KISSIMMEE, Fla. – City Manager Mike Steigerwald came to Kissimmee 30 years ago as an entry-level urban planner straight from the University of Buffalo. He was promoted to deputy manager in 2006 and then to city manager in 2010.
Steigerwald tells News 6 that when he started in 1994, Kissimmee’s population was at 32,000.
“Today we are at 82,000 probably pushing 85, so tremendous amount of growth,” said Steigerwald.
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And with that growth also came diversity, with 62.4% of the population speaking a language other than English at home (55.2% speak Spanish).
“A lot of folks will say we are the 58th city of Puerto Rico, I think I have the number right because we have such a large Puerto Rican population,” Steigerwald said.
The blended population has created a wave of international cuisine and visitors to the city. Steigerwald says many of the visitors are attracted to Lakefront Park
“It’s a world-class park. It attracts 2 or 3,000 a day just organically on the weekend.”
In an exclusive interview with News 6, Florida Congressman Darren Soto (D-Fla.) attributes Kissimmee’s combination of visitors and growth to “great weather, low taxes, and in this area in particular, two major job centers in it or near it.”
The congressman is referring to NeoCity which is located within the 34744 zip code and to the nearby Medical City at Lake Nona.
Soto said he is working closely with Kissimmee city leaders to obtain federal funding through “RAISE” grants available for high-congestion local roads, something he considers a major challenge in the area.
“Neptune Road is basically the preference for most folks who live in Kissimmee traveling to St. Cloud and vice versa,” said Soto. “We’re looking to expand it to four lanes all the way through,”
Soto said there are several other expansion projects underway right now as well, all in an effort to support the 34744 ZIP code’s growing population.
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