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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Deal hammered out on $112.1 billion budget
Florida lawmakers will vote Monday on a record $112.1 billion state budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, up 10.4 percent from a spending plan approved for the current year. House and Senate negotiators finished reaching agreement Thursday, though a missed deadline will force the legislative session to extend until Monday for the votes. The session had been scheduled to end Friday. The agreement came after negotiators decided Wednesday to use $3.47 billion in federal stimulus money to cover a wide range of expenses. Lawmakers are expected to debate the proposed budget Friday in advance of the Monday afternoon votes. More from the News Service of Florida and the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida’s spring training is back. Has Tampa Bay tourism moved on?
A few steps out the door and a skip across the street, and Enio Pippo can be on the beach near his condo in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. “Sunny, not a cloud in the sky, beautiful sunsets, nice breeze off the ocean,” Pippo said by phone from the patio. “It’s paradise.” It’s also not where he hoped he’d be this week. Pippo, a 55-year-old insurance broker from Toronto, had planned a nearly two-week road trip to Pinellas County for Blue Jays spring training in Dunedin. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Meet the James Beard Award semifinalists: ‘This is Orlando’s time to shine’
Five semifinalists, four categories and nowhere for Orlando’s dining scene to go but up. Why? Because, say the 2022 nominees, recognition from the James Beard Foundation isn’t merely validation of their hard work and commitment to the culinary excellence, it is an acknowledgment that the city’s dining scene has arrived. More from the Orlando Sentinel .
‘Forever change the Miami skyline’: MSC building largest cruise hub in North America
MSC cruises and Miami-Dade County officials Thursday finally started building what will be North America’s largest cruise terminal. The terminal will cover 490,000 square feet, have berths for three mega ships and room to move 36,000 cruise passengers a day. Two of the berths will belong to MSC, while the third will belong to Miami-Dade to support large cruise ships from other cruise lines. More from the Miami Herald.
JEA working to prevent development delays from supply chain challenges
Supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic and natural disasters have slowed JEA’s ability to source materials and components. Utility officials say that led to $40 million in cost increases last year to deliver capital projects on time. At JEA’s Feb. 22 board meeting, Managing Director and CEO Jay Stowe and Chief Procurement Officer Jenny McCollum said it is taking more time to receive materials like steel, copper, resin, aluminum, brass and components like transformers, PVC and iron pipes, valves and fittings. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Business Beat - Week of March 11th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video news brief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Business Profile
Tech-based HR startup exceeds pre-seed funding goal by $250K
Archslate, a talent marketplace for the architecture, engineering and construction industry, has raised $700,000 in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round, exceeding its goal by $250,000. The round, according to a news release, was led by Tampa Bay Ventures, Seedfunders and New York Angels. Archslate, headquartered at Embarc Collective in Tampa, was founded in May by Vaishnavi More.
» Read more from the Business Observer.
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