Florida Trend Exclusive
Hurricane recovery: Rebuilding paradise
With at least $112 billion in damages — most of which occurred in Florida — Hurricane Ian marks the costliest hurricane on record for Florida and the third costliest for the U.S. Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel, both popular tourist destinations in Lee County, were among the jurisdictions hit hardest. The coastal communities are forging different paths forward, shaped by regulations, developer interests and resident desires. [Source: Florida Trend]
Business Beat - Week of September 13th
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Fentanyl still deadliest drug in Florida as overall deaths decline and another synthetic drug rises
The number of Floridians who died from drugs last year decreased across the state, but one synthetic drug was noticeably on the rise and fentanyl is still the deadliest drug of all, according to a statewide report released this summer. Both occurrences of and deaths caused by synthetic cathinones increased by over 100% last year. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
DeSantis pledges to invest even more into growing Florida's nursing workforce
Gov. Ron DeSantis is pledging more money in the coming fiscal year to help grow Florida’s nursing workforce. The governor says the state has already invested nearly $400 million in two programs created by lawmakers in 2022 to help graduate more nurses from Florida schools. [Source: Health News Florida]
Florida seeks to keep alive gun sales lawsuit
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office this week argued that a judge should allow Florida to continue challenging a new federal rule that requires more gun sellers to be licensed and run background checks on buyers, contending the rule causes a financial hit to the state. [Source: News Service of Florida]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Why this Canadian fintech leader is making Miami its new home base
For Miles Schwartz, co-founder and CEO of Zum Rails, the recent decision to move to Miami was very simple. “I realized, wait, none of my clients live here in Montreal,” he told Refresh Miami. “Very few of the employees live here. We have an office in Miami, and everyone wants to meet me there. It was kind of a no-brainer.”
› Jaguars unveil rebranded 'TrEverBank' Stadium for home opener
EverBank announced on Thursday that for the home opener on Sunday — the stadium where the Jacksonville Jaguars play their home games and bears their name through a branding deal with the city of Jacksonville — will be called "TrEverBank Stadium," a play on the name of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence who began a sponsor relationship with EverBank last month.
› Hottest hiring markets: Here's where Tampa Bay ranks
The job market is softening nationally, and the trend is holding true in the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay fell into the bottom of the nation (4th percentile) for pay growth and the bottom (13th percentile) for new hire wages, the metro was also ranked in the middle of the pack (41st percentile) for its hiring rate at 4%.
› West Palm Beach's $264 million budget will include employee raises, steady property tax rate
The West Palm Beach City Commission gave preliminary approval to the city's $264 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2025, which holds property tax rates steady while including raises for police and fire employees as well as for other unionized city workers.
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› Naples Airport’s legacy of flight, future uncertainty
History has a way of repeating itself. Case in point: Talks about relocating Naples Airport have been flying around since the 1970s. “It would get discussed and discounted, and then over 10 years later, it would come back up again,” said Zachary Burch, senior communications and community engagement manager at Naples Airport Authority. The conversation has taken off once more, with neighbors citing concern over noise and air pollution, and talks with the public, city council members and more occurring.
› Air Canada returning to Jacksonville with nonstop service to Toronto
Five years after Air Canada bid adieu to Jacksonville, the airline is returning to Jacksonville International Airport with nonstop service to Toronto Pearson International Airport. JIA announced that the new Air Canada Express route would launch on May 22, 2025. According to the Air Canada website, that flight is from Toronto.
› Miami Beach proposes new sanitation, police spending in budget. Here are the highlights
Miami Beach officials are proposing a nearly $1 billion budget for 2025 that would increase spending on law enforcement, street cleaning and other city priorities while keeping the tax rate flat as property values continue to grow. The $952 million plan, unveiled Aug. 30 by recently hired City Manager Eric Carpenter, capitalizes on a strong real estate market after a third straight year in which property values rose citywide by at least 9%.
› SpaceX launches its 60th Space Coast mission for the year
SpaceX passed 60 launches for the year from the Space Coast early Thursday with a Falcon 9 mission taking a set of five satellites to space. The rocket flying the BlueBird 1-5 mission launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 4:52 a.m.