March 28, 2024

Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 5/6/2019

As hurricane season nears, small businesses should prepare

With the start of the Atlantic hurricane season approaching next month, small business owners can expect to hear admonishments from government agencies about getting prepared. Disaster prep is something many owners intend to get to, but it gets pushed down the to-do list by more immediate concerns about customers, employees, finances and suppliers. But owners should think now at least about basic disaster planning. More from the AP and the Washington Post.

See also:
» 2019 Hurricane Season Expected to be Slightly Above Average But Less Active Than Last Year

Olive Garden debuts new-look restaurant this week in Orlando

Olive Garden is opening a new restaurant in Orlando this week with a dramatically different design than its other locations. It’s the only one like it as the Italian dining chain evolves and seeks to maintain its share in the competitive restaurant world. Olive Garden is owned by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Mayor’s son has plan for county land: a $300 million ‘micro’ steel mill in Homestead

Julio Gimenez, whose father is Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, is a partner in a venture that wants to build a $298 million steel mill project on about 123 acres of county-owned land near Homestead that’s been designated for commercial development for 15 years. More from the Miami Herald.

Harris CEO optimistic about merger, finances as deal with L3 nears completion

Harris Corp.'s CEO says he is optimistic about the future, as his company prepares to complete its merger with L3 Technologies Inc. The high-technology and defense companies that plan to merge both reported strong financial results last week. Their "merger of equals," announced in October, is expected to be completed by midyear. More from Florida Today.

As rents soar, middle-income Central Floridians fret

Central Florida rental rates have grown at about twice the national average during the past five years, according to newly released data from Apartment List’s Rentonomics. As of April, it cost $1,280 to rent a two-bedroom home or apartment in Orlando, compared with $837 in January 2014. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Out of the Box
Florida man runs voice-over business from home closet

 What does a retired naval flight officer and former Navy Choir director do after serving his country? Join a barbershop singing group? Check. Sit in his patio and enjoy a nice Irish whiskey in the evening? Check. How about voice-over recordings from a walk-in closet in his bedroom? Still doing that. John Harnish, owner of Harnish Voice Overs LLC, has spent the past nine years recording his voice in his Pace home’s closet studio.

» More from the AP.

 

Business Profile
Atmospheric Water Solutions

floridaBare store shelves often mean a big storm is coming. They can also mean drinking water is more valuable than ever. A company in South Florida says the answer is in the air. Doug Marcille is the founder of Atmospheric Water Solutions in Broward County. The company's machine, the AquaBoy, creates water by grabbing it out of the air.

» Read more from WTVT.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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