Competition for land forces Florida agriculture to innovate
Loss of land for farms and ranches is the big challenge. Developers have spent millions of dollars to buy rural land for homes, retail outlets, and businesses to serve a booming population. The University of Florida has predicted that the state could lose about 3,000 square miles of farmland in the next 45 years. That's roughly equal to the land mass of Lee and Collier counties combined. More from WGCU.
Broward business climate momentum builds with addition of aviation, pharma firms
Broward County appears to be on a roll in persuading aviation-related and pharmaceutical companies to expand — or even move their headquarters to South Florida. The latest aviation industry entry is VSE Corp., a publicly traded provider of aftermarket distribution and repair services. The company announced Thursday the relocation of its corporate headquarters to Miramar from Alexandria, Va. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Revised incentives package for Project Blue Sky clears Jacksonville DIA board
The Downtown Investment Authority board voted Nov. 20 to recommend approval of a revised incentive package to retain a code-named company headquartered in Downtown Jacksonville. The altered incentives for Project Blue Sky include a reduced City Training Grant, to $1.2 million from $1.3 million, and a provision to end a 15-year, $2.3 million Recapture Enhanced Value Grant after 12 years if the company opts not exercise an extension on its lease. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
With downtown Orlando at a crossroads, here's what direction leaders think it should go
The city's urban core is at a crossroads, according to the people who work and/or live in downtown. Massive investment is poised to come into downtown, from the $500 million Westcourt development north of Kia Center to the city's plan for more than $750 million in upgrades to hardscape and infrastructure and Travel + Leisure's decision to lease the 182,461-square-foot building at 501 W. Church St. for its new headquarters. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
Could the Rays leave Tampa Bay and still own 65 acres of Gas Plant land?
The St. Petersburg City Council will hold a vote Thursday on whether to finance its own portion of the stadium as well as the costs of roads and sewers in the surrounding redevelopment. But if there is no stadium deal, what does that mean for the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment plan around it, a top priority for St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch? More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Event
Step inside swanky Hyde Park houses during this historic home tour
Ever wander through the tree-lined streets of Hyde Park and wondered what those charming old homes must look like inside? There’s an event for you. During the annual Old Hyde Park Home Tour on Saturday, Dec. 7, owners of several “Architectural Digest”-worthy South Tampa homes will open their doors to the public.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida Trend Exclusive
A mission to Jamaica
Jamaica’s health care system is in crisis. The problem is that nearly half of its health care workforce routinely leaves the island for opportunities abroad. This presents a tough challenge for the University of the West Indies (UWI), the largest university in the Caribbean and the region’s largest producer of health care professionals — especially nurses. It’s a tall order to train and retain new nurses quickly enough to replace the ones who leave.
» Read more from Florida Trend.