continues to have on our economy. In 2025, Central Florida\u2019s tourism industry generated a record $98.6 billion in economic impact, including $62.9 billion in direct visitor spending, up 5% from 2024 and equivalent to more than $172 million spent every day across the region. Tourism also supported more than 476,000 jobs and generated $7.1 billion in state and local tax revenue that helps fund public safety, transportation, education and other community services. Notably, the Tourism Development Tax accounts for only 7% of the total tax revenue generated, highlighting the far-reaching benefits tourism offers to residents, businesses, and communities throughout the region. Read more.<\/a><\/p>\n

4) AI\u2019s impact on the Orlando region\u2019s talent pipeline \u2013 It\u2019s clear Artificial Intelligence is reshaping workforce needs but exactly how is the topic of a story, published this week, on Central Florida Public Media. In it, our Senior Vice President of Research & Strategy Neil Hamilton, talks about how companies are looking to \u201cdo more with less,\u201d by using AI to fill workforce gaps. The story examines how AI is contributing to a slowdown in job growth and creating new challenges for recent graduates entering the workforce.\u00a0 Neil notes a sharp increase in demand for AI-related skills, underscoring the need for talent development and reskilling to help workers remain competitive in a rapidly evolving economy. You can read or listen to the full coverage here.<\/a><\/p>\n

5) Be sure to share your business perspectives \u2013 The Q3 Orlando MSA Business Conditions Survey, powered by OUC\u2014The Reliable One and conducted with Stetson University, is now open. Help shape the region\u2019s economic landscape by sharing your insight on local business performance, challenges, and opportunities. This quarter\u2019s special topic revisits workforce challenges and opportunities for local businesses. Take the survey today.<\/a><\/p>\n

Programs & Events<\/p>\n

Leadership Orlando Class 111 \/\/ August 14 Enrollment Deadline \/\/ LEARN MORE & ENROLL<\/a><\/p>\n

LEADForward Roundtables Fall 2026 Cohort \/\/ August 14 Application Deadline \/\/ LEARN MORE & ENROLL<\/a><\/p>\n

Leadership Orlando Alumni Association \u2013 Stay connected, continue leading, and help shape what\u2019s next for our region \/\/ LEARN MORE & JOIN<\/a><\/p>\n

Listening to Leaders: Leading Through Innovation \/\/ August 21 \/\/ Participation open to Leadership Orlando Graduates ONLY \/\/ Questions?Nate.Edmund@orlando.org<\/a><\/p>\n

2026 Executive Leadership Mission to Austin, presented by Travel + Leisure \u2013 Sept. 23-25\u00a0\/\/ REGISTER TODAY<\/a> \/\/ Interested in being a sponsor? Contact Katie.Thomason@orlando.org<\/a><\/p>\n

ICYMI<\/p>\n

U.S. News recognition reflects high-quality care close to home for Central Florida patients \u2013<\/a> U.S. News & World Report and AdventHealth<\/p>\n

Orlando Health opens new children\u2019s pavilion transforming pediatric specialty care in Central Florida<\/a> \u2013 Orlando Health<\/p>\n

Travel + Leisure Co. named to Business Insider\u2019s Americas high-growth companies 2026 list<\/a> \u2013 Business Wire<\/p>\n

Orlando Dreamers seek millions for new stadium<\/a> \u2013 WFTV<\/p>\n

Dr. Phillips Center pitches master plan<\/a> \u2013 Orlando Business Journal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome to this week\u2019s\u00a0Regional Perspective,\u00a0where I share stories that bring the\u00a0Orlando 2045 Vision to life and highlight the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":129656,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[139,141,140],"class_list":["post-365649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/365649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=365649"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/365649\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/129656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=365649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=365649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=365649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}