March 29, 2024

Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 6/15/2018

Florida’s unemployment rate drops to 3.8 percent

Just when it seemed like Florida’s unemployment rate couldn’t get lower, it did. According to the latest state figures, Florida’s jobless rate hit 3.8 percent in May, a slight dip after holding steady at 3.9 percent for seven months. The state added 15,100 jobs over the month. The national unemployment rate also dropped to 3.8 percent in May, marking the first time in two years that Florida's rate equaled the national average. See the announcement from Gov. Scott, and get full data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Also see more at the Tampa Bay Times.

See also:
» Orlando jobs in May outlined by latest state data
» Website: Sarasota is best city in Florida for summer jobs

SpaceX hopes to launch 4,000 satellites, mostly from Florida, NASA report says

SpaceX has plans to launch more than 4,000 satellites, the majority of which will head into space from the Space Coast, according to an environmental impact study done by the Elon Musk-led company and NASA. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

A new print specialist, Catapult, has launched in Orlando

With a 25-year heritage in design and print, the Catapult team will specialize in three specific areas: self-adhesive, narrow web film and linerless labeling. The company is led by founder and CEO Mark Cook, who had an early career as a professional footballer a recently was a partner in a $37 million international packaging design agency. More from Labels and Labelling.

North Port approves water park, aims to land first hotel since 1973

North Port city commissioners have approved the construction contract for the North Port Aquatic Center at Butler Park and took steps to ease the way for the construction of the first new hotel in North Port since 1973. Both items have been long-awaited by the residents of Sarasota’s largest municipality. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Magic Leap partners with Air New Zealand to offer 'fantastical journey'

Plantation-based technology company Magic Leap is partnering with Air New Zealand to offer travelers a “fantastical journey” through that country. The partnership was announced Thursday by Air New Zealand, which flies out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Florida Trend Column
Laying the groundwork for higher-ed success

 The quick-and-dirty status report on Florida’s colleges and universities: The state college/community college system qualifies among the top five in the country, if not outright No. 1. It was not always so.

» Read the full column from Mark Howard, Florida Trend's Executive Editor

 

Business Profile
Streetside Classics

floridaShowroom attendant and salesman Scott Remington gets acquainted with a 1930 Ford steel-bodied, custom five-window coupe in the showroom at Streetside Classics, a consignment dealership for classic cars. The dealership, located off State Road 54 in Lutz, opened in 2015 and has about 200 classic cars in the 40,000-square-foot showroom

» Read more at TBO.com.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

In case you missed it:

Florida Trend Video Pick

Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns
Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns

New security cameras in downtown Lakeland are raising concerns about privacy. The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority has begun installing 13 new security cameras on streets, sidewalks, and alleyways, and there are mixed feelings about them.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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