Orange Co. Mayor Teresa Jacobs delivers positive State of the County address

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Mayor Teresa Jacobs delivered her annual State of the County address – and it's a rosy outlook for Orange County.

Jacobs was greeted with a standing ovation from hundreds of the area's movers and shakers. She greeted them with job news showing a prettier economic picture.

"Since being elected in 2010, which is a benchmark for me, Orange County's unemployment rate was
11.3 percent. Today, it's 6.4," Jacobs said.

Jacobs' did not have to spin things during her address.

"You want to be a mayor that inspires and asks people to keep the faith, but we're beyond having to hope for something. We are really looking at a pretty incredible turnaround," Jacobs said.

Over the last couple of years, it's been pretty difficult for Orange County leaders to talk about the local economy with a smile on their faces, but the mayor's speech had a lot of positive statistics.

Jacob said new housing is up 29 percent, and for the first time in four years, there is an uptick in property tax revenue.

The mayor said the county remains the No. 1 travel destination in the country, and said tourists will spend $30 billion this year.

Jacobs said Orange County will be the economic center for growth in Florida.

"Thank you, God bless you, and may God continue to bless our great county," Jacobs said.

The county has also launched a branding survey with a new video to improve how the county is marketed.

WFTV