U.S. Small Business Administration offers loans to small businesses in Florida
The U.S. Small Business Administration is giving federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations in Florida that have been financially impacted by the drought. The loan can pay up to $2 million to cover financial obligations such as fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that cannot be paid due to the economic impact of the drought. More from Gulf Coast News Now.
Olympic sailing training center to stay on in Coconut Grove
The US Sailing Center Miami, the nation’s only Olympic sailing training site, will continue to operate at Kennedy Park in Coconut Grove through 2037, preserving public access to Biscayne Bay for local and competitive sailors. During their May 8 meeting, Miami city commissioners voted unanimously to exhaust all possible lease renewals, extending the center’s lease through the end of March 2037. More from Miami Today.
Tourism boosts Lee County economy, yet Hurricane Ian impact lingers
Tourism continues to play a vital role in the economy of Southwest Florida, particularly in Lee County. However, despite a significant rebound, levels have yet to return to pre-Hurricane Ian numbers. A recent study highlighted the economic trends and impacts in Lee County, showing that visitors spent more than $3.1 billion in 2024. While fewer visitors arrived during the season this year, those who did stay spent more money and extended their visits. More from WINK News.
Orlando rave wins award for massive economic impact
Electric Daisy Carnival Orlando (EDC), the globally known dance music festival, has received a Golden Brick Award from the Downtown Orlando Partnership. The festival, held at Tinker Field, won in the entertainment & special events category for 2024. The win marks a milestone for the event, which has taken place in downtown Orlando for 12 years. More from the Orlando Business Journal.
Tampa Bay Lightning sign new media rights deal
The Lightning will have a new local TV home next season. The team has signed a contract to broadcast its games through Scripps Sports, meaning that any viewer with a television and antenna can watch games for free. Fans also will have the option to purchase season plans on a direct-to-consumer basis through the Lightning’s app. More from the Tampa Bay Times and the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
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Profile
As Holocaust survivors continue to vanish, one of the oldest in Miami shares her story
Lucy Lowell, who survived the deadliest Nazi concentration camp to build a full life in New York City and eventually settle in Miami Beach, is among the last of an important and increasingly rare group of people. At 103, she’s among the oldest living Holocaust survivors in the world.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Florida Trend Exclusive
‘We’ve got to build it’
Designed in the early 1990s for 1 million passengers annually, Pensacola International Airport (PNS) today is handling three times that number and growing at a brisk — and largely unsustainable — rate of 14% per year. “Three million passengers and 14% growth — those are big numbers for an airport this size,” says Matt Coughlin, the airport’s director.
» Read more from the Florida Trend.