Thursday's Daily Pulse
Tourism brought in record $112 billion to Florida in 2016
In 2016, out-of-state visitor spending in Florida reached a record $112 billion, an increase of 2.7 percent over the previous year, the state’s tourism promotion arm, Visit Florida, said Wednesday. Visitors contributed $88 billion, or roughly 10 percent, of Florida’s total gross domestic product, up 4.2 percent over 2015. The 2016 figures are the most recent available, as there is a year lag for tourism spending data. Full news release from Visit Florida is here. Read the entire report on tourism here, or find more information at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and TBO.com.
Florida citrus agency moves money while federal aid up in air
The Florida Department of Citrus adjusted its budget Wednesday for the second time this growing season, as leaders of the storm-battered industry hold out hope the U.S. Senate will approve a disaster-relief package. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida cold case website seeks to solve old homicides
Florida's top law enforcement agency is rolling out a website with more than 400 unsolved homicide cases, some going back decades. The hope is that people scrolling through the cases might be able to provide information to solve the homicides. Browse unsolved cases at the new FDLE website. [Source: AP]
Fight for vacation rental regulations heats up at capital
Tourism is at the heart of Florida’s economy and two Florida lawmakers are leading the fight for vacation rental owners. Republicans Sen. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) and Rep. Mike La Rosa (R-St. Cloud) are pushing back against local ordinances that regulate vacation rentals. Steube and La Rosa say the goal of the bill is to stop local governments from overstepping their bounds. More at this story from WFSU.
Your turn:
» Should vacation rentals - including Airbnb - be regulated by local or state government? (quick poll)
Florida's 'drive-by' ADA lawsuit problem has a solution, business owners just don't know about it
Thousands of Florida business owners were recently sued for not complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act but are unaware about a new Florida law that might have helped them fight the allegations. [Source: WPTV]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› City board considers new convention center for Jacksonville's downtown [Florida Times-Union]
After years of study, Jacksonville appears poised to test the waters for whether a private investor wants to build a new convention center complex downtown that would include a hotel, large-scale exhibition space and parking garage on the site of the old county courthouse.
› Brevard quickly moves up in Milken Institute's 'Best Performing' communities ranking [Florida Today]
Brevard County's economy is doing much better than it has been doing several years ago and it's showing. Recently, the Space Coast jumped to No. 63 from No. 153 on the annual Milken Institute’s "Best-Performing Cities 2017 Index."
› Florida Power & Light will not seek surcharge for Hurricane Irma recovery costs [News Release]
Florida Power & Light Co. said this week it will use its federal tax savings under the new tax law to wipe out $1.3 billion in Hurricane Irma-related costs. As a result, FPL’s typical monthly residential bill would drop to $99.37 from the current $102.72, according to the utility. Also read more at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
› Lennar acquires Davie development site for $9.7M [South Florida Business Journal]
Lennar Corp. acquired a townhomes development site in Davie from MG3 Development Group and ESJ Capital Partners. MG3 and ESJ acquired the property in 2012 for $5.7 million through a short sale. It’s a few blocks west of Florida’s Turnpike.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
Seeking Recommendations for the
In September, Florida Trend will present the state's most influential business leaders across major industries. Do you know someone who should be included?
» To recommend an influential Florida business leader, please go to FloridaTrend500.com.
› Bill Nelson’s anti-drilling credentials come under scrutiny [Tampa Bay Times]
Sen. Bill Nelson can rightfully claim he's fought to keep oil drilling away from Florida, but in 2010, he was less strident when the Obama administration floated plans, only to see them scuttled by the BP disaster.
› Mosaic pushes South Florida Museum to think bigger [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The Mosaic Foundation approached South Florida Museum’s Board of Trustees five years ago and said they’d like to do a little bit more for the museum’s children’s area.
› Office Depot's chief accounting officer resigns [South Florida Business Journal]
The Boca Raton company announced in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Tuesday that its senior vice president of finance and chief accounting officer, Michael Rabinovitch, told the company Jan. 10 he would resign.
› Jack Latvala mulling what to do with $4.5 million of political money [Florida Politics]
Former state Sen. Jack Latvala, who is sitting on nearly $4 million in political committee money and another $600,00 in the campaign fund for his bid for Florida governor, said Tuesday his unused campaign money will be returned to donors if he closes down that campaign.