Consumer confidence dropping in Florida

Floridians' confidence reached a post-recession peak earlier this year. But there's been a drop-off since then. Chris McCarty, director of the university center that does the survey, said in a statement that the drop is not surprising since there was a drop in the stock market in late August. More from the AP and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Business Florida: Your 2016 Florida Opportunity Guide

There's good reason why more companies choose Florida for relocation and expansion. Few states can match Florida’s competitive assets: a business climate that encourages innovation and success, unequaled market opportunity, a highly skilled and diverse workforce, a top-ranked infrastructure. This in-depth report, Business Florida, will be a guide and a resource for companies thinking of the Sunshine State, and also for companies already here, who are looking to move within the state.

Why child athletes of all levels earn more as adults

Economists have known for decades that former varsity athletes earn more money. Now research shows why: Prospective employers perceive them to have better leadership skills and greater self-confidence than graduates who participated in extracurricular activities such as band or yearbook. [Source: The Homes Economist]

Many stores unprepared for new, safer credit cards

If you have one of those new credit cards with a computer chip on the front, you might think it will protect you from fraud. Just don't count on it. Many retailers, particularly small ones, are not ready to switch to the new cards on Thursday as they're supposed to, according to the Florida Retail Federation. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida fails to apply for federal grant to fight worker misclassification

The U.S. Department of Labor divvied up $10 million worth of federal funding among 23 states to fight the problem of worker misclassification, but Florida didn’t get a penny. Misclassification happens when employers claim that their workers are independent contractors instead of full-time employees. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Why Florida isn't able to capitalize on this $35B health care market [Orlando Business Journal]
The next health care focus of the federal government is brain research, with a hefty goal of being able to map the brain within the next five years. It's looking to invest $35 billion into this research, but Florida likely won't get any of that capital.

› Where Florida businesses stand in the diversity rankings [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
About 7 percent of Florida’s middle-market firms — companies generating between $10 million and $1 billion in revenue — are owned by women. That’s a little higher than the national average, according to a new report.

› Florida uses EPA water system grants to gird infrastructure [AP]
With a burgeoning population and aging water systems, Florida will need $16.5 billion in funding over the next 20 years just to maintain its existing drinking water infrastructure, according to estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

› National award named for late Orlando towing businessman [Orlando Sentinel]
A national award has been named for the late Dave Jones, founder of Dave Jones Towing in the Orlando area. Jones, who died in 2013, was known as a leader in his industry.

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› Fans go wow for Wawa making its Broward debut [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Feel the need for a cheddar-stuffed hot pretzel at 2 a.m.? How about a custom-made sandwich with 15 different spread options and a tank of gas on the side? Your desires should soon be fulfilled. Wawa, the popular convenience store chain with the baby-talk name, is coming to South Florida.

› For Port Canaveral, what’s next? [Florida Today]
For much of that dark period Brevard County experienced during the housing crisis and job cutbacks at the Kennedy Space Center, Port Canaveral was an economic beacon.

› Central Florida startup wins big on ABC's Shark Tank [Orlando Sentinel]
Central Florida startup company Signal Vault won big on the season premiere of ABC TV’s Shark Tank Friday night. The anti-hacking company based in Seminole County landed key investments from sharks Lori Greiner and Rob Herjavec on the show.

› Little-known affordable housing program building communities in Tampa Bay [Tampa Bay Times]
Since 1993, Florida Home Partnership has used grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide affordable housing with no down payments for more than 700 low-income families in rural areas of Hillsborough and Pasco counties.