Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 5/23/2013

Floridians conflicted about immigration policies

Floridians have negative feelings about undocumented immigrants, but an overwhelming majority favor policy that would allow such immigrants a path to U.S. citizenship, a new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences survey suggests. More at UF News.

How to get a Florida real estate license

Now that the housing market is showing signs of recovery in most regions of the US, expect to see higher activity among people seeking to get a Florida real estate license. It takes very little to become licensed to sell every type of real estate in Florida, but there is a process that one must complete. More at the Tallahassee Democrat .

St. Joe agreement 'game changer' for port

Business Profile

DataSite

Orlando-based DataSite bills itself as “a fortress for the digital world” for good reason. It operates inside a 130,000-sq.-ft. fortress-like concrete and steel building, rated to withstand 160-mph winds, offering storage of electronic data of all kinds.

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An agreement announced last week by the St. Joe Company could have a major impact on the growth of the Port of Port St. Joe. St. Joe announced that it had signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Green Circle Bio Energy, Inc., a maker of wood pellets used for energy, particularly in European markets. More at The Star.

Entrepreneur Award winner looks to inspire women

Pam Oakes said she hopes her new title as the 2013 Distinguished Entrepreneur will inspire other women to pursue their business dreams against all odds. “I feel it is very important for up and coming women business owners,” Oakes said. “We need to get out there and promote women businesses. It’s important for the community.” More at the Fort Myers News-Press.

First Coast churches are coming to the aid of public schools

Everyone agrees that it is an unlikely partnership, but all over the First Coast, churches are coming to the aid of public schools. Though community outreach isn’t new for churches, this organized collaboration is a new style of ministry. More at the Florida Times-Union.

Out of the Box
Sudden Riches!

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater took the advice he gives others to check on unclaimed treasure his office holds – and found he was $34.75 richer. FLTreasureHunt.org lists more than $1 billion in unclaimed monies and property turned over to the Florida Chief Financial Officer's Office by mostly utility companies, insurers and financial institutions. Atwater discovered he had unclaimed money coming to him.