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The proposed front of a new medical center for the West Vine Street area. PHOTO/CITY OF KISSIMMEE -
The proposed side of a new medical center for the West Vine Street area. PHOTO/CITY OF KISSIMMEE
The City of Kissimmee this week announced an approved contract with a group that will revitalize a facility on the west side of town.
Tuesday, the City Commission approved the Quality Targeted Industry (QTI) Economic Development Incentives contract with Kissimmee Professional Plaza, LLC. Its $5 million investment in a long-vacant site on the northwest corner of Vine Street’s intersection with Armstrong Street, near Plaza Del Sol, will create a new medical center.
The site will include an outpatient surgical center, medical specialty clinics, a laboratory for blood work and radiology, and will accommodate ancillary medical providers like physical therapy.
The project, which city leaders said has been in the works for about two years will grow the medical services available — and sorely needed — in the community.
“Osceola County is a county of medical need,” Kissimmee Economic Development Director Belinda Kirkegard said. “There’s a tremendous need in this area for outpatient surgery, post-surgery therapy treatment and other specialties.
“Two of the things economic development encourages is attracting new business and encourage expansion of existing ones. And with this in the Vine Street (redevelopment district), it creates synergy throughout the city.”
She said that, to build a free-standing ER from the ground, costs about $2-3 million.
“So this gives an idea how the $5 million investment would be used,” Kirkegard said.
This investment is slated to create over 30 new jobs with an average wage over $55,000, about 137% of the average Osceola County wage.
Those factors and their positive impacts on the community made Kissimmee Professional Plaza eligible for broader Economic Development incentives, such as eligibility for the 5-day building permit Fast Track process, a brownfield building permit fee waiver, Life Safety or ADA Retrofit Rebate, and Mobility Fee and Kissimmee Utility Authority line extension waivers.
Those incentives are performance-based, meaning they’re allocated as rebates and reimbursements after the company has fulfilled its job creation and investment requirements, the city said.
“We want to grow business and jobs all over the community, and see both new properties and available land are developed,” Kirkegard said.
