More than one in six Floridians are living poverty — the highest it has been in more than a decade, according to Census figures released this week. Sixteen percent of Floridians were below the poverty level in 2010, up from 14.6 percent in 2009 reflecting a continuation of a steady climb in recent years. Florida's 2010 rate is the highest it has been since 1995 when it was 16.2 percent. [Source: Miami Herald]
1-800-New-Rules?
For-profit lawyer referral services have operated in Florida since the mid-1980s, but the businesses didn't get much notice until a few years ago when some of the larger ones, such as 1-800-ASK-GARY and 1-800-411-PAIN, began aggressively advertising. As the industry has grown, the marketing has become more sophisticated: 1-800-ASK-GARY is paying an estimated $375,000 a year for three years to put its name on a major concert venue in Tampa. The advertising has attracted attention from more than potential clients. The Florida Bar created a special committee this year to investigate the services and determine if it needs to regulate them. Read more...
 Gary Kompothecras is paying a reported $375,000 a year to put his company's name on an amphitheater in Tampa. [Photo: Skip O'Rourke/St. Petersburg Times] |
Job Corps center graduates first class
In 2003 Pinellas County beat out two dozen metropolitan markets for a multimillion-dollar grant to build a job corps facility. Along with teaching students trades and skills that make them more employable, the $40 million Pinellas Job Corps center teaches patience. Students, city officials and community boosters who have been waiting for it to be built, for it to open, for a full schedule of classes, for it to reach capacity and for graduates to get jobs have had to have great patience along the way. [Source: St. Petersburg Times]
Depressed construction industry holding back rebound
A collapsed housing industry dug a deep hole in South Florida's economy during the recession, and the hunt for a bottom continues. New numbers show construction held back South Florida's recovery last year, with economic growth at about half the pace of the rest of the country. Building permits remain depressed, down 85 percent from just five years ago. During the last 48 months, South Florida's construction industry hasn't grown by a single job. "South Florida's economy is much worse, and the No. 1 culprit is construction,'' said Chris Lafakis, a Moody's Analytics economist. "Housing grew to be such a large part of the economy.'' [Source: Miami Herald]
Top Florida Progress Energy execs to stick around after Duke Energy merger
As Duke Energy and Progress Energy continue to work out the details of their merger, one thing won't change in Florida: the leader of the power company's operations in the Sunshine State.
Vincent Dolan, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Florida, will remain at the helm in Florida for the new company. Dolan's new title with the merged company will be "state president, Florida."
In addition, Michael Lewis, senior vice president for energy delivery for Progress Energy Florida, will retain his position. Lewis's new title will be "senior vice president Florida delivery operations."
[Source: St. Petersburg Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Feds to allow Florida less stringent water standards
Despite complaints by environmental groups that it will lead to more pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved Florida's request to change state standards for its waterways so they aren't as stringent.
The new standards allow for some waterways — manmade canals, for instance — to be classified as no longer appropriate for swimming or fishing, allowing only "incidental contact."
The reason, say state officials, is that cleaning them up would cost more than it's worth.
› Four Seasons finalizes deal for $360 million hotel at Disney World
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts said Tuesday it has secured financing for a $360 million luxury resort at Walt Disney World and will begin construction of the long-planned project in December.
The 444-room hotel, which will include a rooftop restaurant with views of the Magic Kingdom and a "lazy river" water feature, among other amenities, is expected to open in mid- or late 2014. The project will also include as many as 40 Four Seasons time-share units and up to 90 Four Seasons private residences.
› Florida still rides atop mortgage-fraud list
Florida continues to be the state with the most mortgage fraud, according to a list compiled by MortgageDaily.com, but other states are gaining.
The national "Second-Quarter 2011 Mortgage Fraud Index" was at 1,261, an increase of 27 percent from the first quarter.
According to the company's data, Minnesota "emerged as a problem area for mortgage fraud and helped lift national activity from the first quarter."
Florida's reading was 117, translating into $184 million in fraud. Minnesota, by comparison, had a reading of 107 and $184.7 million in fraud.
› Tolls to rise on Turnpike
It is going to cost more to ride on Florida's toll roads, including the Turnpike, starting next summer. The state owns nearly 600 miles of toll roads, including the Turnpike, which runs down the center of the state, starting in Wildwood.
With the increase June 30, tolls will rise annually, pegged to the Consumer Price Index.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Orange County Commissioners balk at rental-car tax referendum
Orange County Commissioner Ted Edwards called Tuesday for a referendum next fall on whether to enact a $2 rental car surcharge for mass-transit needs, but his elected colleagues said a straw poll could be a waste of time.
Edwards, who predicted the tax could raise up to $40 million annually for the Lynx bus system and SunRail commuter train, said he would continue to pursue his idea, even though none of the commissioners supported it Tuesday.
› Jacksonville's GDP rebounded in 2010 to a 10-year high
After two years of declines, Jacksonville's gross domestic product rose in 2010 to its highest level in 10 years, according to data the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released Tuesday.
At $60.303 billion, the metropolitan area's GDP topped the previous high water mark, $60.168 billion, set in 2007. Knocked by the recession, Jacksonville GDP had fallen to $59.146 billion in 2008 and $58.595 billion in 2009.
Prior to 2007, the metro area's gross domestic product had risen every year from $39.921 billion in 2001.
› Lee County to see second greatest job increase in nation
A new survey forecasts Lee County will add the second most jobs of any metropolitan area in the nation before the end of the year - second only to San Antonio. And while it sounds great for Southwest Florida, it's not all good news.
According to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey 22 percent of companies interviewed in Lee County plan to hire more employees in the rest of 2011, while 6-percent expect to reduce staff.
› South Florida business, education leaders form call to action
As education in South Florida goes, so goes the future economy.
That consensus brought together more than 200 business executives and education leaders at a summit on Tuesday, where they grappled with looming problems like increasing poverty and shrinking education funding.
"Our education system is in a moment of crisis, and it truly does threaten our country's economic prosperity. That link is clearer and clearer every day," said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Anthony Miller, who spoke at the event, held by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Miller, who previously worked at global private equity firm Silver Lake, cited statistics that put Florida's reading scores on par with those of Poland and Estonia.
› Norwegian announces new ship names
The new ships from Norwegian Cruise Line will be named Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, the Miami-based company announced Tuesday.
The names were chosen from 230,000 entries submitted to a contest sponsored by the cruise line and USA Today.
› Florida may move up GOP presidential primary to beat Arizona to the punch
Florida may be headed for another outlaw presidential primary.
Arizona's announcement that it will violate Republican National Committee rules and set its primary on Feb. 28 increases pressure on the Sunshine State to schedule its primary before the national GOP's approved date of March 6.