Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 1/10/2013

Flu season hits Florida hard

The flu has started to rage in Florida, but though it’s widespread, it’s not likely to be a pandemic like the lethal swine-flu that struck in 2009-2010. More from the Miami Herald and Health News Florida.

Aerospace firm to add 130 engineering, manufacturing jobs

Parametric Solutions, which has developed a niche as an aerospace and aviation product designer, announced it will add 130 jobs over the next two years at its operation in Jupiter. This is the second recent expansion for Parametric Solutions, which added 50 jobs in 2011. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Tourism officials worry about smoking on Siesta sand

Business Profile

Cirle

Tiny eye care-related medical technology incubator Cirle has hooked up with a gigantic partner, Bausch + Lomb. Cirle, formed in 2010 by Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s director of technology transfer, aims to turn medical discoveries from the hospital into treatments.

» Full story
» Cirle site

Local tourism officials are worried that if smoking is once again allowed on Sarasota County beaches, the nation’s top-ranked beachfront and others could become a big waterside ashtray. Visit Sarasota County President Virginia Haley and others say a countywide smoking ban was a critical component to Siesta Key’s beach being ranked No. 1 in the nation in May 2011. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

It's a great weekend to scoop up a franchise

Imagine a job where you can indulge in ice cream and other sweets every day. If you’ve ever dreamed of owning an ice cream shop, a hugely popular Palm Beach County store is in franchise expansion mode, selling new locations for $750,000. Of course, consuming too many scoops might eat into your profits. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Brevard hopes to benefit as satellite industry faces fewer regulations

Congress has relaxed regulations that classified satellites as weapons and put U.S. companies at a disadvantage in the lucrative international space exploration and communication sector. The change might help Brevard County companies find new markets for space technology, said Dale Ketcham, a Brevard space industry consultant. More at Florida Today.

Live Chat
Charter Schools Web Chat

Join us to learn more about Florida's fast-growing charter schools industry. Answering questions will be guest Jonathan Hage, CEO of Charter Schools USA, one of the biggest charter school companies in the nation. Hage was recently selected as Florida Trend's Floridian of the Year.