Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 9/21/2016

Decision on Florida workers' comp rate could come soon

State regulators may be close to deciding on a proposed 19.6 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance rates. The proposal has drawn heavy interest from business groups, insurers, labor groups and attorneys for injured workers. More from Health News Florida and the Insurance Journal. Also see background on the 19 percent rake hike, here.

FSU's Jim Moran Institute extends global entrepreneurship program to Jacksonville

Florida State University’s Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship is launching in Jacksonville, to cultivate, train and inspire entrepreneurs on the First Coast. The Institute will begin by offering its flagship Small Business Executive Program (SBEP), for which it is currently taking applications until Oct. 21. Full story from FSU, here.

SPP presents reimagined vision for Channelside Waterfront to Port Tampa Bay

Strategic Property Partners, LLC (SPP) provided a comprehensive project update today to Port Tampa Bay Board of Commissioners and presented a reimagined vision for the long term future of the Channelside waterfront. More from Florida Trend.

Orlando travel technology firm gets investment

Orlando-based Radixx International, a software and customer service firm for airline reservations and ticket sales, has a new investor. Boston-based TA Associates, a private equity firm, has plunked down an undisclosed amount of financing for the Orlando company. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Broward to host transgender group's conference for second year

For the second consecutive year, Broward County will host one of the largest gatherings of the transgender community in the country, when the Southern Comfort Conference starts next week in Weston. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Around the State
Boundless? Orlando extends its growth eastward

In mid-July, a divided Orange County Commission voted to rewrite the county’s growth plan to accommodate two developments east of the Econlockhatchee River, which together could bring more than 4,000 housing units on about 2,800 acres. The person most responsible for the decision was local developer Dwight Saathoff, whose mixed-use community, “The Grow,” is the furthest along of the two east-of-the-Econ housing projects.

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Event
Conservation photographer to speak at PSC

After traversing thousands of miles in Florida since 2012 to capture the stories and images of the state's wildlife, nationally recognized conservation photographer Carlton Ward Jr. will visit Pensacola this week to share his work. Ward will present a series of photographs and videos on protecting and restoring state lands and waterways at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts at Pensacola State College. It's free.