Thursday's Daily Pulse
Florida job creation slows to lowest point of the year
Florida's briefly resurgent job creation has tumbled to the lowest point of the year. The state added just 13,800 private-sector jobs last month, according to a report released Wednesday by payroll processing firm ADP. Read more at the Tampa Bay Times and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Port push: More distribution centers are needed
The Florida Ports Council is seeking state support for an advertising effort aimed at luring cargo-shipping companies from other U.S. ports. It’s calling on lawmakers to cut red tape and create new incentives programs to attract both import distribution centers and export-oriented manufacturing facilities. [Source: Florida Trend]
Florida's hurricane insurance fund strong for storm season
Florida's nine-year streak of avoiding hurricanes is helping the state reach a historic milestone: for the first time ever, the state-created fund designed to help pay out claims after storms has enough cash and assets on hand to pay off everything it could owe. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
Cuba negotiating with Florida bank to open account in U.S.
The Cuban Interests Section in Washington is studying opening a bank account in Florida after Havana was left without banking abilities in the United States in 2014. [Source: FOX News Latino]
Creating a vision for retirement
Think about your retirement and what you want out of it. You may not have thought further than “I need to leave this job," but a better approach is to think about what you are giving up and how your new world will look. What will you do in retirement? [Source: US News & World Report]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› A tour of the Legoland Florida hotel [Orlando Sentinel]
After months of construction, plenty of teasers and undisclosed amounts of money, the Legoland Florida hotel opens later this week. Take a sneak peek tour before it opens.
› Askew inducted into Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame [Pensacola News Journal]
Former Pensacolian and two-term Florida governor Reubin Askew was one of three civil rights heroes inducted Wednesday into the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Also inducted were the late Sallye Brooks Mathis and the late Edward Daniel Davis. Askew died in 2014.
» Florida Icon: Reubin O'D. Askew
› Florida Department of Citrus seeks help from taxpayers [Lakeland Ledger]
Like many people and groups in the aftermath of a natural disaster, the Florida Department of Citrus is seeking relief from the state's taxpayers.
› Tortilla manufacturer considers new Orlando plant [Orlando Sentinel]
La Chiquita Tortilla Manufacturer, which has a manufacturing plant in Atlanta, is considering a second plant in Orlando with up to 110 employees.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› U.S. brokers aim to offer more visiting yachts for sale [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Florida Yacht Brokers Association is seeking a change in a century-old federal law to make it easier for foreign-flagged yachts visiting the United States to be sold to Americans.
› Gas will stay cheaper than it's been in years [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Drivers who have seen a steady rise in the price of gasoline can relax: They will almost certainly be paying far less for gas this summer than they have in at least six years.
› Storm surge map prototypes unveiled [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The National Hurricane Center, and Florida’s emergency managers, are turning their attention to storm surge and other high-water risks brought on by tropical storms.
› Flanigan's Enterprises reports 24% jump in profit [South Florida Business Journal]
The Fort Lauderdale-based owner and operator of Flanigan's Seafood Bar and Grill restaurants and Big Daddy's retail liquor stores reported a 24 percent jump in income compared to the first quarter of last year.