Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/4/2019

Florida set to receive funds as USDA awards $200 million to agriculture organizations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $200 million award to 57 organizations through the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program to help the nation’s agriculture community identify and access new export markets. The Florida Department of Citrus was one of the specified organizations and is set to receive $550,000 in funding to promote citrus in various new markets. More from Space Coast Daily and Florida Politics.

Sales and Marketing Advice
Pitching without being pushy

Most companies start their conversations with prospects by pitching, both online and offline. Starting with “amazing” features and benefits first is wide of the mark. Any thing that sounds like a pitch will fail to get you the desired results more often than not. Read Ron Stein's full column here.

Most Florida CEOs are in ‘growth mode’ with plans to hire more

The Miami Herald asked Florida CEOs: In 2019, do you plan to hire more, fewer, or about the same number of employees? What leads you to this outlook? Read the responses at the Miami Herald.

More oil drilling proposed for southern Florida

The boom in U.S. oil production may one day extend to southern Florida, where several companies have proposed operations to extract the valuable black liquid from some of the most sensitive habitats in the state. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

$11 billion sale of Weston-based Ultimate Software would make some employees millionaires

Weston-based Ultimate Software, where every employee is a stockholder, has agreed to go private for $11 billion, the company announced Monday. The deal would likely make millionaires out of many of the longer-term employees. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Florida Law
Florida lawmakers might ban cities from banning plastic straws

Straws, plastic bags...there’s been some big pushes to get rid of plastic throughout Florida; not only by business owners but lawmakers too. Local governments wouldn’t be able to regulate single-use plastic straws under a measure filed last week in the House.

» More from the Tampa Bay Times and WFTS.

Florida 500
Gene Lee

As CEO of Darden, Gene Lee, who started his career in the restaurant business as a busboy, oversees some 150,000 employees at more than 1,500 restaurants in the Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and five specialty chains.