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Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida leads nation in small business employment, report says
The Sunshine State had the best index among U.S. states last month at 96.97 and saw 0.09% growth in employment for small businesses. For metro areas, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA had the best small business employment in the nation, according to the February 2021 Small Business Employment Watch by Paychex, which measures employment for businesses with less than 50 employees on a monthly basis. Last month, Tampa had an overall index of 97.94, the best among all metros evaluated. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
Florida lawmakers push for permanent daylight saving time once again
All over America, people lost an hour of sleep on Sunday because of daylight saving time. Springing forward is a routine we expect every year, but a group of Florida lawmakers are once again making the case to keep it permanent. Florida state lawmakers enacted year-round daylight saving back in 2018, but it must pass the federal level to go into effect. Senator Marco Rubio said there is no need for a yearly switch. More from WFLA.
Hillsborough, Tampa to offer $44 million in rental help
Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa are kicking off a new round of rental assistance next week with $44 million in federal aid. The money, from the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, will help residents unable to pay their rent and utilities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. County officials said they expect to help between 7,400 and 10,000 tenants. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Can employers require coronavirus vaccines? It’s not clear yet.
As companies start thinking about a possible return to their pre-coronavirus work spaces, a question arises: Can they require their employees to be vaccinated? Generally, the law says they can. But all three coronavirus vaccines available in the country are currently under Emergency Use Authorization, which means they have been preliminarily, but not fully, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida gas prices spike to highest level in 3 years; $3 per gallon soon possible
According to a new report by AAA, gas prices in Florida jumped another 15 cents per gallon last week, putting the state average for a gallon of regular gas at $2.87. Analysts say it’s the highest daily average price since June 2018. Experts with AAA say there are several reasons for the increase, including rising demand and lower gasoline supplies. More from WKMG.
Women-Owned Businesses
Check out these Florida women-owned brewerie
As craft beer rises in popularity, women are behind some of the breweries producing them. There are more than 300 craft breweries in Florida and, though beer is still largely a man’s game, there are plenty of females making their mark in the brewing industry. Here are some of the women-owned breweries you can find in the Sunshine State.
» More from WKMG.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Real estate investor Moise Mana is ready to develop his holdings
Wynwood sits a bit north of downtown Miami, a 50-block concrete expanse of industrial properties that a half-century ago was a garment district. In the mid-2000s, the late Tony Goldman saw the emerging arts community there, bought property and left an indelible mark, including Wynwood Walls, an outdoor museum of street art that opened in 2009. With its gritty streets and colorful murals, Wynwood became instantly recognizable — Miami’s newest hip area. The year after Wynwood Walls opened, investor Moishe Mana paid $5 million for three industrial buildings on eight acres, his first Wynwood purchase. In short order, he acquired another 45 acres, becoming Wynwood’s largest property owner.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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