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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida population expected to grow a little more slowly
Florida’s population growth is modestly slowing as deaths outpace births and as a rush of people moving from other states during the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.
Still, with an estimated 22.25 million residents as of April 1, Florida continues to see population increases that are roughly equivalent to adding a city the size of Orlando each year, according to a state report released Tuesday.
The report by economists, sitting as what is known as the Demographic Estimating Conference, revised the state’s growth rate to 1.29 percent for the period through April 1, 2027. In December, the conference had estimated the growth rate at 1.41 percent. More from the News Service of Florida.
Reformulated COVID vaccine boosters may be available earlier than expected
The Biden administration may scrap plans to let more younger adults get second COVID-19 boosters this summer. Instead, officials are trying to speed up availability of the next generation of boosters in the fall.
The new strategy is aimed at trying to balance protecting people this summer with keeping people safe next winter, when the country will probably get hit by yet another surge.
But the possible shift is being met with mixed reactions. The Food and Drug Administration could make a final decision by the end of the week. More from NPR Health.
St. Petersburg health tech startup RxLive nets $5M funding round
RxLive, which develops software for telepharmacy services and medication management, announced Tuesday that it has closed its Series A round led by venture capital firm SpringTide, with participation from Cardinal Health, one of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical and medical supply companies.
The round brings RxLive’s total fundraising to date to $8 million.
Launched in 2018, the company was building in local startup circles before that, participating in a Tampa Bay Wave startup accelerator in 2017. Its primary focus is medication mismanagement, with programs designed to identify patients at risk of not properly taking medications and to help pharmacists manage patients’ prescriptions. The company described this as a $500 billion problem in the pharmaceutical industry. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Another home insurer will stop insuring Florida homes amid market 'collapse'
“The Florida private insurance market is collapsing,” said Mark Friedlander. Friedlander is the Florida spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute. He said Bankers Insurance is now the 13th home insurer in Florida to make such a change this year. The institute’s list includes home insurers that have either announced an exit from the Florida market, placed a moratorium on writing new business or went insolvent. Friedlander said Bankers’ departure leaves people with over 50 other possible options in the state. More from WESH.
Florida Tech weVENTURE Women’s Business Center to Host Annual ‘IMPACT’ Summit August 25
Business owners and entrepreneurial leaders from across all industries are invited to attend this networking and training event, which will feature inspiring speakers and breakout sessions, followed by a networking luncheon in the oceanfront dining room.
The opening session features the keynote address from Shari Elia, head of global business development at Amazon Web Services. She will speak about ways companies of all sizes can foster a culture of innovation. More from the Space Coast Daily.
Construction
$6.3 million new park at Bruce Beach to include central plaza, play structures and more
Construction on the long-awaited Bruce Beach park began Tuesday with a groundbreaking ceremony held by city officials and contractors.
The $6.3 million contract was awarded to Biggs Construction Company in May to build the first phase of the project. The first phase of the park will include a central plaza with a walkway surrounded by trees leading to the sandy beach shore, a shade structure, two public lawn areas with seat walls, a learning garden with plants and play structures for children, and a pedestrian bridge over Washerwoman Creek connecting the park to Community Maritime Park.
» More from the Pensacola News Journal.
Innovation
Limbitless Solutions celebrates 8th year of global impact
Limbitless Solutions, the UCF-based nonprofit and UCF direct support organization that creates bionic limbs for children, celebrated the eighth anniversary this month. The program has seen impressive growth in the past year, beginning with a move into a new facility in July 2021. The additional space enabled record participation by UCF undergraduate students in internships and research work, while also providing a new home for visits from bionic families.
“What started as a dream at a kitchen table has become so much bigger than we ever imagined,” says Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16PhD, UCF alum and co-founder of Limbitless Solutions. “We are thrilled to celebrate our eighth anniversary of the program and to watch both the program and our bionic kids grow up. The past year at Limbitless Solutions has seen our impact grow to new heights as we strengthen the program to scale our impact.”
» Read more from UCF.
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