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Thursday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
One year down. A decade to go? Hurricane Ian recovery is a marathon
One year down, how many more to go? Estimates on when hard-hit places in Southwest Florida will fully recover from Hurricane Ian run the gamut. Community leaders guessed: Maybe a few years in Sanibel Island and Captiva? Several years in Fort Myers Beach, Pine Island and Matlacha? Possibly even a decade? More from the Naples Daily News.
See also:
» Matlacha one year after Hurricane Ian showing signs of coming back: Photo essay
Miami-Dade’s worker heat protection bill was a milestone. Lobbyists are watering it down
When it was introduced in July, a landmark Miami-Dade County bill proposed heat safety regulations that would have protected outdoor workers for nearly half the year. After negotiations with lobbyists in the construction and agriculture industries, the latest version of the bill — scheduled for a final vote before the County Commission next month — would take effect for less than five days a year, on average. More from the Miami Herald.
Alachua County commissioners finalize next year's budget, residents to see higher taxes
Alachua County Commissioners finalized next year’s budget Tuesday night, decreasing the millage rate although residents will still see increased property taxes. The new millage rate will be 7.6414, and marks the seventh year in a row the commission has voted to decrease the rate and a 14.4% reduction in millage since fiscal year 2017. Still, the new rate is 7.51% over the rollback rate, which means increased property taxes due to higher values. The change is expected to generate the county an extra $15 million in revenue. More from the Gainesville Sun.
St. Pete manufacturing giant sells mobility division for $2.2 billion
Jabil says it signed an agreement sell its mobility business to BYD Electronic Ltd. Co. in a cash transaction for $2.2 billion. Under the agreement, Jabil’s mobility business, which manufactures components for consumer electronics, will transfer to BYD Electronic. That business is mainly located in Chengdu and Wuxi, China, according to a statement. More from the Business Observer.
Independent bookstores find success in Jacksonville, more set to open in 2023
Despite reports that brick-and-mortar bookstores have been on the decline for decades, independent booksellers in Northeast Florida seem to be bucking the trend. A second independent bookstore is set to open in this year alone, bringing the grand total in the metro area to over half a dozen. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Development
West Tampa cigar factory to become a hotel
Seven years after it was announced that West Tampa’s century-old Balbin Bros. Cigar Factory would be turned into a 70-room boutique hotel, construction is underway. “It took a while to get the architectural plans right and then there was a delay because of COVID,” said Dylan Desai of the family operated My Hospitality Hotels that purchased the factory for $1.4 million and is spending another $12 million on the project. “But now we’re ready.” Construction began three months ago and should be finished within a year.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Profile
Helping Black-owned businesses thrive
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Black-owned businesses faced challenges accessing loans and other assistance to help them survive. To get a sense of the problem, entrepreneurial leadership coach Valecia Dunbar of Jacksonville teamed up with fellow entrepreneurs to survey those businesses and see how they might help. One thing they identified was the need for a chamber to serve Black-owned business owners in Duval and the greater Jacksonville area.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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