Hermine hits Florida coast as first hurricane in a decade

Hurricane Hermine made landfall in Florida's Big Bend area early Friday as the first hurricane to hit the state in more than a decade, bringing soaking rain, high winds and thousands of power outages.

"The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will continue to cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline," the National Hurricane Center said. The center warned that some areas along Florida's northern Gulf Coast may experience 9 feet (3 m) of flooding. Gov. Rick Scott said the storm could lead to deaths and told residents to stay indoors until it had passed.

» Full story from Reuters, here. Also read more at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the Orlando Sentinel and Accuweather.

See also:
» Hermine wallops Florida, knocks out power to 200K
» Florida fears Hermine could hamper fight against Zika

South Florida has 2nd highest rate of minority businesses

South Florida has one of the highest rates of minority-owned businesses in the nation. New figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau show that more than a third of businesses in South Florida have owners who are either nonwhite or Hispanic. [Source: AP]

Florida’s planned layoffs down 85 percent from year ago

This is how much the economy has changed since a year ago: Florida had 354 planned layoffs in August. That same month last year, the state saw 2,302 layoffs,. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida finds Zika in trapped mosquitoes, first in U.S. mainland

Authorities in Florida have found the Zika virus in trapped mosquitoes, the first time this has happened in the continental US. Officials say 3 mosquitoes from Miami Beach have tested positive. The state agricultural commissioner calls the development disappointing, but not surprising. Full statement from the Governor, with maps, here. Also read more at the AP and CNN.

See also:
» Zika’s threat may last beyond a baby’s birth, monitoring crucial, study says

Florida pushing for Chinese real estate buyers

Tapping into the Chinese market, home to the world's second largest economy, has been a longstanding item on Miami's real estate wish list. In the race to secure a Miami-China connection, local brokerage houses have deployed marketing trips abroad, hired Chinese-speaking agents and sought partnerships with China-based companies. [Source: Daily Business Review]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› How Jacksonville's Baptist Health is making itself a medical tourism destination [Jacksonville Business Journal]
Through its partnership with Houston, Texas' MD Anderson, Jacksonville-based Baptist Health is looking to become a destination for cancer patients, Baptist CEO Hugh Greene said at Thursday's JAXUSA Partnership luncheon.

› Miami-Dade’s top economic development executive is stepping down [Miami Herald]
Larry Williams, the president and CEO of the Beacon Council, will step down after three years as Miami-Dade County’s top economic development executive. He has accepted a new role as president and CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia.

› A 'Green District' proposed for Collier County [Naples Daily News]
There are shopping districts, waterfront districts and art districts. So why not a "Green District?" That's what leaders with some of the Naples area's green attractions are asking.

› Boca Raton cosmetic tech company breaks into foreign billion-dollar market [South Florida Business Journal]
Apira Science has received clearance to distribute its hair-growth therapy laser technology in one of the biggest hair care markets in the world.

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› Florida private equity deal flow down in 2016 [South Florida Business Journal]
There were 96 private equity deals closed in Florida in the first half of 2016, which is slightly down from the 103 deals closed the same time last year, according to a new report form Miami-based private equity and investment banking firm Cassel Salpeter & Co.

› Wellington aerospace company wins $450 million contract [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Wellington-based B/E Aerospace has announced a contract worth as much as $450 million to outfit new Boeing 777 aircraft with first-class suites.

› John Kanas to Step Down as BankUnited CEO [Miami Herald]
John A. Kanas, who rebuilt BankUnited Inc. in the wake of the financial crisis, plans to step down as chief executive officer at the end of the year to be succeeded by Rajinder P. Singh, the lender’s current operating chief.

› Publix doubles Feeding America donation [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Publix Super Markets Charities has donated $5 million to the Feeding America network of food banks to help stave hunger in communities throughout Florida and five other states served by the Lakeland-based grocery chain.