Submitted by Katarina Dos Santos, OCCC
Orange County Convention Center’s Phase 5A Project Gets Green Light with TDT Funding Approval
The Orange County Board of County Commissioners has cast their votes in favor, greenlighting the allocation of Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funding for the completion of Phase 5A of the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). This significant project, with an estimated cost of $560 million, will see remarkable improvements to the North-South Building.
Phase 5A will introduce several enhancements to the North-South Building, including a fully enclosed and air-conditioned connection between the North and South concourses. This new addition will encompass a whopping 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an impressive 80,000-square-foot ballroom, and a grand entrance to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
Mark Tester, the Executive Director of OCCC, expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building, which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients. As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
With the TDT funding approval secured, OCCC will now recommence the design process for Phase 5A, which had been temporarily halted in 2020 due to the pandemic. Currently, the initial project design stands at 50%. With the green light to proceed, the Center is eager to regroup, finalize the design, and kickstart the construction phase of Phase 5A. Additionally, OCCC intends to seek funding for Phase 5B, which includes a 200,000-square-foot Multipurpose Venue, at a later date, once TDT reserves reach an optimal level for financing such a project.
The vote also encompassed approval for TDT funding for three other noteworthy community projects: $90 million for the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Stadium Tower, funding for the Application Review Committee (ARC), and an increase in funding for Arts and Cultural Affairs.
Orange County Mayor Demings expressed his satisfaction with the decision, saying, “This is my home, and I feel good about the decision made that will translate to investments in our community. It’s an affirmation that this Board of County Commission also believes in our community.”
The mission of the Orange County Convention Center is to foster economic development. The approval to proceed with Phase 5A underscores OCCC’s commitment to fulfilling its mission, strengthening its competitive edge, and maintaining its position as a leading destination for conventions, trade shows, sporting events, and more.
About the Orange County Convention Center
The Orange County Convention Center, an award-winning venue, contributes approximately $3 billion in economic impact to Central Florida each year. In recent years, the Convention Center has hosted an average of nearly 200 events, including 115 conventions and tradeshows, attracting more than 1.5 million attendees to the region annually. For more information about the Orange County Convention Center, visit www.occc.net.
