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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
Florida seeks to ban mask, COVID testing rules by businesses
A House committee on Monday advanced a proposal that would prohibit businesses and government agencies from requiring people to take COVID-19 tests or wear masks to enter their facilities, with the measure’s sponsor calling such mandates “discriminatory practices.” The proposal would build on prohibitions passed by the Florida Legislature earlier in the pandemic regarding health measures such as vaccination requirements, which are top priorities of Gov. Ron DeSantis. More from the News Service of Florida.
Second chance job fair in Cocoa will connect employers with previously incarcerated
As part of National Second Chance Month, a job and resources fair will be held this week in Cocoa for those who have been incarcerated or in the criminal justice system. On Thursday, April 13, the job and resources fair will be held at the Joe Lee Smith Recreation Center at 415 Stone Street in Cocoa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both job seekers and employers are invited to participate at the event, which is being organized by CareerSource Brevard, Florida Department of Corrections, and City of Cocoa. More from Florida Today.
Tampa uses awareness campaign to tout $140 million in grant spending
The city of Tampa is spending the week touting the benefits of a community block grant program it’s received more than $140 million from since 1989. The city, and several other localities around the country, are highlighting how they’ve used the money from the federal Community Development Block Grant program to help deal with homelessness and affordable housing. Tampa says the money it has received over the years has gone to support housing rehabilitation, emergency rental assistance, affordable housing development and home purchase assistance for income-eligible families. More from the Business Observer.
UNF economics professor creates new survey to track local economy
Jacksonville area manufacturing companies are seeing weakening conditions in their businesses, an indication of an economic slowdown. However, despite current conditions, those companies are optimistic about the direction of the economy over the next 12 months. That’s the latest conclusion from a new monthly survey of manufacturers compiled by the University of North Florida’s Local Economic Indicators Project, or LEIP. The survey is called the Jacksonville Economic Monitoring Survey, or JEMS. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Sarasota agrees to sell former 'unlicensed' dump in Newtown to developers for $50,000
For decades, the city of Sarasota has planned to clean up the Marian Anderson Place Brownfield and transform the 13-acre former unlicensed dump off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way into a economic engine in the area targeted for revitalization. There have been reports on and plans proposed for the property, but a recent agreement approved by the Sarasota City Commission at its April 3 meeting could finally see motion on a property the city has owned since 1944. Sarasota closed the "unlicensed dump" in the early 1960s, according to the city's website. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Out of the Box
Meet the God of Chisme and go on the Cafecito Odyssey in ‘The Miami Creation Myth’
In the beginning, there was nothing. No Everglades, no cafecito, no chisme. Nada. And then, there was Miami. Every great civilization — from the Greeks to the Mayans — has a creation myth, a story that explains how a place and its people came to be. Author Andrew Otazo took it upon himself to write Miami’s silly Spanglish story. “The Miami Creation Myth” has arrived.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Profile
Rising up
After graduating from Bentley University in Massachusetts in 2011 with a business degree, Tom D’Eri joined his father, John, in starting a business designed to employ people on the autism spectrum. Tom’s brother, Andrew, who has autism, was aging out of the school system, and Tom knew Andrew’s chances of having a career were slim. Tom and John D’Eri wanted to create a company that would not only employ Andrew and other people on the spectrum, but also create a community to empower them.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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