Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Friday's Afternoon Update

Florida unemployment rate drops to 6.7 percent

Because of the federal sequester, Florida had not released jobs figures for two months. Turns out it was well worth the wait. Florida's unemployment rate has dropped to a 6.7 percent with a record 46,000 jobs created in October, state officials said Friday. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

See also:
» Payrolls Rose in 34 U.S. States in October, Led by Florida


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Vespas of the Sky

Floridian

An Italian maker of small, relatively inexpensive airplanes is bringing the bulk of its manufacturing to Kissimmee, where it hopes that proximity to its largest potential markets will boost sales. Italigo Aviation LSA builds light sport aircraft that cost less than $300,000 apiece, run on regular gasoline and cost about $24 per hour to fly.

» Read more

Congressional action on flood insurance unlikely

Chances are slim that property owners will soon see relief from dramatic flood insurance rate increases, despite promises for action by Florida's congressional delegation. Congress is only scheduled to meet a few more days this year and there is sharp disagreement among lawmakers on proposals to delay the rate increases that started Oct. 1. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]


Florida approves wind farm despite threat to birds

The state of Florida has approved an energy-producing wind farm in Palm Beach County. But opposition is coming from a surprising source. Environmental groups are concerned that the 500-foot-tall turbines pose too much of a risk to birds migrating through the Everglades. [Source: WGCU]


» FRIDAY PREVIEW: Coming next week to FloridaTrend.com:

  • Florida Trend's Golden Spoon Awards -- In this annual section, we name the best restaurants in Florida. Lists are given for each of these categories:
    • Golden Spoons
    • Hall of Fame
    • Best Brands
    • Best New Restaurants
      (and the winner of the Robert Tolf Award for the Best New Restaurant will be named.)

    Along with the Golden Spoons, we will feature this article:

    • Hog Wild: The gastropub revolution is now complete - The move to robust artisan food started 10 years ago when energetic British chefs rebelled against fancy fussy gourmet cooking and devoted themselves to elevating the humble foods of pubs and bars. Chefs in semi-tropical Florida facing a tough economic market soon followed with small places and small plates.

» You'll find all these stories first on the Daily and Afternoon Pulse e-mails.


Florida History
Why Walt Disney chose Florida over New Orleans

disneyFlying over Central Florida on a fine fall day 50 years ago, Walter Elias Disney looked down at the green land punctuated by the blue water of a hundred inland lakes, and he saw the future. The Disney corporation was already lining up parcels of property on New Orleans' North Shore for their second park. The then little town of Orlando, Florida offered Disney everything while Louisiana's politicians demanded everything.

» Full story at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel