Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 11/13/2013

Turning water into a cash crop to save Florida's waterways

Alarm for Florida's polluted waterways is reaching Tallahassee and Washington. Among the solutions proposed: Partner with ranchers and citrus growers to cleanse and store water. Proponents call it farming water. They say it's proven successful and is ready for expansion. But the money isn't there. Read more and listen to audio at WMFE.

Jacksonville's ParkerVision reports another quarter of substantial losses

Despite Jacksonville-based ParkerVision Inc.’s legal victory over rival Qualcomm Inc., the communication technology company reported steep losses in the third quarter of trading. ParkerVision reported increased losses for the first nine months of 2013 at the end of trading Sept. 30. More at the Florida Times-Union.

Chinese target Miami residences

CEO Sounding Board

What are you seeing in the commercial real estate market?

Amy Curry,
Senior vice president at
IndCor Properties, tells us:

"Broward is headed in the right direction. Central Florida lags south Florida. There just hasn’t been quite enough positive absorption."

Miami’s smoking hot real estate market and its savvy realtors paired with Asia’s astute investors are proving to be a match made in long distance realty heaven. The condos of interest include one in downtown in the $4 million to $5 million range and one in the Brickell corridor in the $1 million range. More at Miami Today.

Google Maps finishing Florida beaches

Trekkers are completing the last mile of their Google Maps project to capture 360-degree images of Florida's 825 miles of beaches. Local and state tourism officials will greet the trekkers on Wednesday at South Pointe Park in Miami Beach. Visit Florida, the state's tourism and marketing arm, said the journey began in July. More at the AP.

Push to make South Florida tech hub for the Americas gains support

A push to make South Florida a tech hub for the Americas, featuring an annual mega-conference in Miami Beach, is gaining support in Broward and Palm Beach counties, organizers said Wednesday. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Business Profile
French Fry Heaven

The Belgians have given plenty of culinary gifts to the world--their chocolates, their waffles, their beer. But perhaps the one they get the least credit for is their version of french fries. That's something Florida businessman Scott Nelowet would like to change. His French Fry Heaven franchise, with nine stores open and 40 more in development, seeks to expose America to Belgian-style frites, a snack Nelowet hopes will soon be as common as chips and salsa.