Small business loan guarantees growing

Small businesses in South Florida are on pace to receive more federally-guaranteed loans this year, a sign that the region's economy is on the upswing, according to a US Small Business Administration official. Headquartered in Miami, the SBA's South Florida District issued 919 loan guarantees to small businesses totaling $470.4 million in the six-month period from October through April. More at Miami Today.

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The tricky business of collaboration

Shaping a championship team where individuals play cohesively to pull off a win can be one of the trickiest jobs a corporate leader faces. Workplaces are riddled with dysfunctional teams like Black’s, where a single player — a slacker, a workaholic or a narcissist – can affect the professional and person lives of everyone on the team. More at the Miami Herald.

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Keys flats fishing is big business

Business Profile Guide's app delivers news in a unique way A Miami startup company has developed an application that delivers written news stories and blogs in sound, complete with anchors and video clips. Guide’s app has an avatar anchor — choices include a human, a dog and a robot — that reads the content of RSS feeds, while displaying photos and playing videos that are posted with the story. » Full story » Company site

Fishermen who come to cast a line onto Florida Keys flats generated more than $427 million to the local and state economy in 2012, says a new study released this month. "The Florida Keys are credited as the birthplace of flats fishing. Around the world, people know that," said Aaron Adams, executive director of the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust that undertook the study. More at Keysnet.com.

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Report: Florida among the cheapest states in spending per student

The numbers from the Public Education Finances: 2011 report are from data collected through the end of June 2011. Florida ranked number 42 in student spending. The national average at that time was $10,560 per student. More at StateImpact Florida.

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Early Easter leaves Orlando hotels with April hangover

After four months of year-over-year growth, business dipped in April at Orlando-area hotels, likely because of an early Easter this year and the absence of a couple of big conventions in town. Hotels in the Orlando market filled 72.6 percent of their rooms last month, compared with 75.6 percent in April 2012, and the average daily room price slipped 1 percent to $105.66. More at the Orlando Sentinel.

Out of the Box Deep Search Records goes old-school with vinyl Rich Rapp has a lot of new hopes riding on the old medium of recorded music at his recently-opened store in Five Points area of Jacksonville’s Riverside neighborhood. In December, Rapp opened Deep Search Records on Lomax Street, hoping to lure connoisseurs of what he calls a resurgence of those who favor musical recordings on 12-inch vinyl discs, focusing on independent and alternative artists who are issuing more music on vinyl. » Full story from the Florida Times-Union

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