Thursday's Daily Pulse
Florida adds 14,400 private jobs in January
After a strong finish in 2014, Florida added 14,400 private sector jobs in January, according to a report released Wednesday. The state remains the third-best job creator in the country behind California (up 35,400 jobs) and Texas (up 25,800 jobs), according to the report, which payroll-processing company ADP releases monthly. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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‘Alligator' Ron Bergeron
“Yes, I wrassle alligators. It’s a Florida cultural thing, sort of like running with the bulls in Spain or fighting bulls in Mexico. That’s because, years ago, people ate alligators, so they would wrassle them, tie them up and keep them.” Read other quotes and stories by the Florida native/businessman.
How Colombia became the king of Valentine’s Day
Fifty years ago, Colombia shipped its first batch of fresh-cut flowers to Miami and jump-started a billion-dollar industry. In a handful of decades, flowers in the United States went from being high-end luxury goods sold only at specialized shops to being ubiquitous — from grocery stores to gas stations to traffic lights. [Source: Miami Herald]
See also:
» 'Slow Flowers' movement pushes local, U.S.-grown cut flowers
Tips for Taking a Mental Health Day
It is not unusual for savvy go-getter entrepreneurs to experience times of true elation as they hit it hard during the first of the year. It's about now and over the next few weeks that your battery starts to run down because you've been on a high for the last few weeks. [Source: Inc.]
The most popular job in the U.S.? Truck driving
Truck driving isn't exactly the most glamorous job, but it's #1 in the country now. Driving a truck has been immune to two of the biggest trends affecting U.S. jobs: globalization and automation. A worker in China can't drive a truck in Ohio, and machines can't drive cars (yet). Read more from the Palm Beach Post and see a map at NPR.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Google to use NextEra wind farm to power HQ [South Florida Business Journal]
Google will partner with Juno Beach-based NextEra Energy Resources to power buildings at its California headquarters, the company announced Wednesday.
› Black Tech Week to celebrate innovation, diversity [Miami Herald]
The inaugural Black Tech Week, slated for Feb. 23 to 28, will bring black tech innovators, entrepreneurs and investors from around the world to South Florida to celebrate black innovation.
› Volkswagen to create 100 jobs at JaxPort [News4Jax]
Volkswagen Group of America has chosen to locate its Southeastern import facility and distribution center for cars and SUVs in Jacksonville.
» See also: Port Canaveral loses out on VW import deal
› Mental health funding in Florida [WGCU]
Florida ranks 49th in the nation in per capita funding for mental health services. According to U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services surveys taken between 2011 and 2012, nearly 17% of people in the state experience the presence of a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in a given year.
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› New Orleans, Pensacola vie to attract new company [Pensacola News-Journal]
A financial management company that is interested in relocating its corporate headquarters to Pensacola and bringing about 10 high-paying jobs with it is also looking at New Orleans.
› Denver financial social media firm scooped up by Florida company [Denver Business Journal]
A Denver-based social media firm that specializes in working with financial services companies has been scooped up by Tallahassee, Florida-based Moore Communications Group (MCG).
› Hispanic market increasingly important for Southwest Florida businesses [Naples Daily News]
The Hispanic market is booming. In Collier alone, there are 83,177 Hispanics, making up 26 percent of the county’s total population.
› Celebrity chef named for Busch Gardens' inaugural Food & Wine Festival [Tampa Bay Times]
Norman Van Aken, one of Florida's best-known chefs often described as the "Father of New World Cuisine," has signed on to appear in the opening weekend of Busch Gardens' inaugural Food & Wine Festival on March 7 and 8.