DeSantis nixes idea of budget ‘summit’ as Florida lawmakers work on plan
As legislative leaders try to restart the budget process, Gov. Ron DeSantis indicated Monday he has no desire to take part in a sit-down suggested by the state Republican Party to hammer out differences. DeSantis rejected a “summit” with House and Senate leaders, an idea that was floated Friday by party Chairman Evan Power after budget talks broke down. The House will meet briefly Tuesday to extend the potential end date of the session until June 30. Also, a House select committee on property taxes will meet. But as of late Monday afternoon, no formal budget conference negotiations had been scheduled. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Seeding exploration
Twelve years to get 12 grams. Twelve years of research and planning, of conducting experiments with simulated material, of traveling to the world’s most inhospitable environments. Twelve years of writing proposals and being told no. University of Florida research scientists Rob Ferl and Anna-Lisa Paul weren’t asking NASA for just 12 grams of lunar regolith — basically dust and dirt from the moon — but that was the payoff in 2022 for their perseverance. [Source: Florida Trend]
Commentary: 30,000 new jobs in Central Florida, but so much more to do
Each year, Economic Development Week offers communities across the country a chance to reflect on how intentional growth creates opportunity. In the Orlando region, the results speak volumes. Since 2017, the Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) has helped bring more than 30,000 new jobs to the region, billions in capital investment, and high-wage careers that are changing lives. But this is about more than numbers — it’s about ensuring that progress reaches everyone, and that we stay ahead in an increasingly competitive world. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Survey shows more Floridians support a property tax cut vs. sales tax
46% said they support eliminating property taxes while 32% supported reducing sales taxes. Another 12% said they preferred keeping things status quo. However, 60% said that they were concerned about how elimination of property taxes would affect potential cuts to local services, such as law enforcement and public schools. Only 33% of voters said that they were not concerned about that outcome.[Source: Florida Phoenix]
Despite strong opposition to Florida bear hunt, controversial FWC draft plan expected soon
Florida wildlife officials are proposing a three-week bear hunt later this year, aiming to remove 187 bears out of an estimated population of 4,000. Supporters of the hunt argue it is a necessary population control measure and a valuable tool for wildlife management. Opponents question the scientific basis for the hunt and express concerns about the proposed hunting methods, including baiting and the use of dogs. [Source: Naples Daily News]
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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Manufacturing giant to pay $880 million for Miami company
Church & Dwight Co., the manufacturing giant behind Arm & Hammer products, plans to buy a Miami-based hand sanitizer brand for $880 million. The Ewing, New Jersey-based company announced it will buy Touchland for $700 million in cash and stock, plus a payment up to $180 million based on Touchland’s net sales this year. The deal is expected to be completed in the second quarter pending closing terms and conditions.
› Jacksonville competes for plane maker that could bring 1,200 jobs to Cecil Airport
Jacksonville is competing with cities in other states for landing a passenger jet maker that would set up shop at Cecil Airport and create at least 400 new jobs by the end of 2031 and could expand to 1,200 jobs by 2040. If Jacksonville can come out on top in the contest to win the company code-named Project Bluebird, it would join Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northop Grumman and Hermeus in the aviation lineup at the Westside airport.
› Lee County sees dip in visitors, including Canadians
Lee County has seen fewer tourists this year. The latest statistics show visitation fell by 5.6% in the first quarter over the year. That's in part due to a drop in international visitation, including from Canada. Amid political and economic turmoil, Canadian numbers are down across the U.S., based on airline reports, and published data on border crossings.
› Michelin Guide finds culinary talent, public money aplenty in Orlando
Long before the Michelin Guide’s “famously anonymous” inspectors sneaked into Orlando to gauge its gastronomical genius, TastyChomps food blogger Ricky Ly believed the city’s chefs had the chops to rank with the world’s best. “We were all sure Orlando had these great places and, given a chance, could make any list,” he said. The talent of local chefs made it so, Ly said. But so too did another Central Florida resource: tourist-tax money.
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› Jacksonville receives first proposal to build new jail and others could follow
The three firms that banded together with a proposal to build a new Duval County jail have done work separately in Jacksonville on other projects such as the upcoming EverBank Field renovation, Duval County Public Schools construction, a University of North Florida residence hall and a Jacksonville University water supply system.
› Orlando preschool looks to set new standard for childcare
Like many parents, Imani Brooks struggled to find affordable childcare after the birth of her son, with her search made more complicated because he has cerebral palsy. But AdventHealth’s West Lakes Early Learning Center, which opened in 2020 with the aim of bringing quality early learning to the low-income community, met its promise, said Brooks, whose son Xavier was in its inaugural class.
› Miami-based Hydra Host is turning overlooked data centers into AI powerhouses
When Hydra Host launched, the idea wasn’t to compete with Amazon or Google. It was to rewire the very foundation of cloud computing. And it’s working. A few years ago, the team at Hydra Host saw something others missed: thousands of independent data centers across the country were underused and unprepared to tap into the AI boom. They had racks. They had power. But they didn’t have the tools or the customers to join the gold rush for GPU computing.
› Luxury Naples restaurateurs plan exclusive Japanese, French concepts
After long careers in the hospitality and restaurant industries, Corinne Ryan and Veljko Pavicevic felt ready to venture out on their own. Now, a decade in, the married couple who started out as business partners, have a thriving, uber-luxury restaurant business in Naples, overcoming some rough funding spots early on and then, of course, the pandemic.