March 29, 2024

Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/11/2020

Vacation home rentals boost Florida’s economy by more than $27 billion annually

Florida’s vacation lodging industry – condos and Airbnbs as opposed to traditional hotels and resorts – injects more than $27 billion into the state’s economy annually, according to a new report by the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management. According to the report, Florida’s vacation home rental industry brings in $16.6 billion annually in direct spending and another $10.8 billion annually in indirect spending, which in turn supports an estimated 115,000 jobs. See the report from UCF and read more at World Property Journal and Miami Agent Magazine.

Will Florida pass E-Verify, sports betting and new gun restrictions? What Florida Insiders predict

With the legislative session at the mid-point, the Tampa Bay Times asked more than 150 lobbyist, politicians, activists, party workers, campaign staff and donors to handicap what will and won’t pass out of Tallahassee before lawmakers leave town in mid-March. Almost two-thirds of these Insiders don’t think E-Verify, one of DeSantis’ top priorities, will survive. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Up to 70,000 Broward homeowners may be forced to buy flood insurance

Tens of thousands of homeowners may now have to start paying hundreds of dollars or more each year in flood insurance, thanks to an update in maps that reveal which homes face a flood risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is updating its flood maps for all of Broward, and the number of properties in the county being redrawn into flood zones is significant. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Jacksonville gets $93 million from feds for port deepening

Jacksonville’s deepening of the St. Johns River is in line for an additional $93 million from the federal government, propelling JaxPort closer to what’s needed to pay for dredging all the way to Blount Island and compete for global cargo carried by huge ships. JaxPort called it a “milestone for the project” that will deepen 11 miles of river from a depth of 40 feet down to 47 feet. More from the Florida Times-Union.

Largo telemarketer to close and lay off more than 100 workers

Las Vegas-based Quantum Energy Holdings plans to close its call center and offices on Ulmerton Road and lay off more than 100 employees on April 10. “The reason for the closure is strategic business alignment,” Quantum vice president for corporate affairs Laura Zepeda wrote in a layoff notice to the city of Largo and state of Florida. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

In Memoriam
Joe Tamborello, longtime owner of Ybor’s Tamborello Service Station

 Joe Tamborello, Sr. was born the same day his family opened their Ybor City service station. That business remained central to his life for the next 69 years, until he sold the property and retired in 2016. Mr. Tamborello died on January 31 of lymphoma. He was 73. Joe Tamborello Jr. said his father would want to be remembered as a loving family man. But that family extends well beyond those who share his DNA. The business was more than a place where cars were repaired. It was an Ybor City gathering place.

» More from the Tampa Bay Times.

 

Out of the Box
High-end storage facility being built — for wine

floridaA specialized self-storage facility — for wine — is being built in Naples. Gates Construction is overseeing the three-story climate controlled building, Carl’s White Glove Persona Storage & Wine Vault, according to a statement. The project joins at least one other self-storage facility in the region dedicated to wine, with Cellar Fifty-Five in Sarasota.

» Read more from the Business Observer.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Florida Trend Video Pick

Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns
Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns

New security cameras in downtown Lakeland are raising concerns about privacy. The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority has begun installing 13 new security cameras on streets, sidewalks, and alleyways, and there are mixed feelings about them.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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