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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida's 350 biggest companies 2020
Florida Trend's Top 350 - The state's 225 biggest private and 125 biggest public companies, ranked by revenue. The full list contains hundreds of additional contacts, phone, fax, website, full company address, and other information not previously published.[Source: Florida Trend]
Boat, RV dealers ride sales surge
The popularity of recreational vehicles and the RV lifestyle — for so long a key cog in Florida’s tourism-based economy — was already experiencing a resurgence earlier this year. Then came the coronavirus pandemic — and the subsequent economic downturn. Sales of luxury, big-ticket items like RVs and boats were supposed to come to a screeching halt. Just like the years following the 2008 financial crisis. But something funny happened on the way to a COVID-19 crisis-led downturn: a surge in sales. [Source: Business Observer]
Florida bar exam moves to online format in August 2020
The Florida Board of Bar Examiners has announced it will administer an online bar examination on August 18, 2020. The in-person administration of the General Bar Examination scheduled for July 28 and 29, 2020, in Tampa and Orlando, has been canceled. [Source: WCTV]
Florida's official layoff registry shows deep impacts of COVID-19
Florida’s official layoff registry paints a troubling economic picture in Southwest Florida, reflecting thousands of sudden job losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. The state's go-to website for information on Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications — or WARN notices — shows COVID-19 resulting in more than 3,600 permanent or temporary job cuts in Lee and Collier counties by larger employers since the pandemic hit in March. [Source: Naples Daily News]
Florida-based supermarket company joins Facebook and Instagram ad pullout
The Stop Hate for Profit movement aimed at Facebook has gained a Florida-based supermarket chain — not Publix, but Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Winn-Dixie, Fresco Y Mas, Harvey’s and Bi-Lo. “Starting July 1, we will put an indefinite hold on further advertising on Facebook and [Facebook-owned] Instagram social media platforms in hopes that they continue to champion progressive change and better enforce their stated policies,” said a Tuesday night email from the Jacksonville-based company. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Sarasota Chamber launches ‘support local’ campaign
The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce is launching a month-long, small business support initiative called “S ouR Q”. The initiative is focused on generating business by driving customers to local small businesses, particularly in the restaurant and retail industries.
› Florida hospital in virus-hit county scales back surgeries
Jackson Health System, Miami's largest hospital with about 1,200 regular beds and 200 intensive care unit beds, said it would begin limiting nonemergency admissions beginning Monday because of “a steady increase” in the number of coronavirus patients over the past few weeks.
› Tampa plugs gap for troubled small businesses
Tampa has spent millions since mid-April to help pay the bills for business owners and individuals whose lives have been scrambled by the coronavirus. The city is now preparing to spent another $1.2 million to help approximately 580 small businesses who previously didn’t qualify for aid.
› Miami-Dade advised to sue over forever chemicals
Miami-Dade has sufficient legal standing to sue – and should sue – the makers of so-called “forever chemicals,” a class of some 4,000 substances prevalent in the water supply linked to cancer and birth defects, County Attorney Abigail Price-Williams has confirmed. A recommendation from Ms. Price-Williams’ office for the county to join an existing class action lawsuit should reach the county commission this month, Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava said.
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