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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida jobless claims jump as tourism faces long recovery
With first-time unemployment claims spiking last week, a top Florida economist is cautioning that the vital, but battered, tourism industry is in for another difficult spring because of COVID-19. Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, told lawmakers Wednesday that despite improved tax-revenue numbers for December, big-spending foreign tourists aren’t expected to flock to Florida in the coming months because of the pandemic. [Source: News Service of Florida]
See also:
» Unemployment claims in Florida jump 47%
» Snowbirds consider leaving Florida due to frustration with vaccine process
23,000 acres approved for cultivation as Florida hemp industry begins to take root
Since hemp was approved for hemp cultivation in mid-2019, 729 Florida farmers have been approved to grow the crop. Despite challenges posed in 2020, the industry is beginning to bloom. The Department of Agriculture’s Cannabis Director Holly Bell told Senators all but one of Florida’s 67 counties have farmers licensed to grow hemp. About 290 acres were planted in 2020. [Source: WJXT]
Florida led nation in new ACA signups this year
In Florida, a state that has led in new sign-ups for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act since its creation and saw a nearly 9% increase in new sign-ups since the coronavirus began, President Joe Biden’s announcement Thursday that he’ll open a special enrollment period for uninsured Americans to obtain health coverage is likely to push numbers even higher. [Source: Miami Herald]
Florida emergency director says supply still No.1 issue with COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Florida’s Director of Emergency Management doubled down on the need for more vaccine doses while speaking with state senators on Thursday. Director of Emergency Management Jared Moskowitz said if Florida had the supply, it has the capacity to administer as many as 250,000 doses a day. “We would be done with seniors in three weeks,” said Moskowitz. Even with an extra 40,000 doses this week, the state is nowhere near the necessary allotment to achieve that goal. “It’s definitely better, but it’s not enough,” said Moskowitz. [Source: WFLA]
Brightline trains are on the move in South Florida once again — without any passengers
After months of suspended trips because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brightline’s signature black and yellow trains are running again from Miami to West Palm Beach. But no passengers are on board. Passenger travel is still suspended. Instead, the company is conducting a signal test. That means you’ll see workers and trains operating in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties through Saturday. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Brevard building up beaches to bolster tourism economy
A big beach nourishment project is underway on the Space Coast, one that leaders say is vital to tourism dollars bolstering the economy. "They pipe it in from offshore. It's all interesting to me," said Ted Caldwell, a Brevard County newcomer who relocated from his native Pennsylvania His daily routine in the warm weather in Florida brings him to the ocean, and of late, the county's Shore Protection Project.
› Jacksonville startup builds sportfishing boat it hopes is the 'Gamechanger'
It was crafted out on Beaver Street in Jacksonville’s industrial Rail Yard District, west of the farmers market: a sleek 36-foot-8-inch power catamaran, built from scratch and aimed squarely at the luxury sportfishing market. Blake Kingsbury and Tommy Jones named it the Gamechanger. It’s the first step in their plan to turn their startup business, Vela Boatworks, into a competitor in the boating busines.
› Universal Orlando theme parks are breaking even with attendance growing, but COVID-19 pain remains
Universal’s Orlando and Japan theme parks broke even during the holiday season, but the coronavirus pandemic still took a hit on the division’s fourth-quarter revenue that dropped to $579 million for a 63% decrease from 2019. The theme park division’s annual revenue tumbled from $5.9 billion in 2019 to $1.8 billion for all of 2020 — a 69% loss — as some of the parks were shut down for months and then reopened with limited attendance.
› Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Softbank’s Marcelo Claure announce $100 million fund for Miami startups
Hoping to ride the wave of tech fervor sweeping over Miami, Softbank executive Marcelo Claure and Mayor Francis Suarez announced Thursday a new, $100 million venture capital fund aimed at fueling Miami-based startups. “In the venture business, you need two things: talent and capital...and on behalf of Softbank, we got together and are launching this fund to support Miami based startups or ones moving to Miami,” Claure said.
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