Orange County

Work underway on Orange County’s first multicultural center in Pine Hills

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Neighbors in Pine Hills have been pushing for a multicultural center for years. On Tuesday, Orange County officials unveiled a plan to make that a reality.

County officials said the facility will serve as a hub for resources, learning, and events as a gathering space dedicated to diversity.

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An old grocery store along State Road 50 in Pine Hills that has sat vacant for years will be transformed into the county’s first-ever multicultural center.

“This will be a place where residents can come and get resources,” Orange County Commissioner Victoria Siplin said.

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Siplin said the project is years in the making. Build-out was delayed by the pandemic, and then the labor shortage and product delays pushed work back even further.

The county hopes to have the center open by next spring.

“It is just a tremendous, not only financial investment, economic investment, but it’s also investing in the spirit of Pine Hills,” Siplin said.

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Neighbors said it will provide a safe place to learn, connect and celebrate different cultures.

“Pine Hills is very diverse. So it will, I think, bring this community closer together,” Pine Hills resident Denese Dunston said.

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Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.