Orange groves under development pressure as population booms
Hit in recent years by hurricanes and citrus greening disease, which slowly kills the trees, many growers are making the difficult decision to sell orange groves that have been in their families for generations to developers building homes to house the growing population. Others are sticking it out, hoping to survive until a bug-free tree or other options arrive to repel the disease or treat the trees. More from the APand Fortune.
Tallahassee recognized for economic strength, job growth second year in a row
The Area Development magazine has named Tallahassee one of the top metro areas for economic strength and competitiveness for the second year in a row. In the magazine, which describes itself as "the leading executive magazine covering corporate site selection and relocation," 410 cities across the nation were evaluated on key criteria, including job growth, business climate and workforce, and Tallahassee made the top five. More from the Tallahassee Democrat.
How South Florida became a hub for major sporting events – and what’s next
South Florida has established itself as one of the premier destinations for major sporting events in the United States. From the Super Bowl to international soccer matches, the region attracts millions of fans each year. So, how did South Florida become such a powerhouse for sports, and what can we expect in the future? More from the South Florida Reporter.
Major retailers, attractions flock to Orlando's I-Drive ahead of Universal's new Epic Universe theme park
International Drive is experiencing a dynamic period of transformation marked by significant redevelopment projects and anticipation surrounding the May 22 opening of Epic Universe, a fourth Universal Orlando Resort theme park that's been hailed throughout the region as a game-changer for the tourism industry. The upcoming $1 billion-plus theme park on Universal Boulevard is expected to create 14,000 new tourism-based jobs when it debuts in two months and draw 5 million-9 million visitors to the I-Drive area in its first year. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
Report: Tampa's wealthy turning to rentals at higher numbers
Tampa’s richest residents are becoming the city’s biggest renters, according to Redfin. The Seattle-based real estate technology firm has just released a report that found that found that out of the 50 most populated metropolitan markets in the country, 35 have seen wealthy renters taking up a bigger share of rental properties in recent years. More from the Business Observer.
Business Beat - Week of March 14th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Business Profile
For 50 years, boaters (and parrots) have flocked to this odd Fort Lauderdale shop
A faded paper sign inside Sailorman calls it “the hippest coolest most extraordinary marine supply store.” A walk through the Fort Lauderdale city block-sized warehouse confirms there’s truly something for everybody. Are you in the market for a giant steering wheel? How about an enormous copper lobster? Or two foldable bikes? An antique torch? Kitchen tongs? Or how about a little fabric doll trapped in a glass jar that may or may not be haunted? It’s only 20 bucks.
» Read more from the Miami Herald.