Friday's Daily Pulse
Florida is home to 2,113,344 small businesses
Florida is home to 2,113,344 small businesses, which employ 2,878,741 individuals. · The three industries with the most small business employment are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food services, and professional, scientific, & technical services. [Source: Orlando Advocate]
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» New survey shows Florida small businesses optimistic
Opinion: The asset-rich, income-poor economy
The aggregate wealth of U.S. households, including stocks and real-estate holdings, just hit a new high of $81.8 trillion. It's great news for those households and businesses with large asset holdings, high risk tolerances and easy access to credit. Yet it provides little solace for families and small businesses that must rely on their income statements to pay the bills. [Source: Wall Street Journal]
Apartment occupancy hits 95% as rents keep rising
National apartment occupancy hit 95 percent during May -- a level not seen since at least 2006, when the real estate market was still booming, according to an apartment data and research company. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
"Mini-Silicon Valley" sprouting up in South Florida
The doctor of the future has arrived, and his digital makeover has South Florida's fingerprints all over it. That's what you get when you live in a region some are dubbing "a mini-Silicon Valley" for health care innovation. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
AARP report gives poor marks to Florida's senior care
Florida ranks 43rd nationally, thanks to its poor scores on key measures: quality of life and quality of care (43rd), affordability and access to care (35th), support for family caregivers (40th), and choice of care settings and providers (41st). [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Biotech firm attracts $15 million in financing [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The first Scripps Florida spin-off has attracted $15 million in financing from a Brazilian company, the company announced Thursday. West Palm Beach-based Tyrogenex is developing a once-a-day pill for patients with age-related macular degeneration.
› Seventh Compass makes move to Innovation Square [Gainesville Business Report]
A Gainesville launched tech company has become one of Innovation Square’s newest tenants. CEO Matthew Donovan said he decided to make the switch because he wanted to position the company at the heart of the emerging technology community.
› Business incubator planned for downtown St. Petersburg [Tampa Bay Times]
A Largo non-profit that nurtures technology start-ups has gained initial city approval to build a business incubator south of downtown St. Petersburg. The $9 million project will deliver on the city's promise to stimulate the tech sector, said council member Darden Rice.
› NextEra IPO for clean energy subsidiary begins [Palm Beach Post]
NextEra Energy, Inc. announced that its subsidiary, NextEra Energy Partners, LP, has begun an initial public offering of its common units representing limited partner interests. NEP is offering 16,250,000 common units to the public.
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› Florida may get biggest share of SunTrust mortgage settlement [Orlando Sentinel]
Thousands of SunTrust Mortgage customers in Florida could get the largest share of a nationwide settlement related to allegations of lending abuses during the housing crisis, state officials said this week.
› Experts: Florida panther population is rising [AP]
There may now be as many as 180 endangered Florida panthers roaming in the wild, and state wildlife officials are exploring programs designed to encourage private landowners to welcome the big cats on their property.
› Life science firms growing in Southwest Florida [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The growth of Southwest Florida's life-science sector is playing an increasingly key role in employment gains region wide.
› Free Course Protects Florida’s Seniors From Scams [Space Coast Daily]
This week, Jeff Atwater announced a new series of Operation S.A.F.E. financial workshops to help inform, empower and protect Florida’s seniors from financial scams and fraud.