Florida jobless claims remain steady
The number of first-time unemployment claims in Florida remained steady last week, with an estimated 5,968 applications filed. The estimate, released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor, was a slight decrease from the revised count of 6,143 for the week that ended Aug. 16. During the past four weeks, the state has averaged 6,203 first-time claims. More from the News Service of Florida.
Daytona lands decade-long commitment from major music festival, boosting local economy
The largest rock festival in the U.S. has struck a 10-year deal with Daytona Beach, securing its place at Daytona International Speedway and promising a major economic boost for the region. Welcome To Rockville, which draws more than 100 artists, attracted over 230,000 attendees in May and generated an estimated $80 million in economic impact, according to venue officials. With the new agreement, the festival could bring in at least $800 million over the next decade. More from the Orlando Business Journal and the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Lee County arts organizations struggle to replace lost grant dollars
This year, the state’s $115.5 billion budget includes $18.3 million in arts and culture grants, but only a handful of Southwest Florida arts organizations qualified for a share of that money. For the second year in a row, 14 Lee County arts organizations were denied state funding, including the Alliance for the Arts and Florida Repertory Theatre. Each of Lee’s arts organizations is employing a medley of measures to make up for the loss of state grants. More from WGCU.
Former Kaseya CEO flirts with run for Miami mayor: ‘Ain’t nobody gonna bribe me’
Frustrated by corruption and the career politicians who call Miami City Hall home, the co-founder of a software company whose name is on the Heat’s downtown arena is considering a run for mayor. With about two months to go before the city’s Nov. 4 election, Fred Voccola, vice chairman and former CEO of the IT management company Kaseya, is thinking of entering the crowded Miami mayor’s race. More from the Miami Herald.
Gainesville has one of the highest shares of 20-something residents in the U.S.
A city’s growth is often driven by innovation and commerce from its younger population. That’s good news for Gainesville, which a new study says has one of the largest 20-something demographics in the nation. The study by moveBuddha, a relocation moving services company, placed Gainesville third in the U.S. in its 20-something population share among cities with populations exceeding 100,000 people. More from Florida Politics.
Transportation
Vlue officially launches in Miami-Dade
Look out, Uber and Lyft. There’s a new ride-sharing platform in town. Vlue is officially launching in South Florida, offering on-demand and scheduled rides throughout Miami-Dade County with plans to expand across South Florida next year. The company promises lower, more predictable rates for riders and higher earnings for drivers without compromising on safety or service.
» More from Refresh Miami.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Admission impossible
These are unprecedented times in Florida for private education. In the 2022-23 academic year, a record 445,067 students, up nearly 29,000 from the prior year, attended private school. Florida also had a record 2,973 private schools, up 125 from the year before. Credit the influx of families that began in the pandemic and credit Florida in 2023 going all-in on enabling families to use state vouchers to choose their child’s school regardless of their financial means.
» Read more from Florida Trend.