Welcome to this week’s Regional Perspective, where I share stories that bring the Orlando 2045 Vision to life and highlight the progress shaping our region’s future.

1) Bringing Austin’s lessons home – The value of our 2026 Executive Leadership Mission to Austin, presented by Travel + Leisure, came from pairing candid, peer-to-peer insights with concrete examples we can apply in the Orlando region. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson provided an unvarnished look at the costs and trade-offs of leading a fast-growing city. Texas Secretary of State Robert S. Howden challenged us to strengthen our presence at the state level with the same consistency and intentionality that underpins Texas’ economic development model. Major General Kevin Lambert, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) showed how investments in the civilian infrastructure surrounding defense assets can position communities to compete in the defense innovation economy. We closed by taking time at the LBJ Presidential Library to translate those lessons into specific action that advances Orlando 2045. From navigating the trade-offs of rapid growth to strengthening state-level engagement and investing around defense assets, the lessons we took home offer clear direction for becoming a global creative capital. View photos.

2) Orlando’s role in the future of defense innovation – Of all the conversations we had in Austin, one of the most reinforcing was with Major General Kevin Lambert of TRADOC. Our discussion about the future of defense innovation highlighted just how well the Orlando region’s strengths align with emerging opportunities for the Army and our nation. Few regions can match our concentration of expertise in modeling, simulation and training, human performance, immersive technologies and synthetic environments, capabilities that also have applications across healthcare, transportation, advanced manufacturing and beyond. It was a powerful reminder that some of our region’s greatest opportunities stem from capabilities embedded in Orlando’s DNA. It’s now up to all of us to connect those assets in new ways and translate them into the next generation of innovation and economic growth. View photos of the conversation.

3) State of Osceola County – This past Wednesday, Chairman Brandon Arrington and the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners hosted the annual State of Osceola County. The event brought together community leaders from across Osceola County and Central Florida to celebrate the county’s progress, highlight where it stands today, and to discuss where it is headed. In his “What Comes Next” address, Chairman Brandon Arrington reflected on Osceola County’s accomplishments and outlined the path ahead. His remarks highlighted the investments and partnerships supporting the county’s growth while pointing to future opportunities to strengthen the community and build on its momentum. At the center of that momentum, NeoCity and the Florida Semiconductor Engine are translating innovation into commercial opportunities, a skilled workforce and high-value industry growth that advance momentum toward becoming a top 10 innovation hub. Watch the replay.

4) Policy in Progress – On the Ballot: Property Tax Reform – More than 100 leaders gathered today to hear from a diverse panel of regional leaders including former State Senator Jeff Brandes, who delivered a keynote, and Sheriff John W. Mina, Osceola Property Appraiser Katrina Scarborough, and YIMBY Orlando Leader Eric Grimmer, to discuss Amendment 3 and what its property-tax changes could mean for our communities. The proposal would increase the non-school homestead exemption, lower the non-homestead assessment cap and place new restrictions on local property-tax use. The OEP opposes the amendment because of its potential impacts on essential services, transportation, responsible growth, housing and long-term fiscal stability. Learn more about Amendment 3.

5) Showcasing Orlando at 2026 CREDA Florida Conference – This week commercial real estate industry leaders gathered in Orlando for NAIOP’s statewide conference, bringing a regional perspective to the forces shaping Florida’s CRE landscape. Conversations explored capital markets, data centers, legislative impacts, development trends and economic development success stories—insights that will help inform how our region competes, grows and creates opportunity. The OEP’s SVP of Research & Strategy Neil Hamilton provided the regional economic overview, history of the host city and how we’re advancing the Orlando 2045 regional vision to kick off the conference.