City of Orlando, City District and Wells Fargo to bring HOPE to Parramore businesses
City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Commissioner Regina Hill, elected officials and volunteers to help beautify and clean up Parramore business corridor
Large Wells Fargo grant announcement to be shared in support of black businesses
Surprise visits, check presentations to be made to local entrepreneurs
Who: City of Orlando, City District and Wells Fargo
What: As part of Wells Fargo’s HOPE, USA campaign, volunteers from the City of Orlando, City District and Wells Fargo will come together to beautify and clean up the streets of Parramore’s business corridor. The effort will help local small businesses attract shoppers and visitors during the holiday season. Additionally, leaders will visit area small businesses to make surprise check presentations to local entrepreneurs.
Media will be able to capture:
- Volunteers planting flowers, prepping walls for murals, pressure washing sidewalks/buildings, hanging holiday decoration and painting buildings in the National Registered Historic District and more.
- Remarks from City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Commissioner Regina Hill, Orlando Main Street Administrator Pauline Eaton, Parramore Main Street Director of City District Natasha Gaye Parramore, Wells Fargo Community Relations Senior Consultant Candice Simmons, local Parramore business owners.
- Grant presentation in support of Enterprising Black Orlando’s efforts to strengthen local Black businesses and the community at large, by promoting racial economic equity.
- Surprise visits and micro Wells Fargo grants to be presented to local small businesses.
Where: 431 S Parramore Ave, Orlando, FL 32805
**Map of the event and activities linked here.
When: Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, 9 a.m. - noon.
- Big check presentation to Enterprising Black Orlando and remarks by elected officials and leaders – to begin promptly at 9 a.m.
- Volunteering efforts to take place from 9:30 a.m. – noon
- Surprise visits and check presentations to local business owners – 11 a.m.
About HOPE, USA campaign:
The day’s efforts are possible thanks to Wells Fargo’s HOPE, USA campaign and a $75,000 grant from the company. Through the HOPE, USA campaign, Wells Fargo will help beautify business districts in more than a dozen cities across the country and encourage everyone to join in giving hope a hand by shopping locally this holiday season. Hope, USA builds upon the company’s commitment to supporting small businesses and helping them thrive as they emerge from the economic impact of the pandemic. The City of Orlando and the Parramore business corridor was one of only sixteen destinations throughout the country selected for this campaign.
About City District
City District is accredited by the national Main Street America program, and it’s located in the heart of Downtown Orlando. Once just spanning the length of the Historic Church St Station, in 2019 City District expanded to include Parramore Heritage & Creative Village. Currently our boundaries in Parramore encompass the National Registered Historic District, Holden–Parramore Historic District.
Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for 40 years, and currently has a network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities across the country. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
About Parramore
Parramore is one of Orlando’s oldest, historically black neighborhoods. The neighborhood was established in the 1880s and within 60 years, it grew into a thriving black community with 18,000 residents and vibrant schools, theaters, local shops, family-owned restaurants and hotels. By the early 20th century, the Parramore neighborhood included several blocks of prosperous black-owned businesses including a tailor shop, a theater, and attorney’s offices.
Contact Information:
Samantha Holsten
samantha.holsten@orlando.gov
407-246-4275
Gabriela Lambertus
gabriela.lambertus@wellsfargo.com
305-619-8898
###