Friday's Daily Pulse

Posted 9/8/2017

Irma could test strength of Florida’s strict building codes

After a catastrophic Hurricane Andrew revealed how lax building codes had become in the country’s most storm-prone state, Florida began requiring sturdier construction. Now, experts say a monstrously strong Hurricane Irma could become the most serious test of Florida’s storm-worthiness since the 1992 disaster. [Source: AP]

Florida's private-sector job growth increases 8 percent over year ago

Florida added 18,700 private-sector jobs in August, an 8 percent increase over the same month a year ago, payroll firm ADP said Thursday. In August 2016, Florida added 17,303 jobs. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida growers move plants, drain fields and groves to prepare

Across Florida, growers are taking precautions of their own, from draining fields to securing equipment to ironing out emergency plans ahead of the massive storm. [Source: Naples Daily News]

Strong demand for construction workers likely to swell further in storms' aftermath

South Florida’s economy is being pumped up by new construction, but those projects could slow as the industry finds it can’t hire the skilled workers it needs. Seventy percent of construction firms nationwide report they’re having a hard time filling openings for skilled construction workers. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

SpaceX launches Air Force's super-secret minishuttle

SpaceX launched the Air Force's super-secret space shuttle on Thursday, a technology tester capable of spending years in orbit. The unmanned Falcon rocket blasted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center, as schools and businesses boarded up for Hurricane Irma. [Source: AP]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Top Florida home insurer could face big hit from Irma [AP]
A decade-long lucky streak of decent weather that helped rescue one of Florida’s biggest home insurers from collapse could come to a wet, violent end if predictions about Hurricane Irma prove true.

› AMC, Cinemark, Regal & More Closing Florida Theaters As Hurricane Irma Nears [Deadline]
After Hurricane Harvey shut down most multiplex locations in Corpus Christi and Houston two weeks ago, here comes Hurricane Irma, which is expected to hit the Florida peninsula overnight Saturday.

› Education stars as major player in Gainesville’s tech startup community [Gainesville Business Report]
With a shared goal to change the world and improve learning strategies through technology, innovative EdTech startups emerge into Gainesville’s startup community with a bang.

› Mayport fishing vessels scramble for docks in Jacksonville [Florida Times-Union]
The entire First Coast shrimping and fishing fleet is in the process of moving away from the coast and into a safer docking space in downtown Jacksonville as Hurricane Irma bears down on Florida.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Space Florida backs NASA nominee, but senators aren't so sure [Orlando Sentinel]
Space Florida, the agency leading Florida's efforts in the reviving space industry at Cape Canaveral, praised President Donald Trump's new nominee to lead NASA, but Florida’s two U.S. senators aren't embracing last week's pick.

› Marion County horse park has space for displaced equines and RVs [Ocala Star-Banner]
Marion County made the SE Livestock Pavilion available to displaced animals; a local sanctuary and an animal rescue both are well ahead in plans for helping injured wildlife and protecting exotic animals.

› KPMG confirms Orlando general contractor [Orlando Sentinel]
Construction on KPMG’s Orlando training center will be led a California-based contractor with a big Orlando office, DPR Construction.

› Another St. Pete neighborhood laments loss of its grocery store [Tampa Bay Times]
Four years after bargain hunters cleared the shelves of the Sweetbay supermarket in Pinellas Point, the cavernous space once occupied by the grocery store remains empty.