Forecast: Florida job creation slowing down this year

The Florida Chamber of Commerce predicts that the rising streak of job creation in the state is behind us. Jerry Parrish, the Florida Chamber of Commerce's chief economist, forecasts that Florida will create 190,000 new jobs in 2017, down from the 244,400 jobs created last year. Parrish said Florida has had "a really good run" with job creation," but deemed the future as fragile. The move to end Enterprise Florida "is absolutely costing us jobs and will cost us jobs in the future," he said. "This will affect us for the next couple of years." [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

What might happen to Florida housing after China's Xi Jinping visits

Next month, China's president Xi Jinping will visit Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. For millions in the world's No. 2 economy, the visit will put Florida on their mental map of places to buy real estate. [Source: Forbes]

Sharks are big business in Florida

A report released Tuesday by Oceana, the international ocean conservation organization, shows that shark-related dives in Florida generated more than $221 million in direct revenue and fueled over 3,700 jobs last year.

See the full report here. Also read more at Florida Today.

See also:
» Florida sharks worth more alive than dead, says study (PDF)

Are Florida voters getting burned by lawmakers on last year's solar amendment?

A bill moving through the Florida House to implement the August ballot initiative by giving tax breaks to businesses that install solar energy panels is under fire for doing what the utility industry could not do in the last election cycle — impose impediments to rooftop solar installation. [Source: Times/Herald]

Florida gambling expansion heavily opposed by Florida voters in new poll

According to a study performed by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, an independent surveying firm with offices in Washington, DC, and Jacksonville, Florida, just eight percent of Florida voters say they support expanded gambling. That compares to 84 percent who said they want gaming left as is, or reduced. See the poll results here. Also read more at Casino.org.

See also:
» Economy looks good, which helps casinos
» Seminoles announce incentive program for slot players

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Synovus Securities expands Tampa Bay presence with experienced team at helm [Florida Trend]
When Synovus Securities decided recently it was time to grow its brokerage business in the Tampa Bay and Central Florida areas, it hired two top Financial Consultants with the market experience to form the core of a new team. [Sponsored report]

› New $7 million bottle recycling facility planned for Jacksonville [Plastics News]
A plastic bottle recycler from Brazil plans to spend millions of dollars to open a new location in Florida. Florida Plastic Recycling LLC is the local name for a $7 million project in Jacksonville being planned by Clodam do Brasil Ltda.

› Small business battle names four finalists in Orlando [Orlando Sentinel]
Four early-stage companies based in Central Florida hope to land some cash at a Rollins College business competition. Rollins’ Venture Plan Competition has whittled a field of 60 down to four finalists who will compete for the top prize March 30.

› SpaceX signs lease with Port Canaveral for booster refurbishing [Florida Today]
SpaceX has signed a five-year lease for a warehouse and office facility at Port Canaveral, where it plans to process, refurbish and store rocket boosters for future reuse.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› US hurricane center chief going back to The Weather Channel [AP]
The director of the National Hurricane Center is going back to work at The Weather Channel. Rick Knabb has been director of the center in Miami since June 2012.

› Alex Rodriguez buys UFC GYM Kendall, with plans for more [Miami Herald]
A-Rod has added UFC GYMs to his portfolio of real estate and automotive interests. The former New York Yankees star has purchased UFC GYM Kendall and development rights for the creation of more UFC-branded gyms across Miami-Dade County.

› Calusa Brewing in Sarasota to sell beers in stores, bars and restaurants [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The beers from Sarasota's Calusa Brewing will be available in stores, bars and restaurants starting next week after the brewery signed a distribution deal with J.J. Taylor Distributing of Tampa. Until now Calusa's beers were only available at the brewery.

› Spectrum hikes cost for many Florida seasonal residents turning off service [Tampa Bay Times]
Turns out Spectrum's seasonal resident plan for Florida snowbirds who are here half the year could cost nearly three times what they were paying before.