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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Look out Atlanta: South Florida tops southeast for 2018 tech investment
The South Florida region scored more than $1 billion in technology investments last year, according to new data—the most of any metropolitan area in the southeast U.S. In a report released Tuesday by eMerge Americas, the Knight Foundation, and Florida International University, tech firms in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties were shown to have recorded deals totaling approximately $1.4 billion. More from the Miami Herald.
Jacksonville employees shouldn’t campaign in uniform, City Council bill says
Legislation barring city employees from wearing their uniforms in campaign ads is being introduced in Jacksonville’s City Council, relocating a debate that surfaced last month in the city’s Ethics Commission. Councilman Garrett Dennis’ bill would add uniformed appearances in ads or using city vehicles or equipment for campaign purposes to a list of things forbidden to city workers under Jacksonville’s campaign rules. More from the Florida Times-Union.
FPL profit up nearly 22 percent for first quarter
Florida Power & Light Co, which provides electricity to half the state, reported a nearly 22 percent increase in profit for the first quarter, according to parent company NextEra Energy, which reported earnings Tuesday. FPL’s profit was $588 million, or $1.22 a share, compared with $484 million, or $1.02 a share, for the same quarter in 2018. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
City Furniture pledges to become carbon neutral by 2040
National Top 100 furniture retailer City Furniture today announced the complex operational goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040. Fort Lauderdale-based City Furniture’s 2040 Green Promise goal encompasses the company’s showrooms, warehouses and offices, its statewide delivery fleet and recycling initiatives, according to firm President Andrew Koenig. More from Florida Trend.
Where to start a new small business? Bradenton ranks a lot higher than Sarasota
Bradenton ranks in the top 100 small cities for small businesses out of more than 1,200 small cities across the country, according to WalleHub.com Bradenton tied at No. 98 with Lafayette Colo. Holland Mich., ranked No. 1 and the highest ranking Florida small city, Fort Meyers, came in at No. 3. Bradenton beat out neighboring Sarasota by 54 spots, with Sarasota ranking’s standing at 152. More from the Bradenton Herald.
Profile
Best Buy’s oldest employee works in Sarasota
Fifteen years ago, Bob Kaufman was shopping at Best Buy on South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota with his wife when they noticed a kiosk promoting working for the company. Kaufman, who was 74 at the time and retired, certainly had the relevant experience to get a job at the big-box electronics retailer. After all, he’s been working on computers since 1958 — back when they were the size of tables and used punched cards for program creation and storage.
» More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Entertainment Business
Report finds the cheapest theme park in Florida
Fun Spot is the cheapest theme park in Florida, according to a new study that ranks the parks based on their ticket prices, parkings and extras. Fun Spot America was the only major Florida amusement park that offered free parking, said the report from HomeToGo, a vacation rental search engine.
» Read more from the Orlando Sentinel and WTVT.
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