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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
International trade shows, missions seen boosting Florida's economy
International trade shows are planned steadily throughout 2022 to help Florida businesses grow and meet their clients and distributors face-to-face. “There was a big hiatus,” said T.J. Villamil, senior VP of international trade & development at Enterprise Florida. “There are challenges, but now we have a better understanding of what is happening, and we’re proud to be back and have in-person events taking place this spring.” More from Miami Today.
Jacksonnville mounts mission to help homeless veterans find jobs
For years they served their country in the U.S. military, then they stood down from service. For some that departure leads to problems that escalate into loss of a job and even homelessness. The city of Jacksonville is trying to help by hosting a Homeless Veterans Job Fair and Support Services, followed by a Stand Down event for other personal needs. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Selby Gardens sells $31 million in sustainability bonds to cover for Master Plan construction
Selby Botanical Gardens can accelerate the once hotly contested rebuilding of its downtown Sarasota campus with the help of more than $31.6 million in bond sales for sustainability projects, backed by millions in private and foundation donations and government support. President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki said Monday that the gardens executed the bond sale in December, capitalizing on its growth and the $45 million raised so far for the first phase of development in its Master Plan, which will create a 15-acre campus with energy-producing buildings and more green spaces. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
DeSantis task force warns of Red Tide effect, but silent on cause
A new report by a task force convened by Gov. Ron DeSantis was anticipated by some to provide answers on what’s triggering the Red Tide that’s blanketed Tampa Bay waters with rotting fish. Issued earlier this month by the Florida’s Harmful Algal Bloom Taskforce, the report concluded that the Red Tide bloom last summer will likely get worse “without hard work and careful planning.” More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Brightline kicks off construction of long-awaited Boca Raton station
It’s been nearly 54 years since a passenger train stopped in downtown Boca Raton, when in July 1968, the final Florida East Coast Railway pulled out of a decades-old station at 747 South Dixie Highway on its way to Jacksonville. But on Tuesday, less than a mile to the north and a few minutes past 10 a.m., Brightline company executives, local politicians, business people and construction workers cheered as they broke ground on a new Brightline station. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Health Care Trends
A Tampa General Hospital oncologist takes holistic approach to treating breast cancer
Oncologist Dr. Jamie McKenzie is well-versed in treating breast cancer, but she says battling cancer cells is only part of her job at Tampa General Hospital. McKenzie, who joined the hospital’s TGH Cancer Institute last summer, talks about her holistic approach to the disease.
» More from Florida Trend.
Out of the Box
In Tampa, rare Gasparilla beads are the real treasure
The pirate treasures among Gasparilla krewe members are the beads and pins and necklaces that debut every year. The Gasparilla holiday was created more than 100 years ago as a way to lure people to visit Tampa. It centers on a fictional pirate, Jose Gaspar, and a prominent bunch of Tampa citizens who “invade” the city. A parade follows with beads, doubloons and soft toys that are tossed into the crowd of some 300,000 people on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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