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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida's community banks seize opportunities to help desperate clients
Forget banker’s hours. Bankers across the state have been working more like bartender’s hours, or, in some cases something akin to the lifestyle of a partying college student. Some are staying at the office until 2 a.m., and many are coming in on weekends. Go behind the scenes of a massive mobilization of manpower inside some of the state’s community banks. More from the Business Observer.
Opinion: For Florida tourism, the sun will come out
The agility and creativity with which merchants have adapted to dramatic public health and safety constraints has been nothing short of remarkable. But for every cafe or pizza parlor still up and running, others cannot weather these punishing headwinds, and may not be back when they subside. In view of these losses, it’s important to remember that over the last century our hospitality economy, so quick to crumple under sudden outside pressures, has also proven quick to rebound. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
March was the driest on record. Can the Everglades cope?
In the Everglades, it’s all about the water. The fragile ecosystem hasn’t seen much rain during this unseasonably dry season and by the time summer arrives, sea grass could be dying and the rich peat soil that supports life could be collapsing. March was the hottest month on record for Florida, with an average of just 0.24 inches of rain — the driest in 89 years, according to the Water Management District. More from the Miami Herald.
Florida food stamp recipients can shop online to avoid coronavirus exposure
Low-income people in the state’s major food-assistance program will be able to make online grocery purchases to help protect them from the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. State Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said the U.S. Department of Agriculture had approved the online-purchase plan for Florida’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
8,000 apartments under construction in Tampa Bay as unemployment surges
Before the pandemic began to sweep the nation, the Tampa Bay area was in the midst of an unprecedented apartment boom. Developers had completed 170 projects with a total of nearly 22,700 units in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties since the 2010 end of the Great Recession, according to the Tampa brokerage Franklin Street. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Out of the Box
Florida deems WWE 'essential business' amid coronavirus outbreak
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has been deemed an “essential business” in Florida, the mayor of Orange County said on Monday, allowing the company to resume live tapings of its shows in the state during the coronavirus outbreak. A statewide stay-at-home order went into effect earlier this month in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19, and while WWE was not initially viewed as essential like grocery stores and pharmacies it has since been given the green light.
» More from Reuters and the Miami Herald.
Business Profile
Gulf Breeze shop makes sneeze guards for businesses
Sneeze guards at businesses are the new normal, you may have spotted them at your grocery stores, auto mechanics and other shops around town. Aluma Design in Gulf Breeze is taking advantage of the high demand and began manufacturing them for businesses across the country. Aluma designs had never made sneeze guards before, but after going out to talk to Gulf Breeze businesses they quickly realized people were interested.
» Read more from WEAR.
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