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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Trend Exclusive
In Florida and nationwide, cyber-security jobs are waiting to be filled
There is a shortage of cyber-security professionals in Florida, with more than 25,000 unfilled cyber-security jobs in the state. Nationwide, there are more than 500,000 jobs available. Eman El-Sheikh, director of the University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity in Penascola, talked with FLORIDA TREND about cybersecurity trends
In the coronavirus ‘red zone,’ leaked federal guidelines suggest Florida take harsher measures
To stop the unrelenting march of the deadly coronavirus, masks should be mandatory and new restrictions should be placed on restaurants, gyms and other businesses in 12 Florida counties and 12 metro areas, according to an unpublished report by the White House Coronavirus Task Force obtained Thursday by the Center for Public Integrity. Saying Florida is among 18 states in the country that are in the “red zone” according to key measures, the report outlines a series of steps that should be taken to curb the spread of the highly contagious respiratory disease. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
New York & Co. filed for bankruptcy, another bad sign for the South Florida retail market
Another retail chain filed for Chapter 11 on Monday, spelling more bad news for the South Florida retail market, according to one retail expert. The parent company of New York & Co., RTW Retailwinds, filed for Chapter 11 to the New Jersey Bankruptcy Court. New York & Co, established in 1918, has about 357 locations across the United States, according to its website. More from the Miami Herald.
Trade group challenges state's new reptile industry restrictions
Arguing that a new law and executive order would “devastate Florida’s commercial reptile industry,” a trade organization and business owners are challenging the constitutionality of state decisions that would largely prevent the possession, breeding and sale of certain types of nonnative reptiles. More from the Daily Business Review.
Small businesses hard hit by pandemic look for boost during annual Sunrise Sale
Each year, hundreds flock to downtown St. Petersburg clad in pajamas at 6:43 a.m. on a select summer Thursday morning. The reason? The Sunrise Sale, a 47-year-old tradition aimed at boosting business during the city’s slower season. The tradition continued on Thursday. But this year’s event was subdued, almost somber Thursday as stores enforced capacity limits and offered advanced orders to encourage social distancing. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Raising the bar on new student housing
Student housing has grown from merely on-campus living and has become an integral part of the entire collegiate experience. There has been a considerable shift in the importance of technological capabilities of living spaces with an increased focus on sustainability and inclusivity. Student housing can sometimes be the deciding factor of where students decide to go to college. [Sponsored report]
Profile
Peter Kilcullen
Peter Kilcullen was killing it in the Pilates business. He and his business partner had gone from operating one Club Pilates location to three in the region in less than three years, growing revenue at least 30% annually. Their south Sarasota location was one of the top 25 performers in the Club Pilates chain, nearly 600 locations nationwide. Now coronavirus has left Kilcullen, an HSN on-screen product pitchman-turned-fitness entrepreneur, with what he calls a “pit in his stomach” regarding the future of the business.
» More from the Business Observer.
Out of the Box
When the beach was off limits to humans, a rare colony of seabirds found a place to nest
When the humans left, the seabirds flocked home. A rare colony of least terns, a threatened, federally protected seabird, landed on Deerfield Beach in March, when humans did not have access to the sand. This is the first southeast Florida nesting colony in decades and will probably be the last for years to come. The least tern form colonies on empty beaches, which in populated Broward County is a rare find.
» Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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