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What you need to know about Florida today
Amid high inflation, Florida reports higher-than-expected revenue
Hurricane recovery efforts helped November tax collections in Florida, as housing sales waned and people continued to dip into savings amid high inflation. A report released Wednesday estimated that general-revenue collections were 14.1 percent higher than projected for November. The report by the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research estimated the state collected $3.625 billion in general revenue in November, $447.2 million over the projection issued in August. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Business Beat - Week of December 30th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Has Florida reached an endemic stage of COVID?
While thousands of Floridians continue to be infected by coronavirus, state health officials already are treating COVID-19 as an endemic disease — with health experts clinging to hope that it has become more predictable, manageable and less deadly. Floridians desperately want to believe the pandemic is over, and the shift to an endemic is underway. They look toward 2023 as the year COVID becomes known as a seasonal virus that circulates in the fall and winter like the flu or cold. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Twenty-five road kills recorded during deadly year for Florida panthers
Twenty-seven overall Florida panther deaths have been recorded by the state this year, and 25 of those deaths were road kills. Those numbers are pretty average overall (when compared to the past five years), but 25 road kills is on the high side when compared to recent years. Panthers are majestic megafauna that roam the historic Everglades and linger in the minds of many wildlife fans. [Source: Gainesville Sun]
New rockets, more spacecraft to take flight in 2023 from Space Coast
It’s slated to be a busy year of rocket launches from the Space Coast with a pace that could introduce some new names and set new records. Launch pads at both Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station have been hitting a pace of more than one launch a week, finishing up 2022 with 57 rockets that made it to space. That pace could be in line to nearly double as more launch service providers set up shop in Brevard County, said Frank DiBello, President and CEO of Space Florida, the state’s aerospace economic development agency. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› These South Florida startups and tech companies laid off employees in 2022
More than 1,000 startups and large technology companies laid off employees this year, with many citing an uncertain economic environment as a reason to downsize. The job cuts affected about 91,000 U.S. tech workers, according to one estimate from Crunchbase, a company that provides data about public and private ventures. Several South Florida companies were impacted as well.
› Jacksonville's bowl game has a rich history entering its 78th year
The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl will be played for the 78th time on Dec. 30 at TIAA Bank Field. Few bowls have that kind of history. The Gator Bowl is the sixth-oldest college bowl game, following the Rose (started in 1902), the Orange, Sugar and Sun Bowls (all in 1935) and the Cotton Bowl (1937).
› Orlando rents fall but strong demand is ‘long-term trend’
After record-setting growth in the beginning of this year and through the summer, rents around the country fell by 0.4% in November, the largest drop in rents in seven years, according to the latest report from Zillow. But in places such as Orlando where demand from new residents remain strong, the drop can’t compete with the rise in prices over the year. Orlando saw a 0.5% rent decrease in November to an average asking rent of $2,008 per month, according to Zillow, but rents are still up nearly 10% from the same time last year.
› Tampa Bay governments may implement a new resiliency plan in early 2023
The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council will form working groups in early 2023 to explore how to implement a new resiliency plan that will, among other goals, guide businesses and governments facing the impacts of extreme weather. Board members approved the plan in November. Executive Director Sean Sullivan said the Regional Resiliency Action Plan presents an opportunity for regionalism — with local input.
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