Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Thursday's Afternoon Update

30-year mortgages zoom up to 4.46%

Thirty-year fixed home loans jumped more than half a percentage point in a week to an average 4.46 percent, the highest it's been in two years, Freddie Mac said Thursday. In fact, the jump was the steepest weekly increase in more than 26 years. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.


Port Manatee fires CFO Armstrong

Robert J. Armstrong, Port Manatee's chief financial officer and deputy executive director, has been fired from his $149,000 a year job. Carlos Buqueras — Port Manatee's chief executive who recently promoted Armstrong to the No. 2 position at the facility — fired Armstrong Thursday morning by phone. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.


Irish firm places North American headquarters in Volusia

Profile

Don Shula’s new game: gourmet burgers

shula
No coach in football history can compete with Don Shula’s legendary record of 347 career wins. But the retired Dolphins coach and his family have since entered the game of the fast-and-casual gourmet burger industry, where the battle for market share is as fierce as the NFL playoffs.

» Full story from the Miami Herald

» Florida Icon: Don Shula

An Irish manufacturer of insulated-metal building panels said Wednesday it will establish a North American headquarters at an existing facility in Volusia County. The expansion of operations in DeLand by Kingspan Insulated Panels Inc. will generate 30 jobs, in addition to retaining 50 existing positions. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]


Universal Orlando buys Wet 'n Wild land

Universal Orlando has purchased more than 50 acres of land under and around the Wet 'n Wild water park. The giant theme-park resort, which has been aggressively expanding under new owner Comcast Corp., bought all of Wet 'n Wild's land plus several neighboring parcels of vacant and warehouse land. More at the Orlando Sentinel.


Gamblers ready to get on board Genting boat to Bimini

A ship that can scoot to Bimini and back twice a day will open for business next week, offering services that are illegal on dry land. Called Bimini SuperFast, the ship will transport up to 1,500 passengers to a new casino in the Bahamas. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Agriculture Trends
New Bugs In Florida Stymie Researchers, Threaten Crops

psylidWith its pleasant climate, Florida has become home to more exotic and invasive species of plants and animals than any other state in the continental U.S. Some invasive species have been brought in deliberately, such as the Burmese python or the Cuban brown snail. But the majority of species are imported inadvertently as cargo.

» Full story from NPR