Visit Florida unveils $13 million campaign to lure tourists from in-state

The Florida tourism industry was decimated by the coronavirus pandemic. After a 10th straight year of record visitation in 2019 with 130 million visitors, those numbers dropped by 60% in the second quarter of 2020. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Visit Florida unveiled a $13 million ad campaign designed to urge Floridians to travel within the Sunshine State. DeSantis also said he believed Central Florida theme parks “can definitely do a lot more” when it comes to expanding visitor capacity. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida bars cook up ways to reopen

Hot dogs, cold sandwiches and Hot Pockets admittedly aren’t fancy fare. But low-budget, hassle-free cuisine might be a financial godsend for desperate bar owners who’ve been sidelined for months because of the coronavirus pandemic. Tavern owners throughout the state hurriedly are rehabbing behind-the-counter operations, adding triple sinks, carving out prep areas and signing up for food-handling training so they can get the go-ahead from state regulators to turn the lights back on. [Source: News Service of Florida]

» See also: Tampa Bay’s bar industry is struggling, with no end in sight

As cases of rare COVID-19 complication rise in Florida kids, trends emerge

More than two-thirds of children who have developed a rare but serious complication from COVID-19 are Black or Hispanic, one of the trends that’s emerging as the number of infections among kids continues to grow in Florida. Of the more than 50 cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome here, 46% are Hispanic and 32% are Black, compared to 10% white. The statistics are similar to what’s been reported nationally by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

The push for a $15 minimum wage in Florida is on and these groups are leading the fight

A coalition of progressive groups, social justice activists and labor organizations are joining forces to fight for a $15 minimum wage in November. The combined effort, to be announced Wednesday, will kick off with a series of protests and rallies throughout Labor Day weekend. On Thursday morning, local fast food workers will go on strike and caravan from one Tampa McDonald’s to another. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

‘World’s largest’ simulation conference canceled in Central Florida

A military-focused simulation and training conference that brings thousands of people to Orlando annually has been canceled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Known in the industry as I/ITSEC, the conference was set to take place Nov. 30 through Dec. 4 at the Orange County Convention Center. It is described as the “world’s largest modeling, simulation, and training gathering,” according to an email announcing the cancellation. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Gov. Ron DeSantis names Rep. Dane Eagle to head Florida Department of Economic Opportunity [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Gov. Ron DeSantis moved quickly to name a new Secretary of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. About 24 hours after the resignation of Ken Lawson, DeSantis tapped Cape Coral Representative Dane Eagle to lead the agency in charge of workforce development and economic incentives for businesses.

› Hillsborough okays aid to save cultural venues [Tampa Bay Times]
First came the red lights shining support for entertainment and cultural venues Tuesday night. Wednesday morning, came the okay for some green cash with the eventual goal of helping theaters and museums get back into the black. Hillsborough County commissioners approved a multimillion-dollar relief package for eight non-profit cultural centers Wednesday, and also authorized paying for separate safety improvements at the county-owned Amelia Arena and George Steinbrenner Field totaling $4.1 million.

› Detwiler's Farm Market launches online ordering in Sarasota [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Detwiler's Farm Market customers in south Sarasota can now order their groceries online and pick them up without coming into contact with another person. The local grocery store, which has five locations in Sarasota and Manatee counties, has formally launched a new online ordering system at DFMgo.com.

› Get your grocery bags ready. Aldi is adding three South Florida locations this fall [Miami Herald]
Aldi, the discount grocer that hails from Germany, is opening three new South Florida locations this fall. Stores in Princeton (just north of Homestead), Kendall and Fort Lauderdale will open by December, joining 39 locations already open in Miami-Dade, Broward, and West Palm Beach. Those include a newly opened store in Sunrise.

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› Publix Ranked No. 1 on PEOPLE's 50 Companies that Care List [Florida Trend]
Publix has been recognized as the No. 1 company that cares by PEOPLE. The fourth annual list will be featured in the Sept. 14, 2020, issue of PEOPLE magazine, which will be on newsstands nationwide Sept. 4. The list highlights the top U.S. companies that have succeeded in business while demonstrating outstanding respect, care and concern for their employees, their communities and the environment, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

› Some cyberattacks on Miami’s virtual school system from outside U.S., Carvalho says [Miami Herald]
The Miami-Dade County school district has announced that it got hit with 12 cyberattacks Wednesday morning, some of which are from outside of the United States. Some of the attacks were local. The attacks, revealed at Wednesday’s School Board committee meeting, occurred from 8:19 a.m. to 10:59 a.m.

› 2020 Tortuga Music Festival canceled, with focus now on 2021 [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
The 2020 Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 2-4 has officially been canceled, another victim of the disease and dysfunction that will fascinate historians for generations. The next edition of the popular country-music beach party is now slated to take place Nov. 12-14, 2021.

› Real estate brokerage expands to Orlando region with merger [Business Observer]
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, one of the largest residential real estate brokerages in the region, has merged with Regal Real Estate Professionals, a luxury brokerage in Central Florida. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.