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Statewide Business Briefs - May 2006
TARGETING SOLUTIONS -- Progress Energy and the University of Florida have teamed up to launch a Water Institute designed to find solutions to Florida's water problems. The Progress Energy Foundation has donated $1.2 million to establish an endowment for the institute and promised funding for an annual summit of Florida government and industry leaders involved in water issues. Progress Energy requires 500 million to 700 million gallons of water a day for the 50,000 megawatts it generates.
Economics
CRITICAL CONCERNS -- The Council of 100 has identified eight key economic drivers that state leaders must focus on to boost Florida's competitiveness, economy and quality of life: Education; income, jobs and business climate; growth management and the environment; hurricane readiness and costs; attainable housing; rising healthcare costs; energy dependence and affordability; and globalization.
Real Estate
HOME PRICES -- The median price of existing single-family homes in Florida closed out last year at $235,100, up 29% from the year-earlier period and more than double the median price of $115,900 in the fourth quarter of 2000. Statewide, Realtors sold a record 248,565 existing homes in 2005, 2% higher than the 2004 total. The Fort Lauderdale area registered the biggest drop in homes sold, down 21% from 2004. Fort Myers-Cape Coral posted the biggest annual gain in sales, 26% over the 2004 figure, and median sales price, up 44% for the year.
