The six recipients will receive a portion of a $65,000 grant to develop local tech-focused programs and events.
Orlando, Fla. – In collaboration with the Orlando Economic Partnership (the Partnership), the City of Orlando’s Technology Community Support Program is announcing six recipients will receive a portion of a $65,000 grant to develop local tech-focused programs and events.
A panel of non-biased judges from across the technology industry reviewed each submission, selecting recipients based on how their proposal met the five key goals that guide the grant program: increasing the connection and collaboration among startup and existing tech companies; building the tech talent pipeline; catalyzing private capital investments; demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; and increasing Orlando’s reputation as a tech hub.
“I am grateful that there are many organizations working to strengthen Orlando’s reputation as a tech hub and to provide equitable opportunities for residents to be a part of our innovation-based economy.”
City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
“The City of Orlando is proud to partner with the Orlando Economic Partnership to grow our city’s tech and entrepreneurial community and add to our culture of collaboration,” said City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
“This year’s applications reflected the challenges of fostering collaboration in these current times, turning from mainly in-person events and experiences to a virtual setting,” said Sheena Fowler, who oversees the grant program as vice president of innovation at the Partnership.
In 2020, the Orlando Technology Community Support Pilot Program selected 15 applications to receive grant awards. This year’s recipients represent the breadth of diversity in the Orlando tech ecosystem.
Building Black Orlando Tech (BOT) Technology Cohort Program – an accelerated applied training program for participants to gain intro- to intermediate-level skills and certification within a particular topic in technology, resulting in increased opportunities that will benefit the local minority community.
DataDive – a high energy, marathon-style event rallies together teams of volunteer data scientists, developers, and designers that tackle the data challenges of local mission-driven organizations in 48 hours or less.
OCPS’ Ignite Ingenuity: Innovate for Today and Tomorrow Challenge – Orange County Public Schools’ (OCPS) challenge will activate the tech talent pipeline by exposing and engaging hundreds of OCPS middle school students to the compelling world of computer science.
Intern Pursuit’s intern skills-based hiring and skill development study –a high impact study that will provide the insight needed to align skills-based hiring practices with employers that need faster and better methods of identifying the best candidates for internships.
OTRONICON –Over Presidents Day Weekend 2022, Orlando Science Center (OSC) will once again host OTRONICON, the largest in-person and virtual gathering of Orlando’s modeling, simulation and video game communities giving leverage to inspire the next generation of the the STEM workforce.
StarterStudio’s accredited investors –Starter Studio will host two hybrid events along with a semi-monthly podcast series aimed at targeting regional accredited investors not already engaged in tech investing.
Congratulations to all the recipients. The Partnership, along with the rest of the Orlando region’s business community, looks forward to seeing the incredible work from these organizations that will accelerate the Orlando’s innovation-based economy.
