Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 3/19/2013

Florida No. 5 in small business tax climate

Florida ranked fifth in the nation in small business tax climate, according to a March 18 Facts & Figures report by the Tax Foundation. The Sunshine State’s ranking was based on its corporate, individual income, sales, unemployment insurance and property taxes. More at the Orlando Business Journal and the Tax Foundation.

NSU Announces 2013 Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Inductees

The Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, established in 1990, honors the achievements of outstanding entrepreneurs who contributed to the growth of a phenomenal entrepreneurial business, and have also demonstrated a willingness to contribute time, effort and financial resources to programs and activities that enhance the quality of life. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Naples Winter Wine festival awards $13.4 million in grants

Business Profile

Naples Soap Company

In 2009, Deanna Renda left her job as a nurse to start Naples Soap Co. Today, the company has a 3,500-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility, a 3,000-sq.-ft. warehouse, five stores in southwest Florida and 40 employees. The company recently opened another location in Key West.

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When they raised paddles to bid during the Naples Winter Wine Festival, some of Collier County’s most affluent residents helped to provide underprivileged children with prescription eyeglasses, shelter and places to learn after school. More at the Fort Myers News-Press.

Company to offer paid internships in Gainesville

University of Florida students will soon have new paid internship opportunities with a Fortune 100 company. Integrated retailer Sears Holdings Corp. has chosen Gainesville as the home of a new pilot internship program in which UF students will be recruited to work in the company's information technology sector. More at the Gainesville Sun.

Basketball brackets, business often don't mix

With 162 employees, there are bound to be a few basketball fans at the Merritt Island-based Kennedy Space Center Federal Credit Union. But they have to get their NCAA basketball fix elsewhere during work hours. More at Florida Today.

The Business of Love
Senior dating: What every older guy should know

Harold Spielman, who spent more than 50 years in the market research business, basically dropped his golf game one day and went back to work. His goal: to create a self-help book and website called "Suddenly Solo" (suddenlysolo.org) for single men. Although the results haven't (yet) led him to the new love of his life, it has landed him on national talk shows and promotional tours.