March 28, 2024

Thursday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 3/10/2022

Florida led U.S. in newly formed businesses in ‘21, Census data shows

The companies keep coming to Florida, regardless, or possibly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new burst of inflation, and now, a globe-jarring war in Eastern Europe. According to recent figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, the latest business formation numbers show that Florida accounted for 683,680 out of the 5.8 million applications for new businesses filed nationally from January 2021 to January 2022. That’s roughly 11.7%. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Florida Trend Exclusive

Osceola County lands promising new business partner at high-tech hub NeoCity

Osceola County has become the fastest-growing county in Florida, reaching a population of 388,656. But with an economy rooted in hospitality, agriculture and residential construction, wages have remained low. Average per capita income is about $8,260 lower than in neighboring Orange County and lags the state average by about $10,700. County Manager Don Fisher says the county knew a decade ago that “we needed to take steps to change. We needed to do things to make it happen.” More from Florida Trend.

Florida lawmakers agree to 1-month gas tax break, right before election

Drivers in Florida could get some relief at the pump through a one-month, $200 million gas tax break in October agreed to by state lawmakers Wednesday night. The tax holiday would come a month before Gov. Ron DeSantis and many other politicians face re-election. Motorists pay 26.5 cents a gallon in state gas tax. The gas tax plan, paid for with federal stimulus dollars sent to Florida because of the pandemic, emerged on a busy legislative day. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Poking fun at Russia, SpaceX launches Starlink internet satellites from Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket boosted the company's latest batch of Starlink internet satellites to low-Earth orbit Wednesday, but not before launch engineers poked fun at Russia's recent comments on U.S. space vehicles. "Time to let the American broomstick fly and hear the sounds of freedom," SpaceX launch engineer Julia Black called out just before the 8:45 a.m. EST liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. "Launch director is go for launch." More from Florida Today.

Miami gaining tech ‘superstar’ status — but report warns of challenging ‘side effects’

By now it’s a familiar narrative: Thanks to a confluence of pandemic-era factors, Miami has suddenly found itself at the center of a tech boom. But a new report from the Brookings Institution, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit think tank, warns that the overnight success the area’s innovation sector has experienced has likely produced growth so rapid that it is outpacing the ability of policymakers to manage it. More from the Miami Herald.

Sports Business
Players Championship back to its crowded, rowdy and rollicking ways

 The first signs of the rebound of the 2022 Players Championship were seen a few weeks ago. Hotels on the First Coast, especially at the beaches and Ponte Vedra, were either sold out or only available at much higher prices. Hospitality venues for The Players were sold out or close to it. And more of the world’s top players were committing to play further in advance of the usual deadline. Last week, public parking for the second and third rounds — normally the most well-attended of tournament week — sold out.

» More from the Florida Times-Union.

 

Out of the Box
Tampa man’s toilet — shaped like Lars Ulrich — acquired by Denmark museum

floridaA Tampa heavy metal musician and artist will soon see a toilet he sculpted to look like Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich displayed for thousands of visitors at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum in Denmark. This week, the artist known as Prince Midnight donated the toilet to Ripley Entertainment, headquartered in Orlando. A spokesperson said the toilet is now in Ripley’s warehouse in Central Florida and will soon be shipped to the Ripley’s “odditorium” in Copenhagen to go on permanent display.

» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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Florida Trend Video Pick

Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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