ORLANDO, Fla. — Now that the City of Orlando has approved a $500 million project for a sports and entertainment district in downtown Orlando, businesses in the area say this project could revitalize the community. 

The City of Orlando already has three incentive programs for business owners to take advantage of, but one new program will allow Parramore business owner a unique opportunity for their business. 

The program is called the “Parramore Merchant Program,” where a Parramore business owner will be able to set up their business inside of the Sports and Entertainment District with limited expenses, according to the city. 

The Sports & Entertainment District will provide approximately 1,000-square foot air-conditioned retail spaces ready for use, complete with essential utilities and finishes within the project to a retail operator from the Parramore Heritage Community. The tenant will only need to supply the furniture, fixtures and equipment necessary for its operation. David Barilla, with the City of Orlando’s Downtown Development Board & Community Redevelopment Agency, says this is a great way to revitalize the Parramore business scene.

“So, they can go there — think of it as an incubator of sorts to really get sound footing — and have a successful business model that they can move on with and we can have a successful business in that,” he said.

One downtown Orlando business is using one of the three incentives that the City of Orlando already offers and says this new program is a win-win solution to attract more businesses in the area.

It’s a busy Wednesday for Manuel Carmona at Luxe Med Spa Aesthetics.

With back-to-back clients, Manuel first gets the important paperwork signed, then he preps all things necessary for their clients procedures.

Manuel and his wife, Jamie, own the business.

Jamie Carmona is the head aesthetic nurse injector with 15 years of experience working as an ER nurse and five years working as an aesthetic nurse at a plastic surgery office in the area.

Manuel says his wife wanted to start her own practice to build a personable and calm atmosphere for their clients.

“Trust is big when it comes to your face. You want to make sure you trust who’s going to be injecting your face. You don’t want any adverse effects and you want to make sure it looks good,” said Manuel, Luxe Med Spa Aesthetics Director of Operations.

The two started their business four years ago and are planning to move into a bigger location with the help of downtown Orlando’s Retail Stimulus Program.

Manuel and Jamie Carmona are the owners of Luxe Med Spa Aesthetics. (Spectrum News/Destiny Wiggins)

Manuel says his wife found the program through a Google search and applied.

“It’s very expensive to build that space out, especially for our needs, and for the city to be willing to give us money towards the build out actually helps us. Makes the decision a lot easier for us to stay downtown,” said Manuel.

Manuel says they are able to save thousands of dollars with the city’s help on this new venture. With the Paramore Merchant Program, another business could do the same.

City of Orlando staff say the lease structure will involve a percentage rent arrangement where rent expenses are proportionate to the business’s sales performance. 

Manuel says this is a huge win for a business owner looking to learn the ins-and-outs of the industry.

“You will literally save thousands of dollars that will catapult your business to know you don’t have to pay that a month, to put towards your business to expand, make it more efficient, so when you do have to start paying rent, you’re already in the green making money. You don’t have to worry about that part of it,” said Manuel.

Manuel adds that the incentive program his business took advantage of, and the new Paramore Merchant Program, are ways to bring businesses together — specifically in the downtown surrounding areas, Parramore included. 

“I think it’s going to be a very fresh start for that part of town. Make it more inviting space for people to want to be there. I think it’s a great start for a business to get on the ground level of that before it does get hopping and popping and rent gets too expensive,” said Manuel.

This initiative is in its very early stages. City staff say the business will work closely with developers as the project gets underway.