Hispanic Heritage Month student contests; Education Foundation earns Duke grant; 192 improvements public meeting
Wednesday night, the City of Kissimmee announced the launch of its Business Boost 2.0 grant program, to assist local businesses still facing lingering economic challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This program builds on the city's original "booster shot" funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars that brought a number of relief programs under one umbrella to streamline the program, allowing business or resident seeking to retrain or upskill after pandemic-related job impacts to get different kinds of help from one source.
The new 2.0 product will provide direct grants to eligible small businesses physically located within the Kissimmee city limits to help offset financial hardships like decreased sales, increased operational costs, or debt incurred to remain open during and after the pandemic.
The application process will open Sept. 17, 2025, and grants will be available to businesses established before March 11, 2021 with fewer than 500 employees that can document financial hardship between March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2024. They must have an active Business Tax Receipt and be current on all taxes and have no outstanding fees or code enforcement liens.
Grants, which will not require repayment, are available from $10,000 to $20,000 based on the square footage of the business location. Home-based businesses will be eligible for $5,000 grants.
The city says the re-fired program is designed to help businesses within Kissimmee city limits remain viable and continue contributing to an economically flourishing city of Kissimmee.
“Our small businesses are the backbone of Kissimmee’s economy, and many are still feeling the lasting impacts of the pandemic,” said Mayor Jackie Espinosa, who owns multiple businesses in downtown Kissimmee. “Through Business Boost 2.0, we are giving local business owners the resources they need to remain viable, retain jobs, and continue serving our community.”
At kissimmee.gov/reliefgrants, applicants can submit the necessary supporting documents with their completed application. Those include proof of business status, signed tax forms, recent tax returns, and evidence of financial hardship.
Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis while funds remain available, so businesses should be ready to apply and submit documents next week when the window opens.
Hispanic Heritage Month contests
The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida encourage students to participate in the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Month student art and essay contests with the theme, “Celebrating Florida’s Hispanic Heritage.”
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 each year.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate Spain’s influence on Florida’s rich heritage,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “I hope every student takes this opportunity to learn about the ways Florida has benefitted from this influence.”
The Hispanic Heritage Month art contest is open to all Kindergarten through third-grade students in Florida. Each student will submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Four statewide winners will be selected, and each winner will receive a $100 gift card for school supplies and a one-year pass to Florida State Parks.
The Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest is open to all students attending any Florida school in grades 4-12. Each student may enter only one essay, written in English, no longer than 500 words.
Six winners will be selected: two elementary school students (grades 4-5), two middle school students (grades 6-8), and two high school students (grades 9-12). Each winner will receive a 2-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $100 gift card for school supplies.
Contestants must be Florida residents, attend school in Florida in grades 4-12 (including public, charter, private, home or virtual) and able to provide a Social Security number.
All entries must be received by Wednesday, Sept. 24. For more information about the contests, visit www. FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.
Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle or high school in Florida. Four winners will be selected, and nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian or student. Excellence in Education award winners will receive $2,500 from Volunteer Florida.
Student contest forms and educator nomination forms must be mailed to Volunteer Florida or submitted online at www.FloridaHispanicHeritage. com.
Education Foundation earns Duke Energy grant
The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded The Education Foundation Osceola County a $28,000 grant which the local organization, in its 40th year, says will be used to “help ensure more students are equipped with the skills and experiences they need to succeed in today’s workforce.”
The Education Foundation will use the grant to expand career pipeline programs for students. Those career pipeline programs “continue to grow and make a lasting impact on the lives of Osceola County students,” a foundation release said this week.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Duke Energy Foundation for their generous support,” said Kerry Avery, Executive Director of the Education Foundation Osceola County. “By working hand-in-hand with the School District of Osceola County, we are creating clear pathways from the classroom to careers, giving our students the opportunity to achieve their goals and strengthen our community’s workforce.”
FDOT public meeting regarding 192 improvements Sept. 18
FDOT wants to make a stretch of East U.S. Highway 192—and wants your input.
The Florida Department of Transportation and Osceola County will hold a project open house regarding proposed improvements on 192 from Main Street in downtown Kissimmee to Aeronautical Drive on Thursday, Sept. 18 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Hart Memorial Central Library, 211 E. Dakin Ave. FDOT representatives will detail resurfacing the road, and potential improvements at the Cross Prairie Parkway, including the addition of a new combined through/left turn lane coming from the Florida’s Turnpike offramp.
Attendees will be able to view a looping presentation and project displays, speak with project team members, and submit comments, questions and feedback.
Many of the project assets will also be available at an online webinar, found at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/ register/7684492713232359258. Online attendees can submit written questions or comments using the webinar questions box.
The project website will also be available at www.cflroads.com/project/450778-1. Project materials, including the presentation and project exhibits will be available beginning Thursday, Sept. 18, and will be the same as what will be shared at the in-person open house. While the information will remain on the website throughout the project, comments or questions must be posted on the website by Sept. 29 for them to be included in the open house record.
