Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 6/6/2016

Gov. Scott declares a state of emergency in Florida in preparation for Tropical Storm Colin

Gov. Rick Scott issued Executive Order 16-136 declaring a state of emergency in 34 counties within the state of Florida in preparation for Tropical Storm Colin. See the full declaration here. As of 3 p.m. Monday afternoon, Scott also released an update about preparedness throughout the state, including school and college closings. There are flood and flash flood advisories for many counties. Check your city or region at this link. Colin is moving to the NNE at 16 mph. On the projected path, Colin will make landfall around Florida's big bend around midnight. Maximum sustained winds remain at 50 mph.

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Sales and Marketing Advice
Do you sell the way your customers buy?

You are not in charge of the customer buying process. It’s always been this way of course. Still, the Internet and smartphones have made understanding this more acute than ever. More from Ron Stein.

Shift in Jacksonville's financial industry also a shift away from downtown

The economic recovery has not brought back all the banking jobs of old, but it has produced 4,800 new high-paid positions since 2011 as more and more financial companies set up shop or expand their operations in Jacksonville. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Ruling over rural racetrack could direct Florida's gaming future

The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday over whether a nascent, small racetrack in the impoverished North Florida town of Gretna will turn the tables on the state's gambling future. More from the Times/Herald.

Small Business Advice
Time to climb out of your personal and professional rut

Sometimes we get stuck in a rut. We keep doing the same things over and over, and we just cannot see our way out no matter how hard we try. In times like these, I recommend that you do something completely different and see how things change. More from Jerry Osteryoung.

Higher Education
UF offers new degree in public health

The University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions has received approval from the Florida Board of Governors to offer a bachelor’s degree in public health beginning this fall.

» More from the Gainesville Business Report.

Small Business Profile
Lulu's Ice Cream

Consultants from the Florida SBDC at Florida International University gave Luisa Santos the expertise she needed to start her bricks-and-mortar business, including permitting and construction. “We went over the details of what an SBA loan entails and the information that banks expect,” Santos says. “We worked on financial modeling — getting an accurate picture of the variables I can control and those I can’t.