March 18, 2024

Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 7/24/2015

Medicaid is growing in Florida

Although lawmakers rejected a plan to expand it, Medicaid continues to grow in Florida. A new estimate from state economists shows the health care program for the poor and disabled will serve a record 4 million Floridians this year. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Florida business climate: sigh

The business climate in Florida for entrepreneurs is a tad better than mediocre, according to new report. The fourth annual Thumbtack.com Small Business Friendliness Survey scores the Sunshine State a C+ in overall friendliness. More at Business Observer.

C1 Bank raises its minimum wage to $15

C1 Bank is hiking its minimum "living wage" from $14 to $15 per hour starting Oct. 1. The community bank has 31 Florida branches and is one of the fastest-growing banks in the nation with $1.6 billion in assets. C1 CEO Trevor Burgess said the bank is doing well, so raising his bank's minimum salary was the right thing to do. More at Tampa Bay Times.

Private jet firm raises $20 million from customers for expansion

JetSmarter, a Fort Lauderdale company that touts private jets as the only way to fly, has raised $20 million to finance expansion. Members pay an $8,999 annual fee for as many private jet flights as they want, or they can charter flights without being a member. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Survey: Floridians care about endangered species, want to know more

Floridians are passionate about conserving and protecting plants, animals and their habitats, but they feel woefully uninformed, according to a survey by the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources. More at UF News.

Agriculture
Massively sprawling ranches

ranch The Mormon church is the largest landholder in Florida and runs Deseret Ranches, the largest cattle ranch in the U.S. While the church doesn’t disclose the ranch’s revenue, a 2001 estimate places it at roughly $16 million.

» More from Bloomberg

Out of the Box
180-Day, $39,999 World Cruise

Oceania Oceania Cruises is offering a 180-day cruise for travelers with a penchant for globe-trotting. The Around the World in 180 Days cruise set to depart PortMiami aboard its 684-passenger Insignia ship on Jan. 6, 2017, and traverse six continents, 36 countries, 50 Unesco World Heritage Sites and stop at 98 ports.

» More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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