Florida ranked among top five job markets in the US

New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector businesses totaled 8 million in the first quarter &mash; eclipsing the 7.1 million in gross job losses from business closures and contractions. The net gain nationally was 976,000. The dynamic is one of the factors keeping the hiring market tight and giving employees more leverage than before the pandemic — although the pendulum has shifted back toward employers compared to 2021 and 2022. [Source: Tampa Bay Business Journal]

Lawmakers add $45M to boost security at Jewish facilities, organizations at ‘high risk for violent attack’

The approval of the legislation (HB 7-C) followed testimony about threats and harassment the Jewish community has endured. They’ve been seeing them with increased frequency since the outbreak of violence that began in Israel with a surprise Hamas attack on Oct. 7. “We live in the scariest time in the history of most Jews who live in Florida today,” said Brevard County Republican Rep. Randy Fine. The bill now heads to the full House floor. [Source: Florida Politics]

Florida sees rise in food insecurity

The state's share of food-insecure households is climbing after nearly a decade of steep decline — and it's slightly above the national average over the same time frame. When times are tight, it can often be "easiest" to cut back on food, says Lisa Davis, a senior vice president at anti-poverty nonprofit Share Our Strength. In 2022, the share of U.S. households that couldn't reliably afford food rose to 12.8% from 10.2% in 2021, per new U.S. Department of Agriculture data [Source: Axios]

Legislators back money for Hurricane Idalia aid and the My Safe Florida Home program

As a special legislative session began Monday, lawmakers moved forward with a proposal that would offer additional assistance to Hurricane Idalia victims and provide money to address a backlog of residents seeking to improve their homes to reduce insurance premiums. Democrats raised some concerns that a developer-friendly part of the proposal could affect storm-resilience efforts in Southwest Florida and that money could go to a Taylor County mill whose closure was announced shortly after Hurricane Idalia. [Source: WUSF]

Nearly 9K special needs students on Florida waiting list for state education vouchers

State lawmakers on Monday moved toward temporarily nixing a cap on the number of students who can participate in a school-voucher program for children with disabilities. The full House is expected to pass its version of a bill intended to allow more students to receive state-backed vouchers today, with the full Senate taking up the issue Wednesday. Senate sponsor Jay Collins, R-Tampa, said 8,839 students are waiting to receive vouchers in what is known as Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities program. “This bill, focused narrowly on what we’re trying to accomplish, ensures that we don’t leave anybody behind,” Collins said. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› How Central Florida small businesses can compete in a tight labor market [Orlando Business Journal]
Ever since the Great Resignation of 2020-2022, Florida employers have found themselves competing for talent. Business leaders may have hoped for relief in 2023, yet recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed the Florida labor market is even tighter than it was a year ago.

› Great white shark Andromache returns to Southwest Florida coast [Naples News]
A great white shark returned to Southwest Florida Sunday. Female white shark Andromache pinged far off the coast of Southwest Florida, just below Marco Island at 7:22 p.m.

› PSCU & Co-op plan to be 'Stronger Together' with $1.3B merger [Credit Union Times]
Rising technology and service demands contribute to plans for the year-end merger. Chief executives of the nation’s two largest payment CUSOs said their planned year-end merger will create not only a larger organization, but one better able to meet growing technology and service demands.

› Lotte Plaza Market opening is a hit in New Tampa [Tampa Bay Times]
‘This is a big deal...’ Hundreds of customers arrived early for the most-anticipated New Tampa grand opening in recent memory.

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› Local business owner to help clear canal debris in Cape Coral neighborhood [WINK]
The boating lifestyle draws many people to Southwest Florida, but since Hurricane Ian, Cape Coral canals have been particularly difficult to clean up.

› Serene Pavers of New Smyrna Beach files for bankruptcy, owes 150 creditors $1.6 million [Daytona Beach News Journal]
Serene Pavers & Stonescapes, the New Smyrna Beach business that closed last month without completing jobs for which customers paid thousands, has filed for bankruptcy, court documents show.

› Gov. DeSantis gifts Florida workers 4 extra days off for the holidays [Florida Politics]
That’s 1 more day than he gave last year and double what he gave from 2019-2021. His predecessors in the Governor’s Mansion, Rick Scott, gave workers similar paid breaks. Former Gov. Charlie Crist gave workers both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve off with pay as well in 2008.