A city of Kissimmee small-business stabilizing program that utilized federal funds released in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has come under scrutiny by some members of the public—and the state of Florida’s CFO. Three downtown companies owned or operated by Mayor Jackie Espinosa’s family received $50,000 in city grant funds through the “Business Boost 2.0” program, approved late in 2024 and launched in September 2025 to, “assist local businesses still facing lingering economic challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.” It was a sort of sequel to the first Business Boost in 2022, approved to address the pandemic’s immediate negative impacts and economic harm to workers and small businesses.
A city of Kissimmee small-business stabilizing program that utilized federal funds released in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has come under scrutiny by some members of the public—and the state of Florida’s CFO.
Three downtown companies owned or o… [8475 chars]
Source: Around Osceola | Published: 2026-03-06T00:00:00Z
Credit: Around Osceola
