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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida to get $40 million in opioid settlement
Florida will receive $40 million as part of a $573 million settlement between McKinsey & Company and dozens of states because of the global consulting giant’s role in the opioid epidemic, according to court documents. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said the agreement will bring “millions of dollars into our communities, fighting the opioid epidemic, at a time when resources in Florida are very stressed, very limited.” More from the News Service of Florida.
Volunteer army helps Florida elders book coveted COVID shots
A group of more than 100 volunteers in Florida is helping seniors navigate the technology-heavy process of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. The volunteers stepped in after seeing the chaos and confusion that erupted when the state opened up vaccine eligibility for residents 65 and older. They now spend hours toggling between numerous online registration platforms, checking on state vaccination supplies and making repeated calls to overloaded hotlines. More from the AP.
Florida Theatre surviving the pandemic
The entertainment business operates on the concept that “the show must go on.” Forced to go dark for 38 weeks and six days because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida Theatre Performing Arts Center Inc. embraces that mantra, based on the nonprofit’s 2020 annual report for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 released Feb. 4. As it was for virtually all businesses, 2020 at the Florida Theatre was like no other. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Florida’s push of SunRail to DeLand means state keeps commuter rail for 3 more years
In a major break for Central Florida taxpayers, a state transportation leader said Thursday his agency will continue to cover costly operations of SunRail commuter rail for nearly three more years during construction of a $44 million extension to DeLand. The Florida Department of Transportation announcement during a meeting of local mayors and commissioners appeared to resolve a pair of thorny and longstanding challenges for the nearly seven-year-old SunRail system, which has struggled to gain popularity with riders. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Tampa considers new rules on development in high-risk coastal areas
What started as an effort to hit the pause button on the proliferation of apartment complexes south of Gandy Boulevard morphed into a proposed compromise for coastal areas around the city. The far-reaching proposal spurred a fight between developers and residents at Thursday’s City Council meeting. Dozens of people spoke on a city proposal to temporarily slow development in coastal city neighborhoods, in a discussion that lasted more than three hours. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Adapting to meet healthcare needs in the wake of COVID-19
COVID-19 has altered our world and dramatically underscored the importance of a strong, stable healthcare system. Even before the pandemic, there was a growing need for healthcare workers in the United States. In 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a need of more than 12.5 million workers to fill new and open healthcare positions in the decade leading up to 2028. [Sponsored report]
Business Profile
Docked Living
While co-living has been around in Europe and dense U.S. cities for several years, St. Petersburg-based Docked Living, founded by entrepreneurs Mark Hunter and Kate Berlin, is something of an area pioneer in co-living. Docked Living opened its first co-living space in St. Petersburg in 2019. It’s since expanded to four properties, with one newly launched Jan. 1 and two more slated to open in 2021.
» More from the Business Observer.
Sports Business
The Super Bowl can't start without them, Florida business makes coin for toss
It’s a sense of pride for The Highland Mint in Melbourne, Florida. This year marks 29 years of making the coin to be used at kickoff at the Super Bowl. “The game doesn’t start without us,” said Vincent Bohbot, the Executive Vice President of The Highland Mint. The process behind such an honor doesn’t happen overnight. Bohbot says first, they get the design straight from the NFL. It is specially tailored to the game’s location.
» Read more from WPEC.
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