Wednesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 8/22/2018

Green is Florida's new orange

Citrus industry growers and researchers have now spent hundreds of millions of dollars not only to control the Asian citrus psyllid that spreads the greening bacteria, but to create new rootstock more tolerant to it while also developing chemicals that can be more effective when sprayed on trees. More from Florida Weekly.

Miami-Dade Mayor seeks far-ranging fee hikes, from water to libraries

New or amended service fees included in Miami-Dade’s forthcoming budget are projected to yield the county $54.35 million in fiscal 2018-19, with more than half coming from hikes in Water and Sewer rates. More from Miami Today.

Medical marijuana flap could cost Wells Fargo Broward's business

Wells Fargo’s decision to drop an account connected to a state candidate who supports medical marijuana could cost the bank more business. A Broward commissioner says the county should stop doing business with Wells Fargo and plans to bring up the issue at the Sept. 13 meeting. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Disney will reimburse online course up front for employees

More than 80,000 hourly employees at Walt Disney Co. will be eligible to take online courses starting this fall that would be reimbursed 100 percent up front by Disney, the company said Wednesday. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

First new Sarasota community bank in 10 years raises $20 million

Organizers of the area’s first new community bank in 10 years have raised over $20 million to launch their venture. More than 220 investors have committed funds for the proposed Gulfside Bank, which is scheduled to open this fall in downtown Sarasota. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Survey
Florida leads the way among best places for women to start a business

Florida makes its way onto a bunch of “best” and “worst” lists, and when it comes to the top places for women to start a business, we’re right at the top. Ahead of Women’s Equality Day this Sunday, the website Business.org ranked U.S. cities on “the factors that may help women entrepreneurs be more successful” and three of the top 10 metro areas are in the Sunshine State.

» More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Business Profile
Fixpresso

A new subway train-themed coffee shop named Fixpresso has opened in Coral Gables. The founders said they worked on the store's subway train concept and fixed-price menu for 2.5 years. The Coral Gables site is the brand's flagship store. It includes its franchise offices, as it aims to begin franchising in 2019.