Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Wednesday's Daily Pulse

Blue-green algae, red tide soil beaches, threaten Florida tourism

Tourism, fishing and public health are being threatened by contaminants turning beaches a bright blue-green at the southern end of the state’s peninsula. Residents and business owners fear the thick, toxic slime could wreak havoc during peak tourism months. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

See also:
» Gov. Scott declares state of emergency for seven counties around Lake Okeechobee
» A toxic algal bloom is spreading in Florida’s waterways
» What’s an algae bloom and how did it wind up sliming Florida’s biggest lake?
» Algae, seaweed discolor Florida waters and beaches

Tampa Bay Rays unveil their plans for a new $892 million ballpark

Proposed ballpark

On Tuesday afternoon, the MLB team Tampa Bay Rays announced their plans for a new "neighborhood ballpark" in Ybor City, right near downtown Tampa. The design features see-through sliding glass walls, a fixed translucent roof, and is integrated into the neighborhood with an evolving design. The ballpark's capacity will be 30,842 which is the fewest seats of any Major League Baseball venue. The ballpark is estimated to cost $892 million. Financing has not been announced. See a slide show of the proposed ballpark here. Also read more at the Tampa Bay Times.

Florida sees spike in organ donations amid opioid epidemic

It’s being called the silver lining of the opioid crisis; organ donations are up, hitting record numbers. Organ donation officials say many of those donors are dying of drug overdoses. The national trend is playing out locally as Floridians face an opioid epidemic. [Source: WFTV]

Rocket Lab selects four finalists, including Florida, for U.S. launch site

Rocket Lab announced July 10 that it has selected four potential locations for an American launch site, including Cape Canaveral, for its Electron rocket, with a final decision to come in August. Rocket Lab currently operates a launch complex in New Zealand but plans to add a U.S. site to provide flexibility, particularly for government customers. See the announcement from Rocket Lab, and read more at Space News.

Irma still adding to mortgage delinquencies

More homeowners in Southwest Florida are struggling to pay their mortgages on time, an apparent lingering effect from Hurricane Irma. Home loan delinquency rates rose in May locally and throughout the state, with Florida one of only three states to show higher levels of mortgage payment issues, data provider CoreLogic reported Tuesday. Real more at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and also see the latest CoreLogic news release.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› It's not just bars. From art museums to fundraisers, Miami has World Cup fever
As the World Cup rages and Miami ramps up its commitment to soccer, local companies are finding ways to marry the beautiful game to business. Everybody knows about the bar or restaurant viewing party. But other entities less traditionally associated with sports are finding creative ways to capitalize on the World Cup.

› Magic Leap promises live demo of its first product on Wednesday
Catch a live demo of Magic Leap’s first product — or at least an element of it — during a special presentation at 2 p.m. Wednesday on Twitch.tv. The demo for Magic Leap One was confirmed by a spokesman for the Plantation company, who said he could provide no further information about sales or shipment of its first product.

› A Florida bank usually found in a Walmart acquires a booming lender in Dallas
Florida’s Axiom Bank has acquired a Dallas lender that is giving small businesses the ability to borrow off of their outstanding invoices to clients – an increasingly popular kind of financing.

› A new area code will soon be coming to Central Florida
The Florida Public Service Commission announced Tuesday it will be adding a new area code, 689, to Central Florida. The new code will overlay the existing 407 area code that currently is in place for Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and parts of Lake and Volusia counties.

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› $28 million refund to FPL customers is approved
Florida’s Public Service Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a settlement between Florida Power & Light Co. and the Office of Public Counsel for a $27.7 million refund to customers relating to 2016’s Hurricane Matthew restoration costs. Also read more at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

› Sarasota City Commission OKs property tax rate increase
The City Commission in a 3-2 vote approved a 2.85 percent property tax hike from $3.17 per $1,000 of assessed value to $3.26 to cover a roughly $914,000 deficit in the $73 million general fund budget — which is the main operating fund of the $229 million budget — city staffers say was created by the transfer of five parks from Sarasota County.

› Tampa Bay Partnership urges study of regional workforce board in wake of CareerSource scandals
With a split looming between CareerSource Pinellas and CareerSource Tampa Bay, the jointly run workforce development agencies for the bay area, a third economic development group is weighing in to say, not so fast.

› Fort Lauderdale aquatics complex up for $27 million renovation
Fort Lauderdale’s aquatics complex could finally be renovated, after years of failed effort by the city. The city has worked for about a decade on a plan to modernize the swimming and diving complex. The $27 million bid is $7 million higher than the city had hoped.