Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Thursday's Afternoon Update

Florida boasts nation's fastest growing metro areas

Three months after the release of data showing Florida displacing New York as the nation's third most populous state, new numbers are out showing that the Sunshine State is still home to the fastest-growing metro area in the U.S. Seven of the country's top 50 numerically gaining metro areas are in Florida. More from CBS News and the AP.

See also:
» Growth in South Florida, I-4 corridor propelled population
» The Villages is fastest-growing metro area


Housing market improving, but affordability could be an issue

The housing market continues to grow more stable across South Florida, though affordability bears watching this year, mortgage company Freddie Mac said Wednesday. While affordability remains in an acceptable range, it is trending higher, the result of rebounding home prices after the market hit bottom in 2011. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.


Miami firm hired to connect small businesses with All Aboard Florida

Health and Wellness
Healthiest Weight Florida

title
Healthiest Weight Florida is a public-private collaboration bringing together state agencies, not for profit organizations, businesses, and entire communities to help Florida's children and adults make choices about healthy eating and active living.

» Read more

The Vailon Group, a Miami-based consulting firm, has been hired to make sure South Florida subcontractors and small businesses have a chance to work on All Aboard Florida's flagship terminal, MiamiCentral. More at the South Florida Business Journal.


Made in Brevard aims to jump-start local manufacturing

When it launched in 2013, the "Made in Brevard" campaign for local manufacturing was simply a marketing initiative spearheaded by the Economic Development Commission of the Space Coast and the four Brevard County chambers of commerce. More at Florida Today.


Is your boss judging you?

If people don’t quit their jobs, they quit their boss. How do you become a boss that workers refuse to leave? The answer looks obvious from recent online discussion: Refrain from judging employees with an outside life. More at the Miami Herald.

Out of the Box
Australia's Shark Shield Lands in Florida

shark shield Shark Shield, a device that repels sharks with an electronic force field, sounds like something the movie character Q would create for James Bond. But this Australian invention is real, and its owners have recently started aggressively selling it in Florida. They also have opened a U.S. headquarters near downtown St. Petersburg.

» More at the Tampa Bay Times