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Florida Trend Exclusive
Aerospace: The long game
Robert Long, a retired Space Force colonel, was hired last September as president and CEO of Space Florida, the state’s aerospace economic development arm. He spoke with Florida Trend about continuing Space Florida’s emphasis on infrastructure and financial tools to attract aerospace companies, and about planning for a future in space that was once limited to the pages of science fiction. [Source: Florida Trend]
Business Beat - Week of May 10th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Florida’s major power company prepares for this year’s hurricanes by dealing with a fake one
Under blue skies, officials at Florida’s largest power company dealt Thursday with the aftermath of a major hurricane that slammed into Miami and Fort Lauderdale — or a pretend one, anyway. Florida Power & Light is conducting its annual mock hurricane drill this week, simulating how it would respond if a hurricane struck the state and devastated the power grid. Hurricane Benito, with 135 mph (215 kph) winds, did not really hit on Wednesday, but it was imagined to be even stronger than real hurricanes Idalia and Ian, which seriously damaged portions of the state over the past two years. [Source: AP]
Python hunters must humanely kill snakes: How Florida has cracked down in contests through the years
A hunter shooting a gun to kill a python? Forbidden. What about freezing the snake to kill it? Prohibited. A python run over by a car? Not allowed. These types of killings have happened before, though rarely. So how is someone supposed to properly kill a snake in the Python Challenge, the state-led contest that sends hunters scouring the Everglades for them each year? [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Thousands of Florida students scramble as college financial aid flaws mount
More than 50,000 Florida high school seniors have been playing a tense waiting game as the federal form’s botched rollout continues. As of late April, federal aid applications remain down about a third from last year, according to a Tampa Bay Times analysis of U.S. Department of Education data. But that number doesn’t tell the whole story. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Volusia tourism leaders celebrate 10.1 million visitors in destination 'reset' year
Volusia County attracted 10.1 visitors in 2023, down from a record 10.6 million in 2022, according to figures from the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Area tourism officials and other local leaders praised the strength of the area’s leading industry as they also acknowledged increasing competition for travelers as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues fade into the past tense.
› Tallahassee-based Moore ranks among nation's top PR firms
For the third consecutive year, O’Dwyer’s has ranked Moore among its Top 50 public relations firms in the United States and Top 10 in the Southeast. O’Dwyer’s, a nationally recognized industry leader for communications and marketing, also issued rankings by areas of expertise. Other notable 2024 industry ratings include: No. 1 in Florida and No. 5 in the nation for Public Affairs, No. 1 in Florida and No. 6 in the nation for Education, No. 1 in Florida for Healthcare, No. 1 in Florida for Agriculture.
› Without sales tax extension, Orange school building plans face $2.7 billion shortfall, officials say
In the coming decade, Orange County Public Schools needs to build 15 new campuses, add classrooms to seven others that are getting crowded, renovate 96 older schools and replace roofs, air-conditioning units, fire alarms and technology at campuses across the county. But the $2.7 billion worth of the projects OCPS wants to complete by 2033 cannot be paid for unless county voters extend a half-penny sales tax they first approved in 2002, the district says.
› British media company to open Latin America headquarters in Miami
Moonbug Entertainment, a children's entertainment company behind popular shows like "Cocomelon" and "Blippi," is expanding to Miami. The London-based firm is establishing a Latin American headquarters office in Miami as it works to build its presence in that region. The office will be led by Manuel Reveiz, who was recently appointed head of distribution and partnerships for Latin America.
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