Prison privatization aims to save the state millions
Florida is moving forward with a timetable to turn over prison operations in the southern half of the state to a private contractor, after the Legislature approved the plan designed to save millions of dollars. The change is not without controversy. There are competing claims as to whether privatizing prisons saves taxpayer dollars, and the Florida Police Benevolent Association — which represents Florida's unionized prison guards — filed a lawsuit in July to block the handover. The process is moving fast. Tuesday is the last day for the private operators to tour the prisons up for bidding. The bids are due Sept. 23, and the handover is scheduled to take place Jan. 1. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Will the Space Coast Become the Cyberspace Coast?
As thousands of jobs disappear from the Space Coast, a non-profit organization is working to redirect some of the talent pool to meet demands for expertise in another form of space — cyberspace. The Global Institute for Cybersecurity and Research, based at Kennedy Space Center Exploration Park, is racing to fill the need for technical experts in computer security. With virtually every aspect of life and commerce now linked to the digital world, the opportunities for hackers to steal information, disrupt communication or damage operations are rising and companies must bolster defenses, says Deborah Kobza, director of the institute. The region's educated workforce of current and former NASA and space contract workers is one advantage the area has in meeting demand for computer experts who can out-hack the hackers. The cybersecurity institute, founded in 2010, is developing a framework for industry, government and academia to collaborate, communicate and develop best practices in the field. Read more about the cyberspace coast.
 Deborah Kobza says the cybersecurity institute is working on implementing a CyberDiscovery Center "model" with the Orlando Science Center that will be rolled out across the country. [Photo: Gregg Matthews] |
Florida-bred Tasti-Lee tomato hits the produce aisle
A decade in the making, a more flavorful breed has emerged to help Florida growers shed their reputation for rock hard, tasteless tomatoes. Say hello to the Tasti-Lee, a tomato cooked up in a University of Florida research lab in rural Hillsborough County that debuted last week at Publix Super Markets. It's a crossbreed designed to give Florida growers, who sell three quarters of their crop to fast food restaurants or to be chopped into products like salsa or sauce, a way to get in the premium tomato business they ceded long ago. [Source: St. Petersburg Times]
New report says GTEC is lagging
With the University of Florida building the fifth business incubator in Alachua County, consultants have recommended that the Gainesville Technology Enterprise Center carve out its own niche to stay relevant. They were critical of the existing GTEC program as low performing in most categories important to startup companies, based on interviews with people involved in or familiar with the program. GTEC also should transform from simply a place for tenants to rent into a true incubator that provides a broader range of consulting services and encourages interaction among member companies. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
FPL offers rate incentives for new and expanding businesses
With Public Service Commission approval in hand, Florida Power and Light is to offer electricity price breaks for new and expanding business to spur job creation.
FPL covers a 35-county service territory.
The modifications to FPL's electric rates are designed to provide an incentive to businesses to start up, expand or relocate in Florida. The rate breaks are to be offered with an eye toward businesses that will create jobs but create "a limited level of new electric load" on the FPL grid.
Read more from the Florida Times-Union and get more info from FPL.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Officials rethink Titusville's economic incentive plan
City officials have put the brakes on a plan to offer a new form of economic incentives to startup or expanding businesses, after concerns were raised about the program.
Titusville's Planning and Growth Management Department staff suggested that a special pool of money coming from property tax revenue within the city's downtown Community Redevelopment Agency district be tapped to help pay for site plan and building permit fees, as well as capital investments for new business ventures.
› Florida picked for $1.5 billion solar farm
National Solar Power today announced, after a deliberative, exhaustive and comprehensive search process, it has narrowed its list to four communities in Florida to become the home of the world's largest solar farm. The announcement means Gadsden, Hardee, Osceola and Suwannee counties are in the running to host the landmark $1.5 billion renewable energy project.
"We have been impressed by all of the communities we have considered. After careful consideration, we've determined the Sunshine State will provide the most attractive site for our first solar project," said National Solar Power CEO James Scrivener. "Our friends in Georgia and North Carolina were deeply interested in this project. The communities we have visited and considered in those states remain viable options for our company's growth plans in the future."
› Tampa drug development firm expanding
Xcelience, a Tampa company that helps clients with early-stage drug development, said Monday it is expanding its local headquarters and adding 45 jobs over the next three years.
The firm pledged to add nine rooms to its existing 24,000-square-foot facility as well as develop a new, 24,000-square-foot facility nearby.
The expansion, which will more than double Xcelience's current workforce, is tied to a state and local tax refund worth $135,000.
› Brevard project puts food in kids' backpacks
After seeing a TV report about hunger in America, the idea of any child, anywhere going without food didn't sit right with Robert "Bob" Barnes.
And after finding out that more than 40 percent of Brevard County students participate in the free and reduced-price lunch program, the West Melbourne man decided to do his best to make sure local kids don't go hungry on weekends.
Starting this week, at least 100 students at Riviera Elementary School in Palm Bay will benefit from the 70-year-old's Children Hunger Project, a new nonprofit which provides food for hungry children to eat on Saturday and Sunday.
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› Tampa Bay Water agrees to $156 million contract to fix reservoir
Despite their misgivings about the impact on their rates, Tampa Bay Water's board voted unanimously Monday to sign a $156 million contract to fix its cracked reservoir and expand it from 15.5 billion gallons to 18.5 billion gallons.
The construction work by a Nebraska-based firm, Kiewit Infrastructure Group, is now scheduled to begin late next summer, with completion in 2014.
› Citrus forecasters predict another good year
Florida orange growers will see a steady-as-you-go market in 2011-12, according to two widely watched early crop forecasts.
After a profitable 2010-11 season, that's good news.
Elizabeth Steger, an Orlando citrus consultant, has forecast Florida growers will produce 142 million boxes of oranges, or 2 percent more than last season's crop of 139 million boxes, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
› Marion County wants to give local companies more of edge
Over the last two years, local companies have been unbeaten under Marion County's policy designed to show them a preference over out-of-town competitors.
But county officials want to improve the chances that local companies will win bids on public works projects.
In July 2009, the County Commission approved a policy that mandated a second bid if a local vendor was within 5 percent of a non-Marion company when the offers were first opened.
Now, commissioners are considering a plan to give local vendors a second bite at the apple if their bid comes within 10 percent.
› With earlier closing hours, Abacoa bars looking for way to attract customers
With last call coming an hour earlier starting this week, Abacoa Center bar owners are hustling to come up with new ideas to keep their customers.
"I started a live band at Friday night happy hour. We now have karaoke on Monday nights. On Tuesday nights, it's $4 for anything: an appetizer, beer or shot. We've got to bring in people earlier," said Vicki Greist, manager of Jumby Bay, a bar/restaurant on Town Center Drive in the mixed-use development that includes Roger Dean Stadium.
Responding to complaints about rowdy late-night revelers and too much noise, the town council in February approved requiring bars/restaurants in the development and other parts of the town to stop serving drinks one hour earlier at 2 a.m.
› Dali Museum sets sights on being a center for innovation
A greatly expanded building to house the largest collection of Salvador Dalí paintings outside Spain is poised to serve not just as an exhibition space for the Spanish surrealist but as an incubator for innovation.
"We realized we're going to be able to be a place for people to come for excitement, for news, for new ideas and for enjoyment, and through that process we can educate them about Dalí," said museum director Hank Hine.
The museum, which opened at 11:11 a.m. on 1/11/11, has already outstripped its history of visitor traffic at the old site on Third Avenue, which attracted about 200,000 visitors a year — a number surpassed by the new Dali on June 26, just six months after opening.
› Declaring 'financial urgency,' Miami tells unions to redo contracts
Miami's four major unions were told Monday they had 14 days to negotiate new contracts or for the second consecutive year or face cuts by city commissioners looking to fill a $61 million budget hole in 2012.
In a one-paragraph memo issued Monday to the mayor and city commissioners, City Manager Johnny Martinez said he's declaring a state statute called "financial urgency" with regard to the city's contractual obligations with the police, fire, general employees, and city sanitation workers unions.