Florida Trend Exclusive
A Florida business road trip
A Florida Chamber of Commerce delegation traveled to the United Arab Emirates to learn. The group toured startup hubs and cultural assets, met with counterparts at chambers of commerce in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and heard how artificial intelligence was swiftly being embraced throughout government and the private sector. It returned with substantial business prospects. More from Florida Trend.
Five Points looks to tax district to boost businesses
Jacksonville’s eclectic Five Points neighborhood could soon gain the same taxing structure that has long supported downtown businesses. This week, City Council committees will weigh a proposal from District 7 Councilman Jimmy Peluso and the Five Points Association to create the city’s second Business Improvement District. If approved, the measure would dedicate commercial property assessments to cleaner streets, stronger security and cultural programming designed to draw more visitors. More from the Jacksonville Business Journal.
Holiday nonprofit helping fill gaps in manufacturing workforce
Tampa Bay is considered Florida’s manufacturing hub with more than 3,500 manufacturers across Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. But the industry is currently facing a challenge – finding skilled workers. According to the Bay Area Manufacturers Association, there is a shortage of employees in engineering, technology and advanced manufacturing. One organization answering the call is AmSkills, a workforce training center in Holiday. More from Spectrum News.
Bradenton OKs big development density increase on low-lying coast
Bradenton City Council approved increased residential density in high-hazard coastal areas, impacting 28% of the city. The change allows Westminster Point Pleasant, a retirement community, to rebuild and expand despite density restrictions. The city will review high-density proposals case-by-case to address concerns about the broad reach of the density increase. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Princess Cruises’ new Florida-bound ship completes sea trials
The Florida-bound Star Princess, the second ship in Princess Cruises’ largest class of ships, completed its sea trials before its planned debut this fall. The sister ship to 2024’s Sun Princess will begin sailing in October in the Mediterranean but then reposition to sail from Port Everglades to begin seven-night Caribbean sailings in November. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
In Memoriam
Rob Lorei, WMNF co-founder and longtime Tampa Bay radio and TV voice, dies
Rob Lorei, who helped found community radio station WMNF and most recently hosted the long-running WEDU TV program “Florida This Week,” died Sunday. He was 70. Lorei helped start WMNF in 1979 and served as its news and public affairs director for years, becoming a notable figure in local broadcasting.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times and Florida Politics.
Health Care Trends
Limb lab
They call it an “International Center for Limb Lengthening.” It’ll be paired with a new “Gait and Motion Analysis Lab” — the only one in Florida. As Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando embarks on a major, $300-million expansion project over the next four years, one of the highlights will be a new surgery center that will house the hospital’s orthopedics division. There, orthopedic surgeons will be doing work on pediatric patients that’s being done nowhere else in the state.
» Read more from Florida Trend.