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What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Trend Exclusive
Athletic shoes and the billion-dollar resell market
When Juan Osorio was in the fifth grade in Jacksonville, he fell in love with a sneaker, the Nike Air Jordan 3 — in “fire red” — and persuaded his parents to get him a pair to wear to school. Since then, he’s been crazy about sneakers. In middle school, Osorio began reselling sneakers to classmates, hoping to make enough money to feed his shoe habit. Osorio, 23, figures he has sold more than $300,000 in sneakers and pocketed $100,000 in profit over the past decade. [Source: Florida Trend]
Florida gas prices declined an average of 7 cents over the past week
Florida gas prices declined an average of 7 cents during the past week. The state average has declined the past 9 consecutive days for a total decline of 8 cents. Sunday’s state average of $2.71 per gallon is 7 cents less than a week ago, 8 cents less than a month ago, and nearly 10 cents less than this time last year. Year-to-date, the state average has averaged $2.48 per gallon – 11 cents less than the same period last year. [Source: Space Coast Daily]
New loan program to help businesses hurt by Hurricane Irma
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced a new $40 million loan program aimed at helping small businesses still recovering in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. The Rebuild Florida Business Loan Program was formed through a partnership with the U.S. Economic Development Administration. It will be administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. More from Florida Politics and WTXL.
Opinion: Welcome to age-friendly Florida
Florida joined the global age-friendly network last month. The designation is particularly relevant to Florida, whose residents are getting older: One out of five are 65 or older; nearly 2 million are 75-plus; centenarians represent the state’s fastest growing demographic subgroup. Best practices in age-friendliness have already been developed for the arts, business, employers, housing, health care, public facilities, universities and more. The age-friendly model touches every person, every sector and every industry. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Plastic straws are out: Ron DeSantis vetoes prohibition of local straw bans
Gov. Ron DeSantis flexed his veto power for the first time late Friday, declining to sign an environmental bill that would have prohibited local governments from banning plastic straws for the next five years. In his veto letter to Secretary of State Laurel Lee, he said municipalities who prohibit plastic straws have not “frustrated any state policy” or “harmed the state’s interest.” More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Daily Commercial.
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› IRONMAN Foundation to provide $100,000 in humanitarian relief to build 3D printed homes in Panama City
The IRONMAN Foundation®, will provide a $100,000 Humanitarian Relief Effort Grant to the City of Panama City Community Development to help them solve the housing shortage created by Hurricane Michael. Specifically, the grant will help to fund new technology using 3D concrete robot printers that will build affordable and durable concrete homes.
› ‘We just outgrew each other.’ Ultra is third big event to leave Miami in 14 months
Ultra Music Festival’s departure from Miami has people wondering where the three-day electronic dance music event will land next, but it also sparks a pivotal question for Miami’s urban core. The city and surrounding region happily play host to some annual big-ticket gatherings that fuel the tourism industry and pump dollars into the local economy.
› Humana looking to fill 50 full-time job openings in South Florida
Health insurance giant Humana Inc. is seeking to hire 50 full-time telemarketers to provide national enrollment and sales assistance for the company’s Medicare benefit plans and specialty products. The positions are being created to meet increased demand during the annual Medicare open enrollment period.
› The Super Bowl is coming to Miami in 2020, but taxpayers are being billed already
When the National Football League brings the Super Bowl to the Miami area next year, it plans to leave a “legacy” project of two new artificial-turf football fields in a pair of county parks. But the NFL won’t be covering most of the cost: An estimate from the Parks Department has taxpayers contributing more than $2 million toward the $3 million price tag for the two fields, with the NFL donating about $850,000.
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