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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Once in the doldrums, Florida coast hums with space launches
A decade ago, Florida’s Space Coast was in the doldrums. The space shuttle program had ended, and with it the steady stream of space enthusiasts who filled the area’s restaurants and hotel and motel rooms during regular astronaut launches. Nowadays, the Space Coast is humming with jobs and space launches. NASA’s first launch of its new moon rocket set for Saturday was expecting to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors. More from the AP.
Red Lobster shareholder guarantees up to $65M of company’s debt
Orlando-based Red Lobster is getting a financial boost from a major shareholder, Thai Union, amid a year of turnover in the restaurant chain’s top leaders. Thai Union is providing “financial assistance” by guaranteeing part of Red Lobster Master Holdings’ credit facility, according to an Aug. 24 Thai Union document informing the Stock Exchange of Thailand of the move. The aid will not be more than $65 million, or about 25% of the outstanding credit balance, according to the document. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Dredging of Big Fishweir, Little Fishweir creeks planned in contract by Corps of Engineers
Decades after neighbors first broached the subject, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has picked a company to dredge debris that’s choking stretches of Jacksonville’s Fishweir Creek. Jacksonville-based Underwater Mechanix Services LLC was awarded an $8.2 million contract to carry out an aquatic ecosystem restoration that hinges on removing sediment that has settled in the creek for at least a half-century. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Osceola County wins $51 million federal grant for NeoCity tech hub
Semiconductor training and manufacturing in Central Florida are getting a significant boost due to an infusion of millions of federal dollars, the Biden Administration announced Friday. The only winner in the state, Osceola County is one of the 21 winners of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, which awarded the county $50.8 million to grow the semiconductor industry via NeoCity, a technology hub in Kissimmee. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Pasco officials seeking a longer scallop season
Just like nearly anyone who has ever donned flippers and a snorkel to pursue scallops in the inviting Gulf waters of Florida, Pasco County officials just can’t get enough. Shortly after this this year’s 10-day Pasco coastal scalloping season came to an end, Pasco County Commissioners were talking about a strategy to get state permission to continue the season longer. Maybe even as long as their neighbors to the north who get to enjoy the scallop roundup for weeks longer than Pasco does. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Business Beat - Week of September 2nd
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video news brief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Out of the Box
Play chess with GZA of Wu-Tang Clan at Dunedin Brewery
Ask any fan of hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan and they’ll tell you that chess factors into their music just as much as martial arts. Wu-Tang member GZA, aka The Genius, has a particular penchant for the game and has been playing it against fans at events throughout the U.S. On Sept. 21, fans and chess aficionados will have the chance to play speed chess with GZA at Dunedin Brewery. The free event dubbed Chessboxin with Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA is hosted by local rapper and musician Jon Ditty and will feature performances by local artists and a cypher (a freestyle rap session).
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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