Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Thursday's Daily Pulse

Tourists may be back in the Florida Keys, but some residents still haven't recovered from Hurricane Irma

It’s been more than six months since Hurricane Irma and the Florida Keys had a busy spring break this year. But while lots of people enjoyed going to the beach, diving the reef or hitting the bars, some residents in the Florida Keys are still living with Irma’s aftermath as a daily reality. See more at Marketplace or listen to the audio report below:

Miguel Díaz-Canel is the only official candidate for Cuba's next president

Miguel Díaz-Canel, who wasn't even born at the time of the 1959 Cuban Revolution, is the only candidate proposed for president by Cuba's National Assembly, which voted Wednesday on a successor to the retiring Raúl Castro. [Source: Miami Herald]

See also:
» Cuba's presidential transition bringing no joy to its exiles

Florida Trend Exclusive
2018 Economic Yearbook: Northwest Florida

Lake Nona

Economic snapshot of the 20-county region that makes up Northwest Florida, which includes the Panhandle and Big Bend. Some highlights from this report:

  • Downtown Pensacola redevelopment efforts earn a thumbs up, but public health/crime get a thumbs down.
  • Tallahassee gets a thumbs up for downtown redevelopment and transportation, but a thumbs down for public safety/crime.
  • Panama City and Fort Walton Beach earn a thumbs up for economic development.

» Read the full report on Northwesst Florida.
(This is the last in a series. See all of Florida Trend's regional economic reports in "Florida's Report Card," here.)

Florida municipal golf courses have lost nearly $100M over past five years

Like orange groves, royal palms and Disney World, golf has long been part of Florida’s identity, and municipal golf courses have provided locals with affordable opportunities to play. But as golf and local demographics change, many municipal courses are struggling with declining participation and revenue. [Source: TCPalm]

Florida ranks No. 3 for most received, sent robocalls in March

Did you get a robocall recently? You’re not alone. Floridians reportedly received the third-highest number of robocalls in the country in March — 244 million. According to the YouMail Robocall Index Snapshot, Tampa Bay ranked No. 17 for cities with the most robocalls, joining four other Florida cities in the top 50. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

See also:
» YouMail releases first-ever detailed breakdown of U.S. robocalls

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Everybody loses in a trade war, Canadian chamber CEO warns Tampa officials
President Donald Trump has tweeted "trade wars are good, and easy to win." Don’t believe it, the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce told Tampa business and political leaders on Wednesday.

Lake Nona

› Florida announces 40-day red snapper season
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will implement a 40-day red snapper season in State and Federal waters off the coast of Florida beginning June 11, 2018. Also read more at Sport Fishing Magazine.

› Tri-Rail won’t roll into downtown Miami this year
As Miami Central Station continues to rise downtown, Jack Stephens, executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, points to Tri-Rail making its grand debut at the station sometime next year.

› Max Planck neuroscience institute in Jupiter to expand
The Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience in Jupiter is getting new funds from its Germany-based parent to expand. Max Planck, which employs 140 people, plans to boost staff by about 15 percent, said Matthias Haury, chief operating officer.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Miami Super Bowl LIV team looks for business players
As Miami prepares to host Super Bowl LIV in 2020, the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee is looking to curate a list of 300-plus event-ready businesses in 35 business lines to work with Super Bowl event producers as part of Business Connect, the NFL’s special event supplier diversity and inclusion program.

› Izea: Our accounting error didn’t impact bottom line
Winter Park ad-tech company Izea reported Wednesday that an error in its financial reports for the past three years will have no impact on the company’s financial bottom line.

› Tampa Bay Area salons join program to cut waste and increase recycling
Bambu, The Eco Salon had been recycling for the past five years, but after becoming Green Circle Salon certified, they’ve joined a few other salons in the area in an environmentally friendly initiative that has them cutting their waste by 95 percent — even recycling hair and coloring chemicals.

› Feds warn South Florida breweries to stop producing marijuana-flavored beer
The newest trend in South Florida’s craft-beer industry is marijuana beer, but local brewers this week face a major buzzkill thanks to a key ingredient in the brew: cannabis terpenes oil.