Orange County’s Top 2015 Newsroom Stories
Citizens in Orange County enjoyed another historic year filled with outstanding accomplishments and incredible successes in 2015.
The region’s strong and robust economy, continued job growth, historic record-breaking visitation numbers, transformative economic achievements and incredible new milestones for Orange County’s internationally-renowned sports, arts and cultural venues are highlighted in the 2015 Year in Review Photo Gallery.
Through the Orange County Newsroom Media Center, Orange County Government provides citizens and visitors a look at the region’s many milestones, a variety of feature stories and the latest news about the County and its leadership. Orange County’s mobile applications – OCFL News, OCFL 311 and OCFL Alert – also help keep citizens apprised of the latest regional news and emergency weather alerts. To receive these important updates on your Android or Apple mobile devices, visit the Mobile Apps & Alerts page.
The Newsroom Media Center received more than 710,000 online page views and Orange County’s website had nearly 50 million page views in 2015. Government Technology magazine recently named Orange County No. 6 in the nation among counties with a population of 500,000 or more for being the most digitally advanced. The magazine specifically cited the Newsroom Media Center and Technology & Social Media Work Group as critical to our “overall citizen outreach and inclusion program” and “move toward civic innovation.”
Here’s a look at the top five Newsroom stories of 2015 featured in Orange County’s Newsroom and the OCFL News Mobile App:
5. Orange County Partners with Faith Community to Launch Open Table
Joined by Orange County Government’s Health Services Department team and about 80 members of Central Florida’s faith community, Mayor Teresa Jacobs announced the launch of “Open Table” on May 4. Open Table is a thriving model expanding nationally and aimed at helping youth at-risk of being homeless and families living in poverty to create change by accessing the “intellectual and social capital” available within a congregation.
4. Orange County Recognized by Brazilian Tourism Federation
The Central Florida Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce recently presented Mayor Jacobs with a special award from FENACTUR, the Brazilian National Federation of Tourism, recognizing Orange County’s dynamic economic partnership with Brazil.
3. Orange County Marks Public Service Recognition Week
Mayor Jacobs and the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) honored six Orange County employees on May 5, for their professionalism, character, courtesy and integrity as part of Public Service Recognition Week. The week is observed annually to recognize the valuable contributions of the millions of individuals who work within local, state, and federal government, as well as those serving in education, judicial and nonprofit sectors.
2. Mayor Jacobs Announces $300 million Initiative at 2015 State of the County Address
Mayor Jacobs’ capstone announcement at the State of the County address outlined a proposal for one of the largest capital investment projects in the history of Orange County, a $300 million initiative called INVEST in Our Home for Life. The funds will be spent on roads, parks, pedestrian safety projects, public and fire safety facilities and affordable family housing in Orange County.
1. Orange County Welcomes New Digital Entertainment Studio to Full Sail University
Mayor Jacobs joined state and local officials at Full Sail University to cut the ribbon on the new headquarters for REBL HQ, a digital entertainment studio created in collaboration with California-based Maker Studios.
Click here to view 2014’s top newsroom stories.