Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 5/23/2017

The booming business lurking off Central Florida’s coast

Sharks strike fear into many, but economically, they are some of Florida’s best friends. Shark-based tourism is booming, bringing multitudes of people to Florida and creating thousands of jobs. More from WESH.

Puerto Rico Governor: Florida diaspora will be "critical" to statehood effort

The U.S. territory is mired in a $123 billion debt and pension crisis. It has wrecked the economy and paralyzed public services on the island. It’s also forced a tenth of that population to migrate to the U.S. mainland – and many of them have come here, to Florida. More from WGCU.

Florida Council of 100 makes recommendations to improve cybersecurity

The Florida Council of 100, a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of business and civic leaders, is making recommendations for how to keep Florida, and the nation, safer. The Council sent a letter to John F. Kelly, Secretary of Homeland Security, after a recent meeting in Tampa that focused on cybersecurity. Here are the recommendations: See the letter here.

Plant City’s ‘pro-business’ vibe leads to new project

Foodservice packaging manufacturer and distribution firm Dart Container recently announced plans to expand into new warehouse space in Plant City. The company intends to move into 77,500 square feet of newly constructed speculative warehouse space. More from the Business Observer.

Ferries from Florida not a priority for Cuban government

Cruises and commercial flights now link Tampa and Havana, but before the U.S. government approved either for such journeys, ferries had the nod. Yet, two years to the month after ferries were federally licensed to sail to the island nation, the maritime vessels have still not received porting rights from the Cuban government. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Cybersecurity
Hackers may have names of Florida gun owners

Officials say hackers may have obtained the names of more than 16,000 people who have Florida concealed weapon permits. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced Monday they had discovered a data breach of the online payment system that processes payments for applications and permits.

» More from the AP.

Profile
MBJ Group

Not every couple can handle working together and, what’s more, co-owning a business they run from their house. But Mary Beth and Jim Bos, who run their talent management company from their Sarasota home, live by one tenet: upstairs is work and downstairs is home.