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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
More than 1.2 million Floridians — 13% of the state’s workforce — out of work in April
The coronavirus pandemic robbed 1.2 million Floridians of a paycheck in April, as the state’s unemployment rate hit a modern-day record of 12.9 percent. More Floridians are out of work now that at any time in the state’s history, surpassing the previous record of a little over 1 million set in February of 2010. The numbers are likely even worse. The unemployment rate is calculated from a survey taken in the middle part of each month. People who say they are out of work but not actively looking for a job are not included in the official rate. More from the Tampa Bay Times, the Miami Herald, and the Orlando Sentinel.
Florida Trend Exclusive
COVID-19's impact on Florida's manufacturing sector
Until the coronavirus outbreak, Florida’s manufacturing sector was booming, growing both in jobs and productivity. Longer term, as the impact of COVID-19 diminishes, its biggest challenge may be attracting workers. A funny thing happened on the way out of the Great Recession. Florida’s manufacturing sector — never a headliner in the state’s economic show — emerged as a star performer. More from Florida Trend.
Tampa-based based RV giant acquires Arizona dealership
Lazydays RV, one of the nation’s largest RV dealerships, has acquired Mesa, Ariz.-based Korges Enterprises Inc., which does business as Desert Autoplex RV and specializes in top RV brands such as Newmar, Forest River and Northwood. The deal, according to a press release, expands Tampa-based Lazydays’ footprint in the Grand Canyon State beyond Tucson and into the Phoenix market. The dealership will be branded as Lazydays RV of Phoenix. More from the Business Observer.
Florida citrus company announces execution of new 4-year supply agreements
Alico, Inc. announced it has entered into two new agreements with its largest customer to supply citrus fruit. These agreements are effective October 1, 2020 and conclude on July 31, 2024 and succeed an existing agreement that is set to expire at the end of September 2020. More from Fresh Plaza.
Florida theme parks getting ready to reopen
It appears theme parks will soon be welcoming guests in Florida. Local officials approved reopening plans for Legoland in Winter Haven and the Universal theme parks in Orlando. The reopening plans now go to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for final approval. He has indicated he wants to see theme parks reopen once they submitted plans for keeping employees and guests protected from the coronavirus. More from WABE.
Industry Trend
Void magazine tries to make sure ‘print is not dead’
Ten-year-old Void magazine has big plans to expand its influence, to make North Florida a little more hip and interesting. They are centered on its new headquarters: a renovated two-story red warehouse a mere six blocks from the beach, where Void will have a brewpub, a coffee shop, in-house concerts and a store selling Void-branded surfboards and clothing, along with Void-curated vinyl records of local musicians.
» More from the Florida Times-Union.
Florida Dining
What happens when a diner sneezes? Restaurants reopen to a new coronavirus reality
Diners have returned in required masks. Servers change gloves after running every dish. Dishwashers wear foggy face shields to keep potentially coronavirus-contaminated water from splashing them. And chefs move in tight quarters where the idea of social distancing is aspirational. This is the new reality for Miami restaurants, the people who work in them and those who dine there.
» Read more from the Miami Herald.
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