Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Thursday's Daily Pulse

Florida ranks near the bottom for long-term income growth

Which part of the United States has enjoyed the strongest growth in disposable income in recent years? Unfortunately, it wasn't the Sunshine State. Florida ranks 48th among all states, with a growth rate of 6.87 percent [Source: Jacksonville Business Journal]

» Read more analysis here and see how all the states ranked.


Business tax cut amendment draws little attention

Tucked near the end of a lengthy ballot that features contentious issues like abortion and the Supreme Court is a little-discussed business tax cut amendment hoping to make it into the state Constitution. Amendment 10 would provide an additional $25,000 tax exemption for small businesses that have less than $50,000 worth of furniture, computers and other so-called "tangible property." [Source: Times/Herald]

» See Florida Trend's Analysis of all the proposed amendments.


Snowbirds bring a welcome economic boost

The days are shorter, the nights longer. Even if there’s not exactly a nip in the air, people are talking about it. In the air, there’s a feeling of, well, Halloween. It’s that time of year. And the snowbirds are back. [Source: Florida Today]


Florida’s “middle” tier of companies added about 100,000 jobs this year

Florida has about 7,200 middle-market firms — defined as generating revenues between $10 million and $1 billion — that employ about 2.4 million people. And while Florida’s largest corporations have cut about 100,000 jobs in the state, according to a new study, middle-market firms have added more than 198,000. [Source: Miami Herald]


National Food Day event celebrates locally grown fare

A dozen years ago, the local foods movement was just beginning in Palm Beach County. Today it’s thriving and includes farms of all sizes and even children who grow vegetables in school gardens. [Source: Palm Beach Post]


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Food fight in Florida over the Tomato Wars
Florida and Mexico growers are feuding over tomato prices. It’s the same argument heard nearly 20 years ago when NAFTA was first signed, when American farmers feared cheaper Mexican crops would flood the market here and put them out of business.

› Citrus growers can expect profitable season
A projected decline in retail orange juice prices leading to a sharp increase in OJ sales during the next year will lead Florida citrus growers to another profitable season. That was the optimistic forecast from Matt Salois, director of economic and market research at the Florida Department of Citrus.

› Money will start to flow to Florida Polytechnic
Florida Polytechnic University's board of trustees took a giant step Wednesday with a unanimous vote to accept money and assets allocated to start the university. "Once you say yes, we're live," the board's chairman, Robert Gidel, said.

› Keep gas tax, Miami-Dade warns Florida
Florida is being cautioned by Miami-Dade County to think twice before replacing its motor fuel tax with an alternative tax, even though revenues are dropping.


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› Florida student invited to take "Innovative App Challenge"
The Verizon Foundation has launched the Innovative App Challenge for students and schools across the nation in an effort to boost education and excitement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

› St. Pete's Bayfront Medical Center to join for-profit hospital chain and affiliate with Shands
Bayfront Medical Center, one of the Tampa Bay region's last independent hospitals, said it plans to join a for-profit hospital chain which operates 70 hospitals in 15 states.

› Cargo giant MSC returns to Port Miami
A giant of the sea cargo industry has re-established a presence at Port Miami. Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., or MSC, has started weekly service between Miami and Central America.

› Florida community wired up as 'living laboratory' for longitudinal wellness study
Wellness & Prevention, a Johnson & Johnson company, is collaborating with the Lake Nona Institute for an IT-enabled longitudinal research study to explore and test initiatives that could have a lasting impact on population health.