Florida women business owners are making gains, but still lag male counterparts
Female business owners in Florida have made significant strides in their entrepreneurial pursuits in recent years compared to their male counterparts, a new study has found. A recent study by Osum, a market research firm, shows average earnings among female business owners in Florida have increased 23% in just the past five years, a jump to $49,700 annually. [Source: Florida Politics]
Florida citrus land continues to dwindle
The amount of land in Florida dedicated to growing citrus continues to shrink. Reports issued last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Florida had 17% fewer acres used for growing oranges, grapefruit and other citrus than in 2023, though the harvest during the 2023-24 growing season was valued 6% higher than the previous season. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]
Florida's minimum wage increasing again this month, here's how much
Florida's minimum wage will be rising again this month for the fourth year in a row, thanks to an amendment Florida voters approved in 2020. Under the amendment, the state's minimum wage was bumped up from $8.65 to $10 in 2021, with another dollar raise to come every year until it reaches $15 an hour for non-tipped employees and $10.98 for tipped employees. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Curiously quiet Atlantic has hurricane scientists scratching their heads. ‘A mystery.’
The Atlantic hasn’t been this quiet in 50 years, and hurricane scientists are trying to figure out why. The last time a storm didn’t form between August 12 and September 3 — historically among the most active stretches of the hurricane season — was in 1968, said Phil Klotzbach, senior research scientist at Colorado State University and head of the leading academic seasonal forecast. The quiet in the Atlantic is even weirder considering nearly every forecast this year trumpeted an alarming hurricane season ahead. [Source: Miami Herald]
Will one invasive lizard eating another in Florida make West Nile, similar diseases worse?
Can one Florida invasive lizard preying on another that doesn't belong here lead to more mosquito bites and dangerous viruses for us all? Researchers suspect the answer might be 'yes.' Invasive brown anoles inflict their own ills on our ecosystems. For one, this Cuban native nudges out native lizards. But when mosquitoes fill up on brown anole blood — as those wily little lizards sleep — the skeeters don't feed as much on us. [Source: Florida Today]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Made in Jacksonville: Why Holon's autonomous vehicle plant is coming here
The road to mass-producing self-driving transit shuttles will run through Jacksonville where German-based Holon will build a manufacturing plant that turns out sleek passenger shuttles for use around the world. The announcement came Wednesday during an event where speakers said Holon's plant for making 15-passenger vehicles will be the first manufacturer of autonomous shuttles in Florida, the United States, and possibly anywhere in the world outside of China.
› City of Orlando aims to invest $7.5M toward 24/7 homeless shelter
The city of Orlando is seeking to invest $7.5 million of funds from the Accelerate Orlando program into opening a new “Open Access” shelter, according to city officials on Tuesday. In a release, officials said the shelter would provide 24/7 accommodations for up to 250 people.
› Miami Beach apologizes for posting docs with sensitive info. How long were they public?
The city of Miami Beach has issued an apology after removing documents from its website Tuesday that contained residents’ unredacted personal information, including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and federal tax identifications. But it appears the folder, which contained about 10,000 records related to utility billing, may have been publicly available for decades.
› Sarasota insurer launches specialty carrier for higher-risk business
FCCI Insurance Group is expanding its commercial insurance portfolio with a new excess and surplus lines carrier that will begin writing coverage in Florida, Georgia and Texas next month. The six-decades-old Sarasota commercial property and casualty insurer will roll out FCCI Specialty Insurance Company in phases and, by early 2025, write general liability and excess liability coverage across its 20-state footprint.
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› Royal Caribbean embarks on $100 million ship upgrade
Royal Caribbean International will invest more than $100 million into its nearly 14-year-old ship Allure of the Seas. The Miami-based cruise line announced it will debut the upgraded ship in April 2025. It will initially sail voyages throughout Europe before its routed to South Florida for Caribbean sailings.
› After pulling plug on long-planned Heritage Park development, Sanford asks: What’s next?
After nearly a decade working with a developer to turn vacant land in the heart of downtown into a vibrant community of luxury apartments, restaurants, stores and offices, Sanford commissioners pulled the plug on the project — at a cost to taxpayers of at least $3.75 million.
› $80M Naples hotel to target 'nearly' five-star travelers, locals
After FOD Capital developed The Perry Hotel & Marina in Key West, the family investment office had no set plans to develop another one. At least not until it was approached by a landowner in north Naples looking to build a hotel on their property.
› Blue Origin droneship arrives in Port Canaveral ahead of New Glenn launch
Pulled by Blue Origin's support ship, Harvey Stone, a droneship like no other arrived in Port Canaveral Wednesday morning. What arrived can only be described as a floating first-stage rocket center − a "landing platform vessel" complete with buildings on the front and back which sported the words "Blue Origin" and "New Glenn".