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Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Chris Hart resigns as CEO of Enterprise Florida
After two months on the job, Enterprise Florida President Chris Hart resigned from his position Monday, citing differences with Gov. Rick Scott over his vision for the troubled agency’s future. Hart had served as CEO of Enterprise Florida since January 3, 2017. From Hart's resignation letter:
“Unfortunately, during this same time period, I have come to realize that Governor Scott and I do not share a common vision or understanding for how Enterprise Florida, Inc. can best provide value within his administration. This difference of opinion is of such a critical nature that I no longer believe I can be effective in my position."
See Hart's full resignation letter. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times.
Trump's new travel ban will allow green card holders into Florida
President Donald Trump signed a revised executive order today that will bar citizens of six Muslim-majority nations from entering Florida and the U.S. The 90-day ban will start March 16. Legal permanent residents -- green card holders -- will not be affected by the ban. Also, refugees who are "in transit" and already approved would be able to travel to the U.S. Read the full story.
CEOs discuss the economic impact of undocumented immigrants
The Miami Herald asked CEOs: Do you think Miami-Dade County should embrace “sanctuary” status when it comes to undocumented immigrants, even at the risk of losing federal funding? The answers varied. "As far as I know, Miami-Dade is not a sanctuary county," said Albert E. Dotson Jr., partner, Bilzin Sumberg. "If federal funding is cut from here and the many other counties/cities involved, there will be more protests and backlash," said John Tanzella, president and CEO, International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. Read more.
SFWMD: Florida needs more water storage north of Lake Okeechobee
Among the cow pastures and citrus groves of Florida's heartland north of Lake Okeechobee, patches of wetlands serve as kidneys for the Everglades. "It filters out all of the impurities, in this case we're talking about nutrients, phosphorous in particular," says Ernie Marks of the South Florida Water Management District. SFWMD's focus north of Lake O puts the state agency charged with overseeing Everglades restoration at odds with Senate President Joe Negron and environmental groups. More from the WLRN.
Congressman Vern Buchanan sees tax reform through the lens of small businesses
"I spent 30 years building small businesses and creating jobs before I got a member pin up here," Buchanan told Forbes writer Ryan Ellis at an interview in his Capitol Hill office. "My family still owns and operates small businesses in Florida, and I want to make sure whatever we do on tax reform works for small business owners in my state." More at Forbes.
Editor's note: Small business advice columnist Dr. Jerry Osteryoung is going into semi-retirement, so his columns will appear infrequently. In the meantime, please enjoy his substantial archive.
Economic Backbone
In-depth look at PEOs
Professional employer organizations (PEOs) and executive recruitment firms are the focus of this month's "Economic Backbone." The article covers how they work, names the largest companies of this type in the state and looks at how recent changes in regulation and federal recognition are likely to give the PEO industry a boost.. » Access story.
Florida's Wildlife
Protecting rattlesnakes is goal of Florida herpetologist
As it stands now, almost no data exists on Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes south of the Florida panhandle. To date, there have been three radio telemetry studies on diamondbacks in the southern United States, and those studies cover South Carolina, Georgia and northern Florida. But snakes in southern Florida don’t always behave like their northern cousins. "What you do to conserve rattlesnakes in north Florida," says John Herman, a herpetologist at Florida Gulf Coast University, "is not the same here." » Read more at Gulfshore Life.
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