Florida Chamber cheers on additional homeowner insurance companies coming to state
Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson said legislative modifications to the state’s insurance laws in 2022 and 2023 have sparked a “wave” of insurance companies entering the market. There are now 15 new companies that have emerged in the state’s property insurance market since those changes a few years ago, which restricted incentives for frivolous lawsuits and meritless litigation that prompted many insurance businesses to hike premiums or leave the state entirely. More from Florida Politics.
Clearwater-based FlyUSA ranked as fastest-growing private aviation company in U.S.
FlyUSA has been named the fastest-growing private aviation company in the United States for the second year, ranking No. 419 on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing privately held companies. In addition to national recognition, FlyUSA ranked 51st among Florida companies and 10th in the Travel and Hospitality category. More from Tampa Bay Business & Wealth.
Miami-Dade tops list of fastest-growing counties for small business in America
South Florida has become the go-to place for entrepreneurs: Miami-Dade is now ranked the No. 1 county in the United States in the number of small businesses planning to open. “It’s a lot of people relocating to South Florida and in particular Miami-Dade,” said G. Eric Knowles, president and CEO of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce. “A lot of young college graduates are not necessarily looking to go into the job market, but want to start their own small businesses for work balance and working from home.” More from the Miami Herald.
Manatee County joins class action lawsuit against the State of Florida over SB 180
Critics argue the law, intended for hurricane recovery, is being used by developers to bypass local environmental protections. The lawsuit will challenge the bill on the grounds that it undermines the home-rule authority of local governments. Some commissioners expressed concern that suing the state could lead to political and financial retaliation. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Duval County shrimping industry at risk without support, study warns
In Northeast Florida, shrimping isn’t just a job—it’s a way of life. Many of these businesses have been run by families for generations. But according to a new study, the future of this century-old industry could be at risk without support and modernization. That could mean losing over $9 million in net profit every year if the industry falls by the wayside. More from First Coast News.
United in making Florida a leader in pediatric cancer care
Florida’s Specialty Hospitals for Children — Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg; Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando; Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami; and Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville — are united in a shared mission to ensure that no child in Florida ever has to leave our state for world-class cancer care. [Sponsored report]
Out of the Box
The skateboarding car salesman who became a viral inspiration
Samwise Sorter has gotten used to skateboarding in his dress shoes. He proved it on a recent Wednesday when, after selling a young couple a lovely, pre-owned Honda Civic, they requested a celebratory kick flip in return. “Congratulations!” Sorter shouted as he soared past them in the parking lot. Then he skated by again and flipped them the keys behind his back.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Business Profile
Naples startup Writing.io rides AI education boom
Kevin Fleming got his first taste of generative artificial intelligence in 2022 when a friend let him try out an early model. It changed the direction of his fledgling startup company, Writing.io, which he had envisioned up until then as a publishing platform. After that, Writing.io became a business that makes AI education courses and tools, selling subscriptions at a variety of price points.
» Read more from Gulfshore Business.