March 19, 2024

Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 4/18/2019

Fastest-growing metro in the nation? The Villages

The fastest-growing metro area in the United States is The Villages, the sprawling Central Florida retirement community where the population has ballooned by nearly 38 percent since 2010, according to data by the U.S. Census Bureau released early Thursday. Orlando clocked in at ninth-fastest nationally, at a clip of over 20 percent since 2010, putting the Orlando area at No. 22 in population among U.S. metros. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

See also:
» South Florida’s population saw huge growth this decade. That could soon reverse

State groups want legislators to continue funding Visit Florida

Groups from around the Sunshine State are sending a message calling for legislators to continue funding the state's tourism agency Visit Florida. Visit Florida will dissolve in October if lawmakers don't approve funding. More from WTXL.

Former foes Uber and Mears partner to offer taxis on the Uber app in Orlando

The changing relationship between former adversaries Uber and taxi companies is taking a major leap into uncharted territory, and Orlando will be the proving ground. Beginning Friday, a new icon will pop up on the screens of Uber users across the area: UberTaxi. As the name suggests, the product merges the two competing groups, making taxis available on the Uber app. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Medical marijuana licenses granted for eight more Florida operators

The new additions to Florida’s rapidly growing medical-marijuana industry — projected to generate more than $2.5 billion in annual revenue within five years — come from a pool of applicants that lost out in the first round of licensing in 2015 under an initial state law that allowed non-euphoric cannabis. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

CareerSource summer job program seeks workers and employers

With summer coming, CareerSource Tampa Bay this week put out the "Help Wanted" sign — not only for students seeking summer jobs, but also for employers who can provide the work while CareerSource provides the pay from a federal grant. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Around the State
Former Navy land is Escambia's “field of dreams”

 After years of negotiations with the U.S. Navy, Escambia County took ownership in late January of a prime 636-acre site adjacent to Navy Federal Credit Union’s 306-acre Pensacola area campus. Formerly owned by the Department of Defense, the land was used for decades as a helicopter training field.

» More from Florida Trend.

 

Profile
Manheim Orlando

floridaManheim Orlando opened its new state-of-the-art body shop and reconditioning center April 9 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Manheim leadership team and city of Ocoee staff members. Manheim invested $4.8 million to upgrade the center. It now provides everything needed to prepare vehicles for retail or wholesale sales, including comprehensive inspection, mechanical and body reconditioning, paint, detail, merchandising and imaging.

» Read more from the Orange Observer and the Orlando Sentinel.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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