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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Debt has skyrocketed amid COVID-19. Metro Miami ranks as nation’s second-highest
How are the tens of thousands of Miami-area residents struck by layoffs and business declines getting by? Lending group LendingTree is out with a report that suggests one big clue: plastic. The company reported last week that Miami has seen the second-highest growth of non-mortgage debt since the start of the pandemic, at 6.3% Winston Salem, N.C., came in at No. 1, with growth of 6.6%. More from the Miami Herald.
Cybersecurity firm, riding high on 450% growth, lands $300M investment
Cybersecurity firm ReliaQuest has raised a total of $300 million in growth financing from global investment firm KKR, Ten Eleven Ventures and Brian Murphy, the firm’s founder and CEO. According to a press release, the funds will support ReliaQuest’s international expansion, platform development and other growth initiatives. More from the Business Observer.
Swamp Restaurant to give away memorabilia
Demolition at The Swamp Restaurant, a staple to midtown Gainesville for 25 years, began Saturday and will continue for the next couple of weeks. The Tampa-based 908 Group will then begin construction on a development that will include a rebuilt version of The Swamp and 8,000 square feet of retail space, along with 181 student apartments. The Swamp Restaurant’s owners will give away some pieces of Swamp memorabilia for Gator fans to enjoy at home. More from the Gainesville Sun.
Report shows 18,000 mail-in ballots rejected in Florida in March primary, and 538,000 nationwide
A new report estimates 18,000 mail-in ballots were rejected in Florida in the March presidential primary, with more than 558,000 rejected nationwide. The report, by National Public Radio, showed a much higher rejection rate nationwide in the presidential primaries than the more than 318,000 rejections in 2016. Eight states out of the 30 in the study had higher rejection numbers than Florida, including much smaller states such as Kentucky, Maryland and Wisconsin. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Sarasota to pay more than double for U.S. 41 utilities project near Gulfstream roundabout
The city of Sarasota will fork over more than twice as much money than originally expected for a water pipeline overhaul connected to the planned Gulfstream Avenue roundabout. The Florida Department of Transportation has requested the city pay $490,000 instead of the $217,572 set aside in May to cover the expense of replacing the aging water mains along U.S. 41 between Gulfstream Avenue and Fruitville Road. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Business Profile
Aerosens
Airlines are required to ensure airplane cabins have a full complement of first-aid kits, defibrillators, life vests and other safety equipment. A Boeing 777 has more than 500 such items. Some items get stolen or lost. Others must be replaced when their life cycle runs out. Hollywood-based startup Aerosens targets automating the process of tracking that cabin safety equipment.
» More from Florida Trend.
Out of the Box
In Florida, virtual clown dusts off his rubber chicken
For the last six months, the world has been too silent, says Todd Zimmerman. No fairs. No shows. No parties. Yet now, more than ever, he says, people need to laugh. “And I need to hear them laugh. I live for laughter.” He talked to circus friends who also longed for laughter. So he started an online company, ZoomBallyhoo. For $85 a half-hour, you can hire one of seven clowns, three ringmasters or three magicians to entertain up to eight guests.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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