Wednesday's Daily Pulse
Florida’s uninsured adults rise, among highest in U.S.
Florida’s number of uninsured adults is rising, new numbers show, even as Congress and the Trump administration consider legislation that could push millions more out of health coverage. The nation’s uninsured rate remained essentially unchanged at an all-time low of 9 percent in 2016, but 13.8 percent of Floridians of all ages lacked health coverage. Florida’s rate was third highest in the country. See the report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Also read more at the Palm Beach Post.
Why is Gainesville Florida’s biotech hub?
In 1990, the University of Florida decided to leverage its leadership in research and the commercialization of university research in support of a biotechnology incubator. The result was the opening of the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator (SMBI) which was a springboard for Gainesville biotech cluster. [Source: Gainesville Business Report]
Incubators help Florida small businesses bloom
In Florida, there are more than 70 recognized organizations instrumental in incubating small businesses. Some of those include UF/Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute, which received the 2017 InBIA Top Global Incubator Award; Beaver Street Enterprise Center; The South Florida Accelerator; and Venture Hive. Read the full news release, here.
Related, from Florida Small Business:
» Business Incubators
FTC: Tech support scam sting nets Boca Raton firms
A group of companies linked to a Boca Raton address is targeted by the Federal Trade Commission as part of a crackdown on technical support scams. The companies caused ads resembling pop-up security warnings from Microsoft, Apple and other tech companies to appear on victims’ computers. The ads warned consumers their computers were infected with viruses, being hacked, or were otherwise compromised, then urged them to call a toll-free number for assistance. See the news release from the FTC here, and read more at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Related quick poll:
» Have you -- or your business -- been impacted by the ransomware "Wanna Cry?"
Florida's Movers & Influencers See some of Florida's top executive moves, board appointments, civic accomplishments, and more at Florida Trend's Movers & Influencers. Each profile appears in three places: in a weekly eNewsletter, online at FloridaTrend.com and in a monthly print issue of Florida Trend. Read more here. |
Helping Florida veterans find careers
It's a little easier for Florida veterans to get a job as a private investigator or a security guard. The state's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says veterans can receive credit for relevant military training when applying for licenses. [Source: WJXT]
› Florida's training grants: Helping small businesses advance [CareerSource Florida]
CareerSource Florida has helped Hilomast employees acquire skills to build upon the company’s success through the Incumbent Worker Training program, which provides grants to Florida companies for educating and training full-time employees. [Sponsored Report]
› Central Florida medical-marijuana firm Knox Medical eyes Gainesville location [Orlando Sentinel]
Knox Medical, which is building a medical-marijuana dispensary in Orlando and grows products at a Winter Garden nursery, plans to open a dispensary in Gainesville.
› Abortion bills die in Florida's Capitol for the first time in eight years [Tampa Bay Times]
Lawmakers left Tallahassee last week without accomplishing an agenda item that has been at the forefront for years: They passed no legislation restricting abortions or targeting abortion clinics.
› USF Sarasota-Manatee announces new CFO [Bradenton Herald]
On Tuesday, the university announced Edwin R. Beauchamp as the new regional vice chancellor for business and financial affairs, a role that also serves as the school’s chief financial officer.
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› Two South Florida Businesses Ranked on List of 50-Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies [Fort Lauderdale Daily]
Two South Florida businesses, Orangetheory Fitness created by Ellen Latham and A-Plus Meetings & Incentives owned by Patty Klein, have been recognized as two of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies around the globe.
› Cost to buildout a office in Jacksonville higher than other Florida metros [Jacksonville Business Journal]
Office users in Jacksonville can expect to pay about $142 per square foot in out-of-pocket costs for the buildout of Class A office space, according to JLL research, putting Jacksonville costs ahead of every city in Florida besides Tampa.
The ‘Sugar Belle’ mandarin is more tolerant to Huanglongbing, or HLB, also known as citrus greening. Full story here.
› UF develops 'more resistant' mandarin [UF News Release]
With citrus greening disease continuing to hurt the Florida industry, University of Florida (UF) scientists have developed a mandarin hybrid that, they say, seems to be winning the battle.