Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 7/14/2016

Florida businesses impacted by the algae outbreak:

Emergency loans available
Today, Governor Rick Scott activated Florida’s Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program for businesses affected by the presence of algal blooms in local waterways. The program provides short-term loans to assist a business until other financial resources, such as a U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan, are secured after a natural disaster. More information here.

Fifty-four businesses say they have suffered economic damage
Fifty-four businesses from seven counties have alerted the state they have suffered some form of economic damage from toxic green algae coating waterways in parts of Florida. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has been compiling data the past two weeks to determine which programs will help recovery efforts. More from the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Miami Dolphins are one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world

The Miami Dolphins cracked the Forbes leaderboard, being named one of the 50 most valuable sports franchises in the world. Forbes put the value of the Dolphins at $1.85 billion, making the team the world’s 33rd most valuable franchise and the 17th most valuable football franchise. More from the Miami Herald.

See also:
» Forbes values Jaguars at $1.48 billion

Florida Gov. Scott and Pam Bondi land GOP convention spots

Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi are going to speak at the Republican National Convention. Convention organizers on Thursday released a partial list of speakers that shows the two Florida politicians will appear on stage at next week's event in Cleveland. More from the AP.

Miramar company to build Radisson Red hotel using U.S. immigrant investment funds

A Miramar company known for developing multi-tenant office projects financed through the federal EB-5 U.S. immigrant investment program is now looking to duplicate that success with hotels. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Sarasota health market strongest in state, report finds

Sarasota had Florida's strongest local health system in 2014 in terms of access and affordability of care, prevention and treatments, avoidable hospital use and healthy lifestyles, according to a nationwide report from The Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit research group focused on promoting a health system that improves access and quality for all people. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Technology
Fishbrain

They can use it to figure out what type of fish are hitting what lures, how big they are and where they're being caught. But Tom Swick, head of U.S. relations for the Fishbrain social network, sums up the app's popularity among anglers this way: "Fishermen are braggers."

» More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Insurance
Until the wind blows

Floridians now have more choices than just state-run Citizens. A cohort of homegrown property insurance companies has emerged in Florida, and some of the firms are even expanding to other states.