Florida foreclosures are on the rise
An increase in foreclosure rates serves as an important marker of shifts within the housing market. Florida, in particular, has some of the highest rates of foreclosure starts and fillings. An uptick in foreclosures can potentially reduce property tax revenues, destabilize the housing market and lower neighborhood values through a rise in vacant properties. More from Newsweek.
Former land of Big Cat Rescue from 'Tiger King' sold to South Florida developer
The local builder is planning to build over 300 apartments on a portion of land once owned by Big Cat Rescue, which rose to fame from Netflix's "Tiger King" documentary during the pandemic. The sale follows another developer's purchase of Big Cat Rescue's real estate; Clearwater-based Boos Development bought 56 acres for a 280-unit townhome development in December. More from the South Florida Business Journal.
Some Tampa Bay restaurants misleading diners by serving imported shrimp
Eyeing that locally-caught Gulf shrimp on the menu? It might not be local at all. According to a new report released Monday, 96% of the Tampa Bay restaurants featured in a recent study were found to be serving imported shrimp while implying otherwise. The study examined shrimp from 44 Tampa and St. Petersburg restaurants for testing. Only two were found to be serving locally caught shrimp. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Global footwear retailer chooses Fort Myers for debut brick-and-mortar store
A footwear retailer with global reach recently opened the first brick-and-mortar location for the business, in Fort Myers. Bucaro International Shoes set up shop in mid-January in Bell Tower, an open-air shopping destination on South Cleveland Avenue. All footwear is handmade in Colombia, according to the Bucaro International Shoes website. More from the Business Observer.
JaxPort sets records for operating revenue, cargo in late 2024
JaxPort set records for revenue and cargo in late 2024 as importers boosted orders of products ahead of possible new tariffs and the port moved equipment for a major military exercise. Staff reported to the JaxPort board Jan. 27 that operating revenue hit a record $7.039 million in December, thanks largely to the transportation of military equipment that included tanks and helicopters for a large-scale readiness exercise. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
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Profile
Naples billionaire: Why and how he's giving away his fortune
Scrappy self-made Naples billionaire Tom Golisano is approaching $1 billion in lifetime donations to nonprofits. Business principles guide his giving. Golisano says he will continue to support organizations in the areas he’s passionate about, including health care, animal welfare and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
» More from the Business Observer.
Out of the Box
Take your cloves off: South Florida Garlic Festival to turn up the stink factor this weekend
Garlic — smelly, pungent, “Nosferatu” repellent — needs no help being heavy-handed. But tell that to Nancy Stewart, who’s upping the bulb’s ante again when the 26th annual South Florida Garlic Fest stinks up Wellington this weekend. “I can’t help myself,” says Stewart, the festival’s garlic czar. “We’ve got a lot of new residents in the region and they’re all curious about why there’s a garlic festival in a non-garlic capital of the country.”
» Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.