Monday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 12/16/2019

How Florida goods flood Venezuelan stores

While U.S. President Donald Trump wants to drive Venezuela’s socialist ruler out of power with economic sanctions, there has in fact been a burgeoning influx of American-bought goods from Nutella spread to Oreo cookies. The goods are delivered to Florida-based door-to-door services run by Venezuelans, according to 11 interviews with customs agents, operators and businessmen. More from Reuters.

After CEO steps down, Sarasota EDC names interim leader

The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County named former Longboat Key Town Manager David Bullock its interim CEO. The announcement comes after Mark Huey, CEO and president of the EDC for the past eight years, announced his resignation on Dec. 5. Huey will work through the end of December to help in the transition process, according to a press release. More from the Business Observer.

Municipal grocery store in rural Florida meets community’s needs

There’s a government takeover in Florida that Republicans and conservatives are apparently fully supporting, and it involves an essential service in a small town. When Baldwin, Florida’s only grocery store closed, the mayor and city council decided to run their own market — a novel solution, especially for a conservative, rural town. More from WZDX.

SpaceX set for Monday night launch of satellite bringing ‘most powerful signal ever’ to Asia-Pacific region

SpaceX is targeting an evening launch window Monday to send a communications satellite built by Boeing to space. The Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch between 7:10 p.m. and 8:38 p.m. Monday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s launch complex 40. More from the Orlando Sentinel.

Pasco buys first of two water companies. Rates go up county-wide.

Pasco County is raising its water and sewer rates to complete the purchase of a 3,600-customer utility, and at least one county commissioner already is worried about the cost of the next acquisition. "I’m still not very fond of having to come back next year and do another rate increase,'' said Commissioner Mike Moore. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Innovation
Better Briefcase

If the fanny pack is back, can the briefcase be far behind? Eric Polins, a managing partner at HCP Associates, a Tampa marketing and communications firm, believes the answer is yes. So much so that he has put $20,000 of his own money on it and earned a U.S. patent for his Better Briefcase design.

» More from the Business Observer.


Florida's Most Influential Business Leaders
Timothy Cartwright, who moved to Florida in 2007, helped organize what became the Tamiami Angel Funds, a group of investors who invest risk capital in entrepreneurs and startup businesses in Southwest Florida. Read More.