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Friday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida tourism numbers continue to grow
Florida’s tourism numbers continue to grow, according to new data released by Visit Florida, the state’s tourism agency. In the third quarter, between July and September, Florida welcomed 35.1 million visitors, marking a 6.9% increase from Q3 2021. It’s also the fifth consecutive quarter of overall visitation that’s surpassed pre-pandemic levels. According to Visit Florida, 32.6 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in Q3 2022, representing 18 months of domestic visitation growth from 2019. More from the Center Square and WWSB.
Over $1.4 million in Florida taxpayer dollars still unaccounted for in migrant flight program
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has so far paid more than $1.5 million to a politically connected contractor for a program to fly migrants from Texas to northeastern states — but the private jets chartered by the contractor cost only a fraction of that sum. Newly released public records show the contractor, Destin, Florida-based Vertol Systems Company, was quoted a price of roughly $153,000 for two charter plane trips from San Antonio to the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard. That leaves about $1.4 million in Florida taxpayer funds unaccounted for. More from the Miami Herald.
How Central Florida businesses can navigate labor market trends
Today, businesses are seeing job seekers reevaluating their priorities when it comes to employment and career decisions. Whether this is a result from the pandemic, the Great Resignation or personal preference, businesses are having to shift and navigate through tough labor markets and trends. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
Miami-Dade’s economic development agency reports record year luring firms to Miami
The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the county’s economic development agency, said it secured a record 57 companies over the past year to commit to expand or relocate to the county. A public-private partnership, the group called that 2021-2022 achievement the best performance in its 37-year history of nurturing and increasing business investments in Miami-Dade. More from the Miami Herald.
Southeastern Grocers says it has ‘an obligation to consider’ transactions that emerge
After The Wall Street Journal reported the company is considering a sale, a spokeswoman for Southeastern Grocers Inc. said Nov. 18 the company does not comment on market rumors. Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers is the parent company of the Winn-Dixie, Harveys and Fresco y Mas supermarket chains. The Journal, citing “people familiar with the matter,” reported Nov. 17 the company is talking to prospective buyers. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Out of the Box
Tampa company brings the noise to national auto parts show
Twenty years ago, Tampa entrepreneur Matt Heller invented what might be the world’s loudest aftermarket auto accessory — the HornBlasters train horn. At the 2022 Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas, held Oct. 31 to Nov. 3, more than 100 custom car and truck builds featured train horns made by HornBlasters Inc., whose slogan is “Don’t blow your top; blow your horn!”
» More from the Business Observer.
Profile
‘Constant rejection,’ big rewards: Life as a door to door salesman
Far from a lost art, door-to-door salesmanship persists, despite omnipresent retail options, internet convenience and it being a grinding way to make a living. Its ranks may be thinner than the mid-century heyday of the Fuller Brush man and encyclopedia hawkers, but thick-skinned strivers like Liam Kunkel of Spartan Solar are still out there, talking up deals, reaping rewards.
» Read more from the Tampa Bay Times.
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