Friday's Daily Pulse
Florida legislators finishing up tax cut package
Florida legislators are completing work on a tax cut package that, based on preliminary figures, is expected to total hundreds of millions of dollars less than the package originally envisioned by Tallahassee's majority Republicans. More from Bay News 9 and the Tampa Bay Times.
See also:
» Florida Democrats draft their agenda to return to relevance
NASA officials: More funding needed for commercial crew program
A budget proposed by lawmakers in Congress could further delay launching humans to space from Florida, according to NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden. Under the current plan, Bolden said, the United States would have to continue relying on Russia to send American astronauts to space. More from Bay News 9 and Space Flight Now.
Cuba’s web entrepreneurs search for U.S. clients, and reliable wi-fi
Welcome to outsourcing, Cuban-style, a little-advertised circle of software developers, web designers, accountants and translators who — despite poor and expensive Internet access — sell their skills long-distance. [Source: New York Times]
Optimism among Florida real estate professionals at its highest since 2006
Optimism in the Florida real estate market remains strong among those in the business, according to the Survey of Emerging Market Conditions, conducted quarterly by the Kelley A. Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business Administration. [Source: UF News]
Trade Bill Divides GOP’s 2016 Presidential Contenders
Trade legislation in Congress is facing stiff criticism from a vocal quarter of the GOP and has divided the party’s 2016 presidential contenders—a surprising split in a party that has traditionally been a bastion of free-trade advocates. [Source: Wall Street Journal]
› Bob Beall wins state EY award [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
If E.R. Beall was the “the innovator” behind the family-owned brand, Bob Beall in considered the “architect,” the man leading Bealls’ aggressive growth into new states, and with new concepts, like the Bealls Outlet division and the upcoming debut of a specialty store, Bunulu.
» See also: Four honored as Entrepreneurs of the Year in Florida
› FAU Research Park to study expansion to north [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton will study expansion to the northern part of Palm Beach County. A study, financed with a $290,600 award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, will review all potential sites.
› State Supreme Court backs online travel agencies in tax battle [Orlando Sentinel]
After a multi-year legal battle, the Florida Supreme Court ruled today in favor of third-party online travel agencies, such as Expedia, saying they don't have to pay taxes on the marked-up prices they charge customers.
» See also: Court sides with satellite TV providers in battle over tax
› Hedge fund acquires 7.1 percent stake in Citrix [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
A New York hedge fund has acquired 7.1 percent of Fort Lauderdale-based Citrix Systems' shares and has requested a meeting with the board about operational changes it believes would improve the software company's stock price.
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› Margaritaville hiring at job fairs this month [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The new Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort is looking for employees. Margaritaville will accept applications and conduct interviews for positions in hotel operations, housekeeping, security, recreation and wellness, food and beverage and other areas.
› Western Union: Remittances help accelerate economic change in Cuba [Miami Herald]
As the Cuban economy flirts with market-oriented changes, remittances from the United States have been helping fuel private enterprise on the island and at least one U.S. company is already encouraging that trend.
› Publix may be considering smaller stores [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Representatives from the Lakeland-based chain met with city of Gainesville planning staff members — including the planning manager, Ralph Hilliard — about constructing a smaller-concept prototype near the University of Florida campus.
› University finance majors see big uptick [Miami Today]
The finance major in local colleges and universities continues to see an influx of students, particularly within the investment realm, and business schools point to Miami’s budding financial scene as a determining factor.