New private-sector jobs fall in Florida

Florida saw a significant drop-off in the creation of private-sector jobs in April, according to a national human resources and payroll processing firm. The Sunshine State gained 9,500 new private-sector jobs. Florida had added 18,600 private-sector jobs in March. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and Florida Politics.

» See the full report from ADP.

Enterprise Florida should cut 27 positions, financial review finds

Enterprise Florida, the agency that creates jobs for the state, would need to slash 27 positions from its own budget in order to achieve $6 million in savings requested by Gov. Rick Scott, according to a review released Wednesday morning. More from the Naples Daily News.

See also:
» Enterprise Florida could save $6 million through a series of cuts, reorganization
» Major Visit Florida shift proposed

Is Trump anti-business? Do CEOs care?

Donald Trump doesn't sound like a friend of big business, much less Wall Street. Yet many Republican business leaders may come around to supporting Trump for one of several reasons. They think Trump would behave differently once in office or that the alternative, Hillary Clinton, would be worse for their bottom lines. [Source: Money]

Here's how much aging infrastructure costs the economy

Underinvestment in aging infrastructure comes at a high cost to American families and businesses, according to a new report released this week by the American Society of Civil Engineers. In fact, the ASCE report found that from 2016 to 2025, it will cost every family in the U.S. an average of $3,400 annually because of the inefficiencies caused by inadequate infrastructure. [Source: Orlando Business Journal]

» See the full report from the ASCE: "Failure to Act: Closing the Infrastructure Investment Gap for America's Economic Future"

Chip cards causing higher debit fees for U.S. retailers

Some merchants have seen their debit-transaction fees increase by about 20 percent since Oct. 1, the deadline by which most stores were supposed to start accepting chip cards or face some fraud liabilities. [Source: Bloomberg News]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Northrop Grumman expansion approved; may create 1,900 jobs [Florida Today]
Northrop Grumman has received the green light from City Hall to expand its campus at Orlando Melbourne International Airport, creating space for 1,900 new employees to help design and manufacture the Air Force's Long Range Strike Bomber.

› Miami Beach commission gives first approval to minimum wage increase [Miami Herald]
The creation of a citywide minimum wage in Miami Beach got initial approval Wednesday from the City Commission. Last week, Mayor Philip Levine proposed establishing a local minimum wage that would be higher than the current state-mandated minimum of $8.05.

› US charges 22 in $13 million Florida food stamp fraud [AP]
Federal prosecutors say 22 people have been charged with $13 million in food stamp fraud centered at a Miami-area flea market.

› Orlando vacations showing signs of overall slowdown [Orlando Sentinel]
Some parts of Orlando's tourism economy are off to a slower start in 2016, after new attractions had helped generate skyrocketing gains in business in recent years.

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› Kissimmee makes a splash at Invictus Games [Orlando Sentinel]
Osceola County's destination marketing organization is front and center during the swimming portion of the games, a paralympic type competition for wounded military men and women.

› Jacksonville City Council unanimously approves sales tax referendum to deal with pension fund woes [Florida Times-Union]
A half-cent sales tax to help pay down Jacksonville’s crippling pension debt will be on the ballot in August, sending Mayor Lenny Curry into a high-stakes campaign to sell Duval County voters on his plan to solve the city’s most daunting financial challenge.

› Marketing your small business is now easier than ever [USA Today]
These days, marketing is better, faster, easier, more efficient and more cost-effective than in the pre-internet days.

› World's Greatest Baby Shower to take place in Titusville [Florida Today]
Hundreds are expected to pack Titusville's Searstown Mall Saturday as the World's Greatest Baby Shower takes over the shopping center.