March 19, 2024

Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 10/10/2013

Amazon bringing 1,000 jobs, new distribution center to Ruskin, Florida

Amazon has closed on a deal to create a distribution center in Ruskin, located in south Hillsborough County. A third of the new positions will pay more than the state's average wage, according to county economic development staff. Construction is expected to start immediately. When the center is built, the retailer will have to start collecting sales tax on items ordered in the state. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

» Related: Florida added nearly 17,000 jobs in September
Payroll provider ADP reported Thursday that the state added 16,640 private sector jobs during the month of September. More at the AP and ADP.


Expert says Ocala can support more business

Ocala's downtown can support 25 to 40 new stores, or about 90,000 additional square feet of commercial space, which could generate an estimated $28.6 million more in sales each year, a market analyst told downtown business owners. More at the Ocala Star-Banner.


Miami-Dade Schools may explore outsourcing transportation

Business Profile

East Coast Lumber & Supply

east coast lumber supply
Allen Osteen’s great-grandfather and three others founded East Coast Lumber & Supply in 1902. Today, the business is owned by Allen and his cousin Don and operates yards in Fort Pierce, its headquarters, Cocoa, Melbourne, Vero Beach and Stuart.

» Full story

The Miami-Dade school district may look to privatize its vast fleet of school buses and transportation employees. Board Member Carlos Curbelo believes the district can push savings into the classroom by possibly outsourcing the district’s fleet. More at the Miami Herald.


America's Best Small Companies lists two in South Florida

Heico Corp. and National Beverage Corp. made a list of 25 companies rated by Forbes as America's Best Small Companies. National Beverage, which makes soft drinks under the Shasta and Faygo names, came in at No. 65. Heico came in at No. 72. More at the South Florida Business Journal.


Dads step up around the house, but moms still do more

It's not your imagination: Today's dads are spending more time caring for and engaged with their children than fathers in the past, according to a new study from the Pew Research Center. But even the extra time dads spend -- about triple the amount dads spent in the 1960s -- hasn't really lightened the loads borne by mothers. More at the Orlando Sentinel.

The Business of the Environment
What Ever Happened To The Deal To Save The Everglades?

everglades cleanupFive years ago, Florida officials announced a deal many believed would restore the wetlands area to a healthy ecosystem. It was a plan to buy nearly 300 square miles of Everglades land owned by U.S. Sugar. But then, reality set in: The economy worsened and political opposition grew, forcing state officials to settle for a much smaller parcel.

» More from NPR


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