INDVIDUAL CARES PORTAL OPENS NOVEMBER 24

Individual and Families Grants  – Orange County will reopen the application portal for residents to apply for $1,000 grants on Monday, November 24, 2020, at 8 a.m., with a capacity of 15,000 users. Adult members of the same household, including roommates and other family members, whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and are over the age of 18, are eligible to apply.  For more information, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCares.

To date, Orange County Government has invested a total of $60 million into the program, and has processed nearly $40 million in payments, which has helped nearly 40,000 households.

RAPID TESTING NOW 7 DAYS A WEEK

Free and accessible testing continues to be a priority for Orange County Health Services. Drive-thru COVID-19 rapid testing at Barnett Park has been extended to 7 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Testing will be available until the end of the year. However, the site will be closed on Thanksgiving Day (11/25).

Both molecular (standard nasal swab/PCR) and rapid antigen tests are available.

·        All ages are welcome

·        No symptoms necessary

·        No appointments necessary

Visit ocfl.net/Testing and click on #1 on the map for more details.

PPE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Orange County Government is standing ready once again to give away free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to small businesses located in Orange County to help them adhere to CDC guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PPE kit distribution – including disposable face masks and hand sanitizers – will take place from December 1 through 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the following locations:

Downey Park

10107 Flowers Avenue, Orlando, FL 32825

Cypress Grove Park

290 Holden Avenue, Orlando, FL 32839

West Orange Park

150 Windermere Road, Winter Garden, FL 34787

Orange County small businesses are required to pre-register at ocfl.net/PPE before visiting a pick up location. Small businesses must have fewer than 40 employees.

BUSINESS GRANTS

Small Business and Home-Based Business Grants – As of November 16, 2020 at 12 p.m., both the Small Business Grant Program and the Micro-Grant Program for Home-Based Businesses closed its application portal for new applications. 

Business owners who still have started, but have yet to complete their applications, need to complete and submit their application prior to Friday, November 20, at 5 p.m. to be considered eligible to receive grant funding.  Applications that are not completed will not be considered for the grant.

TOY DONATIONS NEEDED

If you have toy donations for the Orange County Mayor’s Toy Drive you can drop them off during the program’s upcoming contactless, drop-off events on Monday, November 23, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following locations:

Downey Park

10107 Flowers Avenue, Orlando, FL 32825

Silver Star Community Park

2801 N Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32818

Participants will also receive a kit of free facemasks and hand sanitizer. For more information visit ocfl.net/ToyDrive.