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Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Without a powerful political supporter, Florida citrus struggles on
Citrus has long been at the center of the state's identity. But citrus production is down nearly 60 percent from a decade ago, largely because of the disease called citrus greening. Those in the industry say that citrus is at a crossroads, and wonder how it will be affected by the new political reality in Tallahassee, which includes a Governor who never mentioned citrus in his state of the state address, and a Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services without a background in agriculture. More from WLRN.
Workforce education, tourism and hemp will boost economy in 2019, Influencers say
From creating new vocational high school programs to supporting a fledgling hemp industry, lawmakers passed a number of measures this year that are designed to spur jobs and help boost the economy. In a new survey of the Florida Influencers, a group of 50 prominent political and policy figures from across the state, more than half listed vocational education as the top accomplishment of the Legislature when it comes to job creation and economic growth. More from the Miami Herald.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Jacksonville International Airport plans third concourse to handle growth
Last year, Jacksonville International Airport added Spirit Airlines to its roster. Meanwhile, Allegiant, Frontier and Southwest began offering 10 new destinations, including Las Vegas and San Antonio. The seats filled up as fast as they were added, with JIA’s passenger count rising 16% in 2018, from 5.5 million in 2017 to 6.4 million. More from Florida Trend.
Two new oyster farmers want to operate in the Pensacola area. Why residents have concerns
The Pensacola area's oyster farming industry is poised for expansion but it is facing opposition from some East Pensacola Heights residents who don't want oyster cages cluttering their views of the bay. Two oyster companies have proposed new operations with the Florida Department of Agriculture on multiple-acre tracts in Escambia Bay and East Bay in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. More from the Pensacola News-Journal.
University of North Florida center a ‘front door’ for entrepreneurs
Having an idea is great, but without the proper guidance and enough money, it can be impossible to turn an idea into a viable business. How those latter two elements of success are coming together in Jacksonville was the topic of the North Florida Business Roundtable presented by the Holland & Knight law firm. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Florida Dining
11 restaurants that have been open a lifetime
So many restaurants come and go in South Florida that diners could use a scorecard to figure out what’s open from week to week. High rents. Changing tastes. Chef boredom. It all adds up to short restaurant life spans. But if you look hard enough in the 305 and 954, several restaurants have stood for more than half century. And in always changing Miami-Dade, Broward and the Keys, that is a lifetime.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Business Profile
Air Trek
For over 40 years, pilots and brothers Wayne and Dana Carr built a successful air ambulance business from the ground up, transporting critically ill patients all over the world. Air Trek operates 350 to 400 medical flights a year in the business based at two hangars at the Punta Gorda Airport.
» Read more from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
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