Employment and affordability driving growth in U.S. Southeast

The state’s economy is expected to expand by 3.7 percent — about 1.2 percentage points higher than the average rate for U.S. growth — with Florida poised to become a $1 trillion economy by 2018. Sean Snaith, director of the UCF Institute for Economic Competitiveness, reports that the World Bank says Florida's projected growth would make the state’s economy the 16th largest in the world. Snaith also said:

Florida’s labor force is expected to increase an average of 1.9 percent each year through 2019, with payroll job growth forecast to average 2.6 percent a year. Housing starts are expected to be 128,800 in 2017, increasing to 146,400 in 2018 and 160,400 in 2019.

Read more at Urban Land.

Orlando's new solar plant takes shape as Florida's solar energy erupts

Among Florida’s biggest makers of electricity, the Panhandle-based Gulf Power, the municipal utility of Tallahassee and Florida Power & Light will have megawatts flowing from new and enormous solar plants by the end of the year. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

See also:
» Sunrun enters Florida's solar market, offers rooftop panels
» Sanford city leader questions value of FPL solar trees

Florida hits $340 million jackpot by settling gambling dispute with Seminole Tribe

Blackjack will continue uninterrupted at casinos run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, parimutuels will be ordered to stop offering controversial competing card games, and the State of Florida will have access to more than $340 million in new money, under a settlement agreement reached late Wednesday between the tribe and state regulators. [Source: Times/Herald]

Amazon hiring Florida residents for work-from-home positions

Amazon is hiring people to fill a number of seasonal work-from-home jobs and Florida residents are among those eligible for consideration. According to an Amazon.com job posting, the company is hiring seasonal work-from-home customer service associates. The job is in Amazon's "Virtual Contact Center," which is open 24-hours a day. The job is full-time and pays $10 an hour. More from WESH and WTSP.

From the Panhandle to Key West: follow Florida's craft distillery trail

Despite its thriving craft-beer scene, the Sunshine State is a relative newcomer to the nation's craft-distillery boom. A handful of licensed distillers a dozen years ago have grown to 35, stretching from the Panhandle to Key West. [Source: Washington Post]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Homestead again touted as US version of Paris Air Show [Miami Today]
Two Miami-Dade County commissioners are seeking to resurrect dreams of a commercial air show in Homestead similar to this month’s Paris Air Show.

› SpaceX launched satellite from Kennedy Space Center [Orlando Sentinel]
The third time was the charm for SpaceX as it successfully launched a satellite aboard its Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center.

› Infrastructure spending could surge to highest in years in upcoming Jacksonville budget [Florida Times-Union]
Mayor Lenny Curry’s office is planning to roll out a proposed budget for next year that will include one of the largest surges in infrastructure spending in years.

› Tampa orthopedic device manufacturer Corin adding 100 jobs [News Release]
Orthopedic device manufacturer Corin USA is hiring 100 employees at its Tampa headquarters. The openings will be in operations, sales and marketing, as well as administrative positions, a Wednesday release said.

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› Suit slams Trump-influenced immigrant detentions in Florida [AP]
The American Civil Liberties Union says in a federal lawsuit that Miami-Dade County is violating the Constitution by detaining people without a warrant to comply with Trump administration immigration policies.

› Study of bicycle crashes in Florida finds clusters of danger [FDOT Statewide Analysis - PDF]
Researchers used sophisticated mapping techniques to reveal “hot spots” for bicycle accidents over a broader area within cities. Four “hot spots” were identified for each FDOT district. Statewide, among the 16 district “hot spots,” Gainesville’s was among the hottest. Also read more at the News Chief.

› Emirates' exemption from U.S. laptop ban first among affected airlines serving Orlando [Orlando Sentinel]
Emirates said Wednesday it has been exempted from a U.S. ban on laptops in airplane cabins, joining two other airlines in satisfying American security concerns that had cut into the long-haul carriers' business.

› A new Key West hotel is getting lots of buzz — and a Miami family is behind it [Miami Herald]
The Perry Hotel, a new contemporary, maritime-inspired hotel on Key West’s Stock Island, is a family project in every sense of the phrase.