Florida Trend Exclusive
Floridian of the Year: Colin Brown

Last August, with no fanfare or press release, JM Family Enterprises implemented a $16-an-hour minimum wage for all of its employees. Colin Brown, president and CEO of the family-owned company, which is based in Deerfield Beach, figures the decision will add $6 million to JM's payroll costs over the next 12 months. In 2014, JM had sales of $13.1 billion, making it the 21st-largest privately held company in the U.S. Read the full article here (open and free to all).

See also:
» What a raise to $16 an hour means

Rise in startups is good omen for the economy

The number of U.S. business establishments with employees increased by about 100,000 in the second quarter to 9.6 million and was up 2.8% over the previous 12 months, the largest annual gain since 1998, according to Labor Department figures released this month. [Source: USA Today]

Millennials working during holiday, but not working hard

Fewer than a quarter of millennials say they'll be "very productive" this week, according to a recent survey by Robert Half, a staffing firm. Same goes for Gen Xers. But it looks like Baby Boomers will bail them out. [Source: CNN Money]

Gov. Rick Scott's $1B in tax cuts met with skepticism

A billion dollars. That's a lot of money. That's Gov. Rick Scott's goal for cutting taxes in 2016. But with each passing day, it looks more obvious that Scott is headed for defeat because the Legislature is not sold on the idea. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

South Florida cast as hub of marine research

An effort is growing to brand South Florida as a national hub of marine research, a move that could mean millions of dollars for the region, supporters say. Building South Florida's reputation for marine research could attract more scientists, money and marine businesses, supporters say. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Judge tosses SeaWorld fraud lawsuit [Orlando Sentinel]
A judge has dismissed a federal lawsuit claiming SeaWorld should refund customers' money because it mistreats whales.

› Business dries up for once-hot foreclosure defense industry [Tampa Bay Times]
With a dramatic drop in new foreclosure filings, even some well-known foreclosure defense attorneys say the work is shrinking and forcing them to refocus their practices.

› Citrus Bowl turns to local tech firm in war for fans' attention at games [Orlando Sentinel]
Florida Citrus Sports has partnered with a local tech startup to bring fans in the stadium more live content at this year's Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus and Russell Athletic bowls in Orlando.

› More tech-minded firms pick Miami [Miami Today]
While Viacom International Studios gears up for the inauguration of its 88,000-square-foot production facility in downtown Miami, Miami Dade College’s new animation studio MAGIC is ready to welcome its second wave of students this spring.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Universal Orlando looks back 25 years, more innovation ahead [AP]
When the Universal Orlando theme park opened in 1990, it was a way for visitors to have fun inspired by the movies they loved — without traveling to California.

› Gasoline prices could remain low through January [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The AAA travel club predicts that prices will remain low through January and could drop further if the cost of crude oil remains week. By late winter, gas prices could rise 50 cents or more as refineries carry out maintenance in advance of the summer driving season.

› How the U.S. government moves the economy [Florida Today]
It is impossible to pick up a newspaper or listen to the news without hearing about the Federal Reserve. There is indeed an intense focus on what the Fed will do to interest rates. Maybe you wonder what they are talking about here?

› Tech Talk: A rockin’ year for entrepreneurship [Miami Herald]
South Florida biotech, medical device firms and health-tech companies took 78 percent of the $241 million in venture capital that flowed into South Florida companies in the first three quarters and almost half of the state’s take.