Foreign investment pouring into Florida's commercial real estate market

In 2015, Florida ranked fourth among U.S. states for cross-border capital flows. Foreign investment in Florida commercial real estate hit its highest rate in at least nine years. In this new report by CBRE Group Inc., there's an in-depth look at what is driving this investment, and whether it will last. One progostication is that foreign buying is projected to cool slightly, but should remain elevated relative to historical rates. Read the overview and download the full report, here.

Florida job growth slows, but still strong in June

Florida added 14,600 private-sector jobs in June, payroll firm ADP reported Wednesday. But that was down 32 percent from 21,400 added in June a year ago. The June data may be the "first peek" at a deceleration of the healthy job growth that Florida has been enjoying. See report highlights here. Also read more at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Tampa Bay Times.

Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida road project has nine lives

Each time it seems to die, a road project in Polk County rises again. To the people and companies behind it, the Heartland Parkway made sense. But as the plans for the Heartland Parkway became public, they became politically toxic. Access full story.

Could Miami cigar industry go up in smoke?

Miami’s cigar makers soon could be snuffed out — not by warming relations with Cuba, but by new federal regulations that extend regulations on tobacco sales and labeling to e-cigarettes, nicotine gels and all cigars. [Source: Miami Herald]

Florida insurers seeking large hikes for long-term care

Thousands of Floridians who have insurance to cover the cost of staying in a nursing home or assisted living facility could see a steep hike in their premiums. State regulators this week announced that two insurers have filed for substantial hikes ranging anywhere from 20 percent to 114 percent. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Jacksonville-based CSX shares rise as surprise Q2 results beat expectations [CNBC]
Shares of CSX rose more than 4 percent Wednesday afternoon after the company released its second-quarter earnings. The company reported earnings of 47 cents per share, compared to Wall Street expectations of 44 cents.

› Scripps Florida: Layoffs hit Jupiter site, officials remain ‘committed’ [Palm Beach Post]
Scripps Florida officials confirmed layoffs but said in a statement to The Palm Beach Post they remain committed to the Jupiter campus. The acknowledgement of 14 recent job losses marks the latest retrenching at one of the major players in the region’s biotech push.

› Retail call centers plan hiring 3,200 workers in Brevard [Orlando Sentinel]
A call center company that supports online retail, Radial, is gearing up to hire 3,200 workers for its Brevard County call centers in Melbourne and Merritt Island,

› Famous yacht brand Bertram sets up shop in South Tampa [Tampa Bay Times]
A prominent 60-year-old yacht brand has relaunched its business in South Tampa, where it plans to hire between 200 and 450 employees over the next six years.

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› Are Atlanta Braves the only team considering Sarasota County? [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Officials have been in contact with “several other teams” about the possibility of a shared facility or a back-up option if the Braves ultimately choose to relocate to Collier or Palm Beach counties, where the team also is negotiating.

› Three industry veterans to head TECO Florida operations for Emera Inc. [Tampa Bay Times]
Three industry veterans have been appointed to leadership positions at TECO Energy after its July 1 acquisition by Emera Inc., the company announced Wednesday.

› Magic Leap wants the entire world to be your computer display [Fortune]
There aren’t many things in the digital sphere that have created as much anticipation as Florida-based Magic Leap, a company that has raised over $1 billion in venture funding for what it calls “mixed reality” technology—a technology only a few people have actually seen in action.

› Immokalee women learn to sew as a business opportunity [Naples Daily News]
Naples fashion designer Gwendolyn Gleason hopes women learning the process can sew garments like blouses, scarfs, eye pillows with chamomile and lavender, or other items, and sell them to stores under the brand Handmade in Immokalee.