March 28, 2024

Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today.

Will Short Gorham | 6/12/2012

Real estate remains No. 1 economic generator in state

Florida’s real estate industry is generating less of the state’s economy than it did before the recession, but it is still by far the state’s biggest private industry. A report on the state gross domestic product was released the past week by the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research. The report also shows that, despite efforts to reduce the size of government, the government sector has been a growth engine for the state since 2006, while the private sector’s output has been basically flat. [Source: Daily Record]

CEO Sounding Board
What's the future of nuclear power in Florida?

Floridian

Mark Crosswhite, President/CEO of GULF POWER tells us:

"In order to meet the growing demand for electricity, we’re going to need all the arrows in the quiver — natural gas, clean coal, alternative energy, energy efficiency and nuclear power."

» More from Crosswhite and others...

Credit where credit's due: Brevard counseling agency hits 30

At Consumer Credit Counseling Service’s modest headquarters in Melbourne, a fish tank overflowing with neatly cut-up credit cards is tangible symbol that the plastic stops here. The scissors first came out 30 years ago this month. Over that time, the agency centered on helping Brevard residents regain control of debt and become smarter financial citizens has seen the dominant problem shift and evolve. [Source: Florida Today]


Gov. Scott to Florida insurance agents: There’s more work ahead

Florida has made a good start on addressing some of the state’s most pressing insurance issues such as pursuing ways to depopulate the state-backed homeowners insurer and reforming the no-fault auto insurance law, but more remains to be done, says Governor Rick Scott. Speaking at the Florida Association of Insurance Agents Annual Convention and Education Symposium, Scott laid out his perspective on the state of the state’s insurance environment. [Source: Insurance Journal]


Summer jobs for youth program being considered by Broward

More summer jobs for young people may be in the offing. The Broward County Commission will consider a motion Tuesday to approve an agreement between the county and employment center Workforce One to provide summer jobs for economically disadvantaged youth. The job opportunities would be at no cost to the county for youth aged 16 to 18. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]


Florida charity helps war vets with small businesses

An Afghanistan war veteran who was injured in a helicopter crash will receive a grant to expand his small business. Fred Pollino will get $40,000 for his escalator cleaning business under a grant from Pathway to Business Success. [Source: AP]


Column
metropole A private passenger train
It rarely makes headlines these days, but Florida East Coast Railway is one of the most important businesses in the state’s history. Today, Florida East Coast Railway, with more than 500 employees, operates 351 miles of track from Miami to Jacksonville and is the only railroad along Florida’s entire east coast. This March, FECI did a surprising thing. It announced it would spend $1 billion to develop “All Aboard Florida” passenger service between Miami and Orlando, 14 round-trips daily with stops in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The train, slated to be operating by 2014, will be the first passenger train flying the railway’s flag since 1968. Read Florida Trend Executive Editor Mark Howard's column and see Florida East Coast Railway.


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Florida Trend Video Pick

Structural technology keeps Skyway Bridge safe from mass destruction
Structural technology keeps Skyway Bridge safe from mass destruction

USF marine scientist Mark Luther, says dozens of concrete barriers protecting the bridge from collision is just the beginning of an ongoing effort to keep it safe.

 

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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