Rick Scott warns state not seeing 'big deals' because of Legislature's actions

Gov. Rick Scott has been crossing the state, holding "Jobs Roundtables" and asking the business community to pressure the Legislature to both fully fund Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida. On Tuesday Scott said that since the Legislature first started cutting the flow of incentive dollars to Enterprise Florida last year, the state is seeing an impact. While private sector jobs are still growing, the state is “not seeing a lot of big deals” Scott said. “We’ve got to compete,” he added. [Source: Times/Herald]

Florida's workers' comp reform battle far from over

Several bills addressing changes to Florida’s workers’ compensation system were filed this legislative session in response to court decisions from the state’s high court in 2016, but it remains to be seen which, if any, will make it through. More from the Insurance Journal and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Spring training a hit for Airbnb business in Florida

Airbnb hosts across Florida saw a significant bump in bookings during the spring training baseball season this year. In 10 out of the 12 cities in Florida that host spring training games, residents of the home team's state accounted for the majority of Airbnb bookings. Full results by baseball team and Florida community, here. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Palm Beach Post.

Economist: 'It's getting harder ... to create jobs' in Florida

Jobs aren’t cropping up in Florida quite like they used to, and with public-private partnerships on the chopping block, the tide is unlikely to turn any time soon. That was the message economist Jerry Parrish had for the 1,000 attendees of the Broward Workshop's “State of the County” forum. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

A look into Florida's phosphate industry

Phosphate mining and production takes a heavy toll on the state's environment. But the industry also plays a key role in Florida's economy. Florida Matters explores what phosphate contributes to the state, and at what price. [Source: WUSF]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Water woes: Florida Senate approves plan to stop toxic algae [AP]
Following extensive debate, Florida senators have sent a bill to the House that creates a reservoir system south of Lake Okeechobee meant to stop toxic algae discharges from fouling coastal communities.
» See also: News release from Sen. Negron, "Florida Senate passes plan to reduce harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee."
» See also: Florida Senate agrees to give Everglades a 78-billion gallon drink of cleaner water

› Massive $3 billion development will accelerate Tampa, Florida’s growth [The Architect's Newspaper]
Tampa, Florida, is one of the fastest growing cities in America. But one development in particular is set to catapult it forward more quickly than any other.

› South Florida business owners have been growing revenue and hiring, survey shows [Miami Herald]
Nearly 70 percent of business owners in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties surveyed by Entrepreneurs’ Organization reported higher revenue over the past six months, and 57 percent said they hired additional full-time employees.

› Study: Florida manatee numbers could double in next 50 years [AP]
Researchers say Florida's manatee population could double over the next half century if wildlife managers continue protecting the creatures and their habitat.

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› Florida grapefruit growers take a 'tough hit' [WJXT]
After several of months of declines, the outlook for Florida's struggling orange production remained steady from March to April. However, the forecast for grapefruit continued a decline.

› Opinion: Time to help small businesses by ending rent tax [Fort Myers News-Press]
The business rent tax is the only state-sanctioned sales tax on commercial leases in the entire country and Florida is the not-so-proud holder of that title.

› Florida Legislature makes slow progress on medical pot rules [AP]
Florida's voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in November that formally legalized medical marijuana for chronic pain and other ailments, but with less than a month to go in their session, Florida legislators remain far apart on how to implement it.

› The biggest hurdle to buying a house in Miami? Coming up with the down payment [Miami Herald]
A new survey of aspiring home owners around the U.S. confirms what Miami renters already know: Rents are so high, there’s not enough money left over to save up for a down payment.