Economic yearbook 2011
Central - Yearbook
Kissimmee/ Osceola County
| Osceola Population: 284,988 | ||||
| Population Growth Rate (2007-11): 2.49% | ||||
| Population by Age: | ||||
| 0-14 |
15-19 | 20-39 | 40-64 | 65+ |
| 22.2% |
7.7% | 27.4% | 30.8% | 11.9% |
| Per Capita Income: $25,268 | ||||
Osceola County hopes to kick-start projects and create jobs this year. One strategy is a moratorium on transportation impact fees for commercial and industrial development that will reduce county revenue by up to $2.5 million. Meanwhile, a new business incubator in downtown Kissimmee run by the University of Central Florida looks to boost small-business development.
The Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce promoted the impact fee moratorium as a way to compete with neighboring counties such as Polk and Lake. Osceola's entire development fee structure, one of the highest in central Florida, will get closer scrutiny.
Lake County
| Lake Population: 328,478 | ||||
| Population Growth Rate (2007-11): 2.11% | ||||
| Population by Age: | ||||
| 0-14 |
15-19 | 20-39 | 40-64 | 65+ |
| 15.9% |
5.0% | 19.0% | 29.7% | 30.3% |
| Per Capita Income: $31,100 | ||||
The success that Tavares has had positioning itself as "America's Seaplane City" is paying dividends that are expected to continue this year. The economic development initiative launched during the downturn brought a seaplane manufacturer and, thanks in part to a waiver of impact fees, dozens of new businesses to downtown.
Tavares now is leading an effort to position Lake County's Golden Triangle area — communities including Eustis and Mount Dora — as a hub for rail leading to Orlando. Upgrading more than 20 miles of old tracks is one of the first hurdles. But the project has the support of the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization and more than $13 million in seed money from the Florida Department of Transportation.
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