Florida gets second-quarter tourism boost
Florida saw increased tourism during the second quarter of 2024, while it continues trying to get the international market back to pre-pandemic levels. With the totals driven by tourists from other parts of the U.S., Visit Florida on Thursday estimated the state had 34.2 million visitors during the April-through-June period, 1.64 percent more than during the same period in 2023. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Business Beat - Week of August 16th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Florida officials work to divest from Chinese government-owned companies
The Florida State Board of Administration Audit Committee met this week to discuss the Sunshine State's investment performance and some changes that will impact foreign investment from certain countries. During the 2024 legislative session, lawmakers passed House Bill 7071, which limits the investments the SBA can hold on behalf of the Florida Retirement System which invests in companies owned by the Chinese government. [Source: The Center Square]
Florida school year starts with nearly 10,000 teacher vacancies
Nearly 10,000 teaching and education staff positions remain open in Florida, even as students went back to school this week. That's according to data compiled by the Florida Education Association, the largest labor union in the Southeast. The FEA found that nearly every district in Florida has open positions in elementary education, ESE, and speech-language pathology. [Source: WFTS]
Florida returns more than $50 million in unclaimed property to residents
More than $50 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians during the month of July, according to CFO Jimmy Patronis. By region, Patronis says Orlando ranked sixth for the most unclaimed property returned in the last month. More than $2.5 billion in unclaimed property has been returned to residents since Patronis took office in 2017. [Source: WDBO]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› UM booster John Ruiz’s company LifeWallet admits ‘substantial doubt’ about its future
University of Miami booster John H. Ruiz’s insurance claims company LifeWallet told investors Wednesday that there is “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue operating. The admission came as the company reported that it had brought in just over $300,000 in revenue between March and June from its primary business of collecting reimbursement for wrongly paid insurance claims.
› Affordable housing crisis forces Tampa General to build its own
Worried by the lack of affordable housing for its workers, Tampa General Hospital is moving ahead with plans for a $60 million apartment complex that will be offered to employees at below-market-rate rents. The hospital has already secured $10 million from the state budget toward the cost of a 160-unit apartment block on Delaney Creek Boulevard in Brandon. Hillsborough County also provisionally earmarked $2 million over the next four years for the project.
› Orlando International Airport among nation's most complained-about for TSA issues
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is ranking high on a nationwide list of airports that get a lot of TSA complaints, according to a recent study. It's ranked No. 3 in the entire country. Travel site UpgradedPoints combed through TSA complaint data from 2015 to 2023 to see what airports across the country received the most and least complaints.
› Key manufacturing sectors indicate contraction in July along Florida’s First Coast
Several key manufacturing sectors in North Florida indicated notable contraction for July. It’s the second month in a row some of those elements have seen a monthly drop. The Jacksonville Economic Monitoring Survey, produced by the University of North Florida (UNF) Coggin College of Business, indicated some rough spots among manufacturers in the First Coast area last month.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Jacksonville-based nonprofit launches affordable housing fund to boost its work in Northeast Florida
Ability Housing, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit developer of affordable housing, announced Wednesday the launch of a fund that will help boost its work in Northeast and Central Florida. The fund was possible thanks to an initial investment of $3.75 million from the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF), a grant program provided by the Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, and was leveraged with an additional $950,000 from the State of Florida.
› Florida tomato associations hire new leader
The trade associations that support Florida's tomato growers, packers, and shippers have hired Robert Guenther as their next leader. These associations include the Florida Tomato Exchange, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, and the Florida Tomato Committee.
› Florida welcomes ninth property insurance carrier since 2023
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR) has approved Trident Reciprocal Exchange as the ninth new property insurance carrier to enter the state since 2023. Trident received authorization on June 31 to write fire and homeowners multiperil policies, according to an order from Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky.
› New $28 million police training facility in Port St. Lucie could open sometime next year
A new $28 million, 54,000-square-foot police training facility here will soon begin construction, with a targeted completion date next year. The facility, to be located at 121 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd. in the current municipal complex, will replace one that the Port St. Lucie Police Department has outgrown, acting Chief Richard Del Toro said.