Friday's Daily Pulse
Families have run companies for 100-plus years
Fort Lauderdale's Munoz Photography is just one of more than 1,100 American businesses started more than a century ago that continue to operate in the hands of their founding families. With more than 5 million family businesses operating in the U.S., that kind of longevity is rare, says Joseph Astrachan, a professor of management and entrepreneurship at Kennesaw State University who studies family businesses. [Source: USA Today]
Florida's wealthiest residents
Forbes magazine released its annual list of the country's 400 wealthiest people this week, and as usual there are plenty of Sunshine Staters representing. Thirty-one men and one woman made the list, ranging in age, industry and upbringing. Read more from Huffington Post and see the list form Forbes.
Florida men and women in their 60s and 70s are embracing new careers with the same drive that has motivated them throughout their lives. Some, like Gary Kinsey and Geraldine Douglas, are starting new businesses, after having had their entrepreneurial spirit stoked by FloridaWorks and other agencies. Others are transferring skills that they’ve acquired over their lifetime to new positions. [Source: North Central Florida Business Report]
Florida looking into ways to cut fuel costs
This is no ordinary school bus. Sure, it’s yellow and its stop sign lights up, but when it’s time to fill up gasoline is not an option. Leon County Schools Superintendent Jackie Pons is buying buses that run on Compressed Natural Gas. The move is saving taxpayers thousands. [Source: WJHG and WFSU]
FEMA says no to Florida’s $6.5 million request for Isaac repairs
Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday that the state will appeal federal emergency managers’ rejection of Palm Beach County’s request for disaster relief for Tropical Storm Isaac’s damage. Scott said the state plans to add three more counties in its request for reimbursement, bringing the state’s total request for disaster relief to $36.7 million. [Source: Palm Beach Post]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Nonprofit wins big thanks to Florida Tech students [Florida Today]
Florida Tech marketing students helped a local nonprofit win a $10,000 grant in an online competition. As a class project this semester, an Introduction to Marketing class is promoting Promise in Brevard, which supports and encourages people with disability and plans to build a housing development for young adults with special needs.
Related:
» Florida Tech to host off-season robotics competition
» Florida Tech named 'Military Friendly' by magazine
› St. Petersburg mayor gives bonus vacation to managers for work preparing for RNC [Tampa Bay Times]
Mayor Bill Foster has boasted about how great the city looked last month when thousands of visitors invaded during the Republican National Convention. As a reward for a job well done, Foster gave 70 administrators and directors 16 hours of paid time off.
› NextGen air traffic control system coming to Orlando within three years [Orlando Sentinel]
NextGen has been in the works for years but has been delayed by technical problems and gone over budget, leading to some testy Congressional hearings. More than $3 billion had been spent by last fall, and the FAA estimates it could cost up to $27 billion to enact it nationwide by 2025.
| Need help sorting through the issues on November's ballot? Read The Amendments  Florida Trend's guide to the 11 proposed amendments: Amendment 1 - Health Insurance Mandates |
› Nokomis gunsmith shuns the man cave [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
When Kelly Ireland designed his new gun shop in Nokomis about a year ago, his wife was looking over his shoulder. She wanted a shop that would be female friendly, something light and airy, not a dank man cave staffed by gruff guys.
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› Ringling Museum criticized for hosting Mitt Romney rally [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art has been accused of violating its rental policy by allowing Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to hold a campaign rally on the museum’s grounds.
› Rick Scott remains unpopular, trails potential 2014 opponents [Times/Herald]
Gov. Rick Scott's low standing with voters persists in a new Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9 poll, and he should be more concerned about a possible 2014 rematch against Democrat Alex Sink than a challenge from a remade Charlie Crist.
› Walmart submits permit application for Midtown Miami store [Miami Herald]
Walmart submitted its permit application Thursday for a new supercenter that would have a design never seen before in South Florida.
› Lockheed to cut jobs in missiles, training, through voluntary layoff offers [Orlando Sentinel]
Lockheed Martin Corp. said Thursday it plans to cut hundreds of jobs through a voluntary layoff initiative involving its missiles and military training/logistics operations – a move that would affect an undetermined number of workers in Orlando.