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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
The Paycheck Protection Program saved 3.2 million Florida jobs, according to SBA data
At least $25 billion in interest-free government loans from the Paycheck Protection Program went to Florida small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic, according to data released Monday by the Small Business Administration. And the federal taxpayer money saved at least 3.2 million jobs around the state, according to data that was self-reported by businesses and sent to the SBA. [Source: Miami Herald]
See also:
» From Braman to Flanigan’s, here are the Miami-Dade and Broward companies that got PPP loans
» These Tampa Bay companies got hundreds of millions in small business PPP loans
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida attorney Ben Crump remains in the civil rights spotlight
In January 2006, 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson was sent to a Panama City boot camp for joyriding in his grandmother’s car. Several hours after entering the facility, he collapsed during an exercise drill and died. Angered by a medical examiner’s finding that the death was due to a blood disorder, Anderson’s mother turned to Ben Crump for help. Ben Crump’s advocacy and success have established him as the leading attorney nationally in high-profile civil rights cases.[Source: Florida Trend]
Florida announced as participant in new automated vehicle initiative
The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced Florida as one of its first participants in the Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safety Testing Initiative – a new USDOT-led effort to improve the safety and testing transparency for automated driving systems [Source: WJNO]
Florida gas prices reach 15-week high
Florida gas prices hit a 15-week high following the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Gas averaged $2.11 per gallon across the state Monday, up 8 cents over the week, according to AAA, the Auto Club Group. “Gas prices remain very low for this time of year, due to the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on supply and demand,” said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesman. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Amtrak to reduce New York-Florida trains starting July 6, with more cuts coming Oct. 1
Starting next week, Amtrak is cutting back service between New York and Florida, and train riders can expect more service reductions nationwide by fall. Starting Monday, Amtrak’s Silver Star and Silver Meteor will run from New York to Miami three and four days a week, respectively, instead of every day. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› UK government buys OneWeb; fate of Florida factory unclear
OneWeb, the parent company of a Space Coast satellite factory of the same name, announced over the holiday weekend that it had been sold to a team of two bidders during its bankruptcy proceedings. The government of the United Kingdom and Bharti Global, an Indian conglomerate that operates in several industries including telecommunications, entered a total bid of $1 billion for OneWeb.
› Manatee County to host CARES Act virtual sessions
Manatee County officials will host two virtual meetings this week for small business owners, nonprofits and health care providers who are interested in applying for Manatee CARES Act funds. Both meetings will be held via the Zoom videoconferencing app. The first meeting, at 9 a.m. on July 9, is reserved for small businesses with 15 or fewer employees that experienced financial losses due to COVID-19.
› Despite governor’s veto, Tarpon Springs still plans to dredge Anclote River
Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $812,100 in state funding to dredge the Anclote River, but Tarpon Springs says they can pay the difference. The dredging project would remove nearly two decades’ worth of silt and sediment from the river, restoring the Anclote to its normal depth of 11 feet — deep enough to support commercial fishing boats and waterfront tourism.
› How Miami’s seaport is surviving the loss of cruise ship business during the pandemic
Just last November, PortMiami was bustling with construction workers bringing to life five new cruise terminals and two cruise company headquarters. Future cruise business was all but guaranteed: Fiscal year 2020 was set to break the port’s 2019 record of 6.8 million passengers, up 22 percent from 2018.
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