Gov. Scott set to introduce small business policies

Gov. Rick Scott is set to introduce new policies focused on small businesses and entrepreneurs. On Tuesday, Scott will be in Miami to start a two-week statewide tour highlighting his proposals to reduce corporate filing fees for small businesses and increasing funding for export marketing programs. [Source: AP]

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Foreign trade missions absent from Scott’s 2014 calendar

The state’s chief business recruiter peddles the presence of the governor as opening doors for Florida businesses during past international trade missions. However, as Gov. Rick Scott’s re-election effort moves deeper into campaign mode, the much-traveled governor isn’t penciled in to join any foreign trade missions this year. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]

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Low-paid workers last to get a leg up

Five years into the economic recovery, better days are finally arriving at the bottom of the job market. Since late 2013, unemployment has declined more rapidly for workers with a high school education than those with some college, and incomes for less-skilled and lower-paid employees have grown faster than for those near the top of the ladder. [Source: Bloomberg News]

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Property owners better protected as hurricane season nears

As hurricane season bears down on us, Floridians finally can feel some security about their insurance coverage. Citizens Property Insurance Corp. says it stands in its best financial condition ever: smaller, richer and better able to weather the type of major storm Florida has dodged for eight years. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

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Inventors smarten up toys for new generation

Playthings built with software that users can customize are a highlight of the toy industry this year, says Adrienne Appell, senior manager of public relations for the Toy Industry Association. The crowdfunding platform Kickstarter has helped a lot of new companies raise funds for their projects. [Source: Gannett]

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Summit seeks to build on the ties that bind Florida and Japan [Miami Herald]
Japan was Florida’s sixth largest trading partner with $6.88 billion in merchandise trade in 2013. The Jacksonville-Tampa Customs District accounts for much of that commerce because Jacksonville is a major importing and exporting center for Japanese-made cars.

› Tampa firm designs first Walmart To Go convenience store [Tampa Bay Times]
A local design and architectural firm is on the front lines of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s efforts to fight increasing competition from convenience stores, dollar stores and discount supermarkets.

› Megabus president says Orlando a good fit for his company [Orlando Sentinel]
Dale Moser, 58, is president and chief operating officer of Coach USA/Megabus.com, based in Paramus, N.J. Megabus is a low-cost express carrier that earlier this month made Orlando its 14th hub nationwide.

› Handling social media negativity [North Central Florida Business Report]
Many organizations shy away from establishing company social media channels due to fear of receiving negative comments. The problem is, regardless if your company has a social media presence or not, people are still talking. You don’t have to be on social media to be talked about on social media.

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› UCF’s Business Incubation Program Named Incubator of the Year [Knight News]
UCF’s Business Incubation Program is garnering national attention after being named Incubator of the Year by The National Business Incubation Association. The program has been around for 15 years and aims to help students with innovative ideas get these ideas off the ground.

› Miami airport transit hub on the way to bringing planes, trains, automobiles under one roof [Miami Herald]
Now that the PortMiami tunnel has been dedicated and the reversible toll lanes on I-595 have opened, a third major South Florida transportation project is headed to completion.

› Gulfstream near deal to monopolize racing in South Florida [Miami Herald]
Gulfstream Park is on the verge of securing a 10-month monopoly on thoroughbred racing in South Florida. All it needs is for a state regulatory agency to approve the track’s agreement with Calder Casino & Race Course.

› Sorting out tax breaks for David Beckham’s Miami soccer stadium [Politifact Florida]
“Tax deal” and “stadium” are fighting words if you put them in the same sentence in Miami-Dade County. PolitiFact Florida found that an ad claiming state lawmakers gave a tax deal to David Beckham’s project was mostly true but left out some caveats.