By Jim Carchidi
October 9, 2026
More than $800 million in projects and grant programs was endorsed by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings in the latest phase of Tourism Development Tax funding considerations. Demings included the list in an Oct. 8 memo to county commissioners - obtained by The Orlando Real - and suggests funding adjustments to previous TDT recommendations from the Citizen Advisory Task Force.
13 proposals
According to the memo, Demings directed staff to work with applicants “to determine whether there was flexibility in the amount, timing, and scope of their funding requests.” The adjustments made it possible to consider some level of funding of all recommended projects. A previously denied request by the University of Central Florida is included with a new scope of work.
The memo includes the following projects and funding allocations:
- Orange County Application Review Committee (ARC) Grant Program will be replenished with $75M from FY29-33. Previous funding was $75M from FY24-2028.
- Orange County Natural Resource Tourism Infrastructure Grant Program will receive $50M over 10 years beginning in FY28.
- Orange County Eco-tourism Grant Program will receive $50M over 10 years beginning in FY28.
- Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs funding will increase from 5% of the first four cents to 6%, an increase of approximately $3M per year beginning in FY2027.
- Dr. Phillips Charities Eatonville Museum of Culture and History will receive $60M beginning in FY27.
- Creative City Project's Immerse Festival will receive $12.5M with $4.75M coming from its existing Blockbuster Grant and $7.75M from future TDT revenue beginning in FY27.
- 8 Waves I Am Children's Museum in Winter Garden will receive $25M beginning in FY27.
- Orange Audubon Natural History Museum at Apopka Birding Park will receive $12M (reduced from its $20M request) beginning in FY27.
- Florida Citrus Sports Parking Structure will receive $52.5M (reduced from its $54M request) beginning in FY28.
- City of Ocoee Forest Lake Golf Club and Conference Campus will receive $30M beginning in FY28.
- Town of Eatonville CRA, Eatonville Heritage Tourism District will receive $20M (reduced from its $22.5M request) beginning in FY28.
- UCF Soccer Stadium & Track Facility will receive $46 million (reduced from its $119M request) beginning in FY29.
- Dr. Phillip's Center for the Performing Arts Master Plan will receive $400M, plus associated financing costs (reduced from its $750M request) with financing to be bonded by the City of Orlando.
Demings states the projects were chosen for their ability to create new tourism opportunities while contributing to quality of life in each community.
Looking ahead
In her previous remarks to county commissioners, Citizen Advisory Task Force Co-Chair and former Orange County Mayor Linda Chapin said TDT applicants saw compromise as part of the process.
“They expect to come and work through those numbers with you,” she said. “I don’t think they’re going to be surprised if you say, ‘I don’t think we can give you $750 million this year.’”
Additional funding sources like United Arts Grants Blockbuster and Special Events Fund and the ARC Grant Program can supplement smaller projects. But long-term support and capital projects will require additional discussions.
Task force members touted IMMERSE as an example of a large-scale event that can drive multi-day visits while adding to the local arts economy with paying jobs. The requested 10-year funding plan was reduced to five due to hesitation over long-term TDT funding obligations. Creative City Project Executive Director Melyssa Marshall told The Orlando Real she considers the adjusted funding allocation a win, but understands any opportunity for long-term county funding will require the support of a new administration.
"The next time there's a surplus in TDT, we will be under a new mayor and it's the mayors prerogative on how that unfolds," she said. "Our goal is to get the county to acknowledge and recognize a renewal trigger so that every five years, we're talking with them about dedicated funding to keep immerse growing and our marketing expanding to bring tourists for festival weekend and beyond."
The 13 projects and funding allocations will go before the Board of County Commissioners at an Oct. 19 workshop.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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