March 28, 2024

Friday's Daily Pulse

Photo: Monica Herndon \ Tampa Bay Times

Friday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 4/24/2020

As coronavirus batters the economy, Florida leaders may have to slash budget

The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature faces tough choices in balancing the $93 billion state budget decimated by the coronavirus crisis, decisions that could wipe out or drastically reduce teacher raises, road work, affordable housing projects and more. Lawmakers last month passed the spending plan based on revenue projections made in January, well before the coronavirus brought much of the economy to a halt. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

A half-million Floridians filed for unemployment pay last week

The number of people filing for unemployment in Florida ballooned by more than 500,000 people last week, almost three times as many as the week before. The number appeared to be evidence that more people were able to get through the state’s tangled unemployment compensation system. New claims totaled 505,137 for the week ending April 18, up from 180,419 the week before. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida virus expert is optimistic about vaccines, therapy

Even as thousands die and more are sickened in the coronavirus pandemic, a top virus expert at Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Fla. sees reasons for hope. During a webinar on Wednesday, Dr. Michael Farzan detailed research, though preliminary, that could pave a path toward a vaccine for COVID-19. The fast-spreading virus has infected almost 1 million Americans with close to 50,000 deaths. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Publix pledges to help farmers by buying excess produce, donating it to food banks

Publix announced this week that it will purchase fresh produce and milk to help farmers who have been hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. Publix will donate these products to Feeding America member food banks operating in the communities they serve. The initiative will support Florida produce farmers, southeastern dairy farmers and the growing number of families looking to Feeding America for fresh fruit, vegetables and milking during the coronavirus pandemic. The initiative is expected to run for several weeks. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Tampa Bay Times.

Florida chief financial officer seeks to identify unclaimed Chinese assets

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis is asking the U.S. State Department for help identifying unclaimed Chinese government assets held by Florida as unclaimed property. Patronis is in charge of the Division of Unclaimed Property, which holds $2 billion in assets. He’s asking the State Department for “technical assistance in identifying Chinese state-owned businesses that may have unclaimed property." [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

What changes have you made to your business/work-flow during the pandemic?
Our question and answer series In Focus asks members of Florida's business community to share real-life lessons, tips and experiences learned along the way. This week's question: "What changes have you made to your business/work-flow during the pandemic?"

Top responses will be published in our newsletter. Submit your response and accompanying photo to: floridatrend.com/infocus/submit

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› “Top Secret” electric car ad seeks county filming funds
The production company behind a TV ad for a “top-secret” electric car is seeking $50,000 through Miami-Dade’s Television, Film and Entertainment Production Incentives Program. Ondamax Films, which has an office in Miami Beach, applied for funds to shoot the commercial, titled “Electric Car 02C,” in January.

› What a time to expand: Tako Cheena launches pizza delivery in Orlando’s Mills 50 neighborhood
As the coronavirus pandemic slashed restaurant sales across the country, the owner of Orlando’s Tako Cheena decided now was the time to open a place he had been looking at doing for years. With the funky fusion restaurant having two buildings a quick walk apart in the Mills 50 neighborhood, owner Edgardo Guzman is now using his property at 932 N. Mills Ave. to deliver pizza through his new brand, Pop’s Pizzeria.

› A 96-year-old great-grandmother still works at her family’s liquor store every day
Josephine Valenty, 96, walks beneath the light-up Budweiser wagon, past the statue of Jack Daniels, along the wall of wine. At the Corona palm tree, she turns left. She used to stop there and stand behind the cash register -- for 10 hours a day, six days a week. She’s been a clerk, she says proudly, for 80 years.

› Coral Gables hotel owned by asset management firm gets $1.1 million small business loan
The Hyatt Regency Coral Gables is one of 42 hotels around the country owned by a publicly traded asset management company that received 42 loans totaling about $40 million from a taxpayer-funded federal program designed to aid small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

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