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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Court urged to continue blocking Florida education law
Attorneys in two challenges to the law filed documents Thursday arguing that the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals should reject a request by the state to allow the restrictions to be in effect while a legal battle continues. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker last month issued the preliminary injunction to block the law, a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who dubbed it the "Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act," or "Stop WOKE Act." [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida crops appear to escape damage from unusual cold
Florida’s citrus, fruit and vegetable crops appear to have escaped any widespread damage from some of the coldest weather in years, officials with state growers associations said Tuesday. A cloud cover helped protect citrus trees in areas where the thermometer hovered around or below freezing, though there may be pockets of damage, said Matt Joyner, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “Indications so far are that the industry fared fairly well,” Joyner said in an email. “It appears that we were right on the edge of what could have been a devastating event.” [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida Trend Exclusive
National economic headwinds for Florida
Florida's growth means that national and global economic and geopolitical trends are felt across the state more acutely and can ripple into local economic impact. On Jan. 12, the Chamber will hold its virtual Florida Economic Outlook & Jobs Solution Summit. FLORIDA TREND asked Dr. Ben Tabatabaei, the Chamber’s Chief Economist and Executive Director of the International Center for Economic Development, for a preview of his 2023 message. An international business economist, Tabatabaei joined the Chamber in 2022 and previously advised U.S. policy makers and private companies on economic development and foreign policy issues. He holds a Ph.D. in international political economy and public policy from the University of Southern California. [Source: Florida Trend]
Surfside safety reforms could spell trouble for Florida condo market
From retirees looking to downsize, young professionals trying to snag a starter home or snowbirds in search of a winter getaway, condominiums have long been a staple for anyone seeking a slice of Florida real estate on a budget. But safety legislation that passed earlier this year in the wake of the deadly Surfside building collapse could plunge the condo market into turmoil. For years, condo associations across the state have deferred routine maintenance and put off budgeting for future repairs in order to minimize costs for unit owners. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
JEA eyes solar farms and new natural gas plant in coming years
Two local environmental groups, the Sierra Club of Northeast Florida and the St. Johns Riverkeeper, have used JEA's invitation to join those discussions as a way to urge more renewable energy while pressing JEA to put a hard stop on ever building another power plant using fossil fuels whose greenhouse gas emissions trap heat in the atmosphere. "We have never had a dull meeting," Laura Marshall Schepis, chief external affairs officer, told the JEA board's Finance Committee during a recent update on the plan. [Source: The Florida Times Union]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Looking back on Jacksonville's industrial sector in 2022
The forecast for Jacksonville's industrial sector was positive at the beginning of 2022 — with tenant demand and occupancy high. However, the Federal Reserve’s mid-year interest rate hike slowed some development and made capital harder to find and reorganize, despite multiple industrial project approvals. The high cost of construction materials also hampered the industrial sector.
› Florida's hospital construction trend rises to meet population growth
Metro Jacksonville leads a booming state in hospital construction starts. Through the first eight months of the year, the square footage of hospital construction in Florida was up 64% to 1.9 million square feet and the dollar value was up 125% to $1.15 billion, reports Dodge Construction Network.
› Bradenton's Bishop Museum receives a grant to rehabilitate more injured manatees
A recent grant from the FWC will will allow the museum to also help with critical care. A facility in Myakka City will expand on the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature's 60,000-gallon Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat where several young female manatees are currently recovering from cold stress.
› Central Florida couple finds success with theme park inspired business
Steve and Carise Fox love Orlando’s theme parks but hated their merchandise. The Central Florida couple found the official products sold at the theme parks and goods made by fans were often low-quality, like shirts that would shrink or fade after one wash, or were missing something, like skirts without pockets. They were fed up. So they started their small business, Park Candy, “out of spite” knowing they could do a better job.
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