Neighborhood-led nonprofit rehabs West Lakes for residents

Welcome to Orlando Business Journal's weekly LinkedIn newsletter. I'm Associate Managing Editor Richard Bilbao, rounding up Orlando business news to keep you in the know when time is short.

When CEO Timothy Ayers of West Lakes Partnership talks to potential homeowners looking to buy in West Lakes, he says, “This is a recovering neighborhood full of good people. The neighborhood just needs a little nudge in the right direction. It needs more residents to get active in the day-to-day stuff that goes on around here.”?

It is active residents who brought the nonprofit West Lakes Partnership to life to begin with.??

Originally founded in 2016 as West Lakes Economic Opportunities Council, West Lakes Partnership was spearheaded by a group of neighborhood residents who wanted to move the community’s dreams forward. In a blog post, business development consultant Raymer Kelly documented the group’s history, spotlighting Shirley Bradley, Rosalyn "Tracy" Anderson, Johnnie Mickle, Maxine Hixon, Daphne Brewington and Rodney Walden for their early work in forming the nonprofit.?

Among their ambitious goals, the founders wanted to improve the attractiveness of the area as a place to live, work and play. They also wanted to increase homeowner equity. The organization developed programs to address those fundamentals, and several years later, more houses are freshly painted, and some are newly renovated and have been bought by residents — not landlords living elsewhere.?

See the full story here.

And now, on to other big business deals, transactions and activity headlines from the week.

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Real estate news of the week

• Former MLB star Johnny Damon lists Windermere mansion for $30M: Check out the amenity-rich estate on the shore of Windermere's Lake Butler that has a bowling alley, sports bar and much more.
• I-Drive hotel sold to CEO of popular local restaurant chain: Here's more on why and how the detail came to be — and what executives for the restaurant group have planned for the well-located property.
• Closing of $10M deal cues up construction start for $1B The Grow: Here's what to know about what the first phase of the $1 billion mixed-use agrihood will include — and when work will begin.

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Orlando news bites

Don't miss these other top stories:

• Orange County shares timeline for new I-Drive, Sand Lake Road pedestrian bridge: The project has two major goals: to improve safety at the intersection and to create an iconic structure that will be a signature gateway into the International Drive tourist area.
• Universal Orlando confirms details on Epic Universe theme park: Here's the latest on the region's next major theme park being built on hundreds of acres off of Universal Boulevard.
• These are the city of Orlando's highest-paid employees: The Central Florida city is the largest in Orange County, with an average pay rate of $28.43 per hour. Orlando Business Journal analyzed its compensation to see who earns the most.

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Restaurant news & notes

Check out the latest news on popular local places to eat:

• Food Network celeb opens Indian restaurant at Disney Springs: The culinary star said she chose Disney Springs in part because her son shares a birthday with Mickey Mouse.
• Rum distillery opens local retail spot in time for holidays: Co-owner Mike Weber said customers often buy a bottle to give as a gift after vacation, but end up drinking it all and coming back for more before flying home.
• Chipotle to open 2 new locations in Central Florida: Here's where the new restaurants will open — and when.

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Nominations & Events

Things to put on your busy calendar:

• Nominate for the 2024 40 Under 40 awards, honoring business executives and professionals younger than age 40. Deadline: Jan. 4, 2024.
• Register now for the 2024 Economic Outlook, devoted to the very latest information concerning the global, national, and regional trends impacting the economy. Event date: Jan. 23, 2024.
• Nominate for the 2024 Fire Awards, Orlando Inno’s premier recognition program, honoring the companies and organizations setting the local innovation economy ablaze. Deadline: Jan. 25, 2024.
• Nominate for the 2024 Inno Madness, when Orlando Inno will bring the innovation, tech and startup community together for some healthy competition … bracket-style! Deadline: Feb. 2, 2024.
• Register now for the 2024 Mentoring Monday event, where you can get the advice you need to grow your career. Event date: Feb. 26, 2024.
• Nominate for the 2024 Best Places to Work. Deadline: April 5, 2024.
• Nominate for the 2024 Inno Under 25 awards, a recognition of the top founders, entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders under age 25. Deadline: May 23, 2024.
• Nominate for the 2024 Veterans of Influence, recognizing military veterans who have made a significant achievement in their careers in the past year, have a strong record of innovation or outstanding performance in their work, and are involved in our community. Deadline: May 30, 2024.
• Nominate for the 2024 Most Influential Leaders, which will recognize outstanding Central Florida executives who use their cachet to better the region. Deadline: June 20, 2024.

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That's all for this week's top headlines, and thanks for supporting OBJ.This weekly round-up of Orlando business news was compiled by Richard Bilbao, associate managing editor. Questions? Comments? Concerns? News tips? Send them to [email protected].