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What you need to know about Florida today
More than 3 million Florida jobs saved by PPP loans, analysis finds
More than $32 billion from the Paycheck Protection Program has been distributed in hopes of saving businesses and jobs across Florida, and a new analysis says millions of jobs in the Sunshine State have been saved by the federal loans. Using data from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Treasury Department, Business.org analyzed how each state was affected by the PPP loans given to their small businesses. [Source: WFLA]
Florida fiscal year finishes $1.9B below projections
After the COVID-19 pandemic neutralized revenue gains made during the first nine months of the fiscal year, Florida finished the 2019-2020 spending period nearly $1.9 billion below its general revenue estimate. Through March, the state had raised $202.4 million more than anticipated in January. But revenue came up $2.1 billion short in the final quarter of the fiscal year. [Source: Florida Politics]
‘An industry giant’: Ben Hill Griffin III was a colossal presence in citrus
Ben Hill Griffin III stood south of 6 feet tall, but that belied his stature in the Florida citrus industry. “Ben Hill Griffin was an industry giant,” said Bob Behr, chief executive officer of Florida’s Natural Growers in Lake Wales, a juice processing cooperative. “He was selfless. The industry came before him. That was a wonderful characteristic of Ben Hill. You don’t find that in a lot of people.” Ben Hill Griffin Inc. joined Citrus World Inc., the parent corporation of Florida’s Natural, in 1985, and Griffin served on the board for the following six years. Griffin died on Saturday of cancer, which had been diagnosed just weeks earlier. He was 78 years old. [Source: Lakeland Ledger]
Disney World delays some resort hotel reopenings as Florida COVID-19 cases spike
Disney World has delayed the reopening of some of its resort hotels and is keeping others closed that were scheduled to reopen as coronavirus cases continue their upward trend in Florida. Many Disney resort hotels reopened in June, but others remained closed as the theme park reopened on July 11. Disney has since changed the reopening dates for some resort hotels it previously announced. [Source: USA Today]
Gas prices slip in Florida as Hurricane Hanna didn’t impact oil infrastructure
With July nearing its end, gas prices continue to remain low in the Sunshine State, especially as Hurricane Hanna did not impact refineries, pipelines and other oil infrastructure. AAA released a report on Sunday showing the average gallon of gas in Florida cost $2.06, two cents less than the start of last week and lower than the national average of $2.18 a gallon. [Source: Florida Daily]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Small businesses, nonprofits can start applying for CARES Act grants from Brevard County
A two-week application period opened Monday for small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Brevard County to apply for grants of up to $10,000 apiece, funded by the federal CARES Act. The grants are designed to offset expenses and lost revenue related to the coronavirus pandemic.
› JTA awarded $5.2 million for St. Johns River Ferry
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will receive a $5.2 million federal grant it will use to maintain the St. Johns River Ferry. The grant is part of $47.5 million in awards to improve passenger ferry service announced July 24 by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration.
› St. Petersburg begins hunt for developers to reimagine Tropicana Field site.
Mayor Rick Kriseman on Monday unveiled the request for proposals for the 86-acre Tropicana Field site after five years of discussion, formally opening the window for developers to bid on a construction project that has the potential to change the face of St. Petersburg.
› Orange County considers incentives to reignite construction industry
Orange County commissioners this week will consider temporary changes to impact-fee regulations — including waiving some — in an effort to boost the weakening construction industry, which had been booming before the coronavirus pandemic hit.
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