Florida Trend Exclusive
Fission forecast
The Florida Public Service Commission, which regulates investorowned utilities, received a new assignment during the 2024 legislative session: investigate the feasibility of advanced nuclear power technologies for the state and report back. This spring, the commission delivered a 72-page study on all things nuclear. Its findings spanned emerging nuclear tech and how to encourage such projects in Florida. [Source: Florida Trend]
Nearly a third of Florida professors looking for work in another state
Citing state policy on tenure, elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and the cost of living, Florida faculty laid out their frustrations in a recent survey. In a Faculty in the South survey conducted by various conferences of the American Association of University Professors, 31% of Florida respondents said they have applied for a job outside of Florida since 2023. That number was 25% among all survey respondents in the South. The same, 31% of Florida respondents, said they plan to seek employment in another state during the next hiring cycle. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
A golden opportunity: Florida farmers urged to go organic as demand outpaces supply
A significant gap exists between what American consumers want and what U.S. farms can provide when it comes to organic fresh fruits and vegetables. While consumer demand for these products is surging, certified organic acreage in the United States remains at less than 1% of total American farmland, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In response to this imbalance, experts from the University of Florida (UF) are calling on growers and investors to take a fresh look at organic farming, particularly in South Florida. [Source: Tampa Free Press]
Lawmakers eye 250th anniversary projects
A legislative budget panel Friday will consider directing $1 million to projects as part of the state’s “America250FL” campaign to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Florida Department of State is proposing 26 projects to the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which is made up of House and Senate budget leaders and can sign off on mid-year spending. The projects were selected from 400 applications related to marking the nation’s semiquincentennial, according to an agenda on the commission website. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Turtle hurdles: Florida's sargassum surge is a crisis for sea turtles
Record amounts of sargassum seaweed washing up on Florida’s shores is becoming a serious threat to vulnerable sea turtle hatchlings, slowing them down and putting them at risk as they run the gauntlet from the sandy beaches and into the ocean. Already plighted by artificial lights, beach debris, and predators like birds and crabs, sargassum is yet another hazard that hatchlings have to contend with. But while it’s long been recognised, little research has focused specifically on just how big an issue sargassum has become. More from Oceanographic and Phys.org.
Building the future: Why companies should consider partnering with academia for sustainable growth
In today’s fast-paced global marketplace, the competition for highly skilled talent continues to grow. So, too, does the need for innovative solutions that support companies with qualified talent. This search for a competitive edge increasingly points to one strong yet obvious solution: building robust partnerships with universities that not only educate but also actively prepare tomorrow’s workforce. At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park in Daytona Beach, Florida, this opportunity for partnership is more than a vision; it is an operational reality. [Sponsored report]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› USF Credit Union launches cannabis banking program
USF Credit Union is now one of only a handful of Florida financial institutions willing to work with cannabis-related businesses. Taking on cannabis-related businesses is a legal gray area for lenders, which must follow both federal and state laws. Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, and financial institutions take a big risk with auditors and regulators.
› A private Miami airport terminal for elite travel? See what’s coming to old site
Miami International Airport has added and expanded airline VIP lounges as it looks to appeal to frequent or demanding high-end travelers. Now, MIA is ascending to a higher level. The airport has brought in a company to build a new private terminal on hallowed ground, renovating what was once the historic Pan Am headquarters building.
› UNF manufacturing survey: Some production expanded in August, but contraction remains stubborn
First Coast manufacturers are reporting another concerning month for production contracting in August, accounting for seven months straight of questionable indicators. The University of North Florida (UNF) issued its monthly Jacksonville Economic Monitoring Survey (JEMS) report and several manufacturing sectors showed contraction or remained unchanged last month. The August results were slightly better than July’s survey, when 10 out of 12 sectors contracted.
› Southwest Florida's hospitality sector adapts to September's slow reprieve
September is the slowest month of the year for Southwest Florida’s hospitality industry, at the dead end of summer’s shoulder when seasonal visitors and tourists have yet to return en masse and many, too, are busy with school restarting. Southwest Florida’s busiest season starts around Thanksgiving and ends around Easter or Mother’s Day with a lull between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
More stories ...
› Jax Tours aims to brighten city’s future by illuminating its past
As a nearly lifelong resident of Jacksonville and an anthropology degree holder whose studies included an internship at the Fort Caroline National Memorial, Tina Sauvage was well acquainted with the city’s history before she founded Jax Tours in 2023. But since then, she says, her understanding of the city’s past has grown far deeper. “What I love about it is there’s so much I still learn every single day,” she said.
› Universal nabs 5 Golden Tickets: 4 for Epic, 1 for Volcano Bay
Universal Orlando scored five victories in the Golden Ticket Awards, including four for its new Epic Universe theme park and one for its Volcano Bay water park. Epic’s Dark Universe area was named as the best new theme concept of 2025, and its centerpiece attraction Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment was tabbed as best dark ride. The Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride won for best new attractions, and Stardust Racers was named best new roller coaster of 2025. The new theme park debuted in late May.
› Former Water Street CEO will now head up Tampa’s Gasworx
James Nozar helped pave the way for Tampa’s Water Street as the former CEO of Strategic Property Partners. Now he’s taking the reins on another landmark project for the Tampa Bay region: the 50-acre Gasworx development rising in Ybor City. Washington D.C. real estate firm, Kettler named Nozar it’s new head of development on Monday. He will oversee all of its projects across the country, including Gasworx, which is being built through a partnership with Tampa business mogul Darryl Shaw.
› Okaloosa County overdose treatment program shares successes after one year
A year since Fort Walton Beach launched the Post Overdose Support Team, Police Chief Robert Bage presented some early successes of the program to Okaloosa County Commissioners. The POST program was a response to statistics released in late 2023 that put Okaloosa as one of the top seven counties in the state for opioid deaths.