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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Private equity dollars are chasing business migration to Florida
Thousands of businesses have relocated to Florida in recent years, and investors have been quick to follow. Florida received the third-largest amount of private equity dollars last year, according to a report American Investment Council released this week. In total, investors backed 570 Florida-based companies with $74.4 billion of capital, an increase from 363 companies and $59.4 billion in 2020. More from the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
Florida Funders' latest bet is a five-year-old Alabama data company
One of the state’s most active venture capital firms is at it again. Tampa-based Florida Funders, a hybrid mix between an angel investor network and venture capital fund, led Birmingham-based QuantHub’s $1.3 million seed round. The other participating investors were undisclosed. QuantHub aims for its platform to provide data fluency in corporate and educational settings. More from Tampa Bay Inno.
Polston stepping down from Supreme Court
Florida Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston announced Monday he will step down March 31, giving Gov. Ron DeSantis another opportunity to place his imprint on the state’s highest court. In a two-paragraph letter to DeSantis, Polston, 67, did not detail reasons for his resignation after more than 14 years on the Supreme Court. Polston served from 2012 to 2014 as chief justice and also was a judge on the 1st District Court of Appeal before getting appointed to the Supreme Court. More from the News Service of Florida.
Something in the water? Researchers studying high amounts of late-stage breast cancer in Broward County
Broward County’s rate of advanced breast cancer exceeds the state and national average, and researchers want to learn why. Could a chemical in the water or one sprayed on lawns play a role? Does someone’s ancestry make them more vulnerable to the chemicals? Dr. Jean Latimer and her team at Nova Southeastern University will study the role environment plays in advanced breast cancer, particularly among women of African American descent. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Proposed clean energy tech park could bring 1,200 high-paying jobs to Osceola
Osceola County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to begin formal negotiations with Paris-based CMG Clean Tech to sell its 309-acre Mac Overstreet property on Lake Tohopekaliga for a $431 million clean energy technology park. Clean Tech is pledging to build its U.S. headquarters, research and development facility; along with seven factories, pledging to create 1,200 jobs averaging at least $75,000 within three years, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Out of the Box
What is parked at Patrick Space Force Base beach lots? Mystery 'buoys' stump experts
A few dozen barrel-like devices rolled up March 9 on a flatbed that stopped at one of Patrick Space Force Base's beachside parking lots. But what are they? No one seems to know or is willing to say. The barrels had small propellers on them and metal hooks on the top — which might indicate quick recovery by helicopter, some speculated.
» More from Florida Today.
Sports Business
Cuban catcher defects after World Baseball Classic. What does it mean for his pro ball chances?
Cuban baseball player Ivan Prieto Gonzalez defected in Miami after Cuba’s 14-2 loss to the United States in a World Baseball Classic semifinal at loanDepot park. Gonzalez served as Cuba’s bullpen catcher for the tournament. It’s unclear if Gonzalez, 26, will attempt to pursue a professional baseball career in the United States, but if he does, he has an avenue to do so and his defection has essentially no impact on it.
» Read more from the Miami Herald.
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