Related Ross taps former FPL chief for new economic development role
Related Ross has tapped former FPL Chief Executive Eric Silagy to serve as the company's vice chairman, a role the real estate company said will help Related turn West Palm Beach, and South Florida, into a major business hub. Silagy said he will work to promote the benefits of living and doing business in South Florida, as well as boost partnerships between public government entities and private companies. More from Florida Trend.
Citrus, land firm dishes on the transition to becoming a developer
Two and half years before Alico Inc. announced it was getting out of the citrus business, the company knew it had to make a change. Production was dropping fast, and the citrus industry was no longer viable. The Fort Myers company, a statewide leader in citrus production for 120 years, needed to do something different. More from the Business Observer.
University of Florida scientists confirm hybrid termites established in Florida
Scientists have confirmed that two of the world’s most destructive invasive termite species are not only spreading in the United States but also hybridizing — the process of two different species crossbreeding to produce a hybrid. This raises concerns about their potential to spread farther and cause even greater structural and environmental damage. More from the Gainesville Sun and WFLA.
Global bank taps Miami fintech for instant money transfer service
Guatemala's largest bank has added a Miami fintech's blockchain-powered payments service to its mobile app. Banco Industrial's Zigi banking app will now allow Guatemalans to receive instant funds from the U.S. for a $0.99 fee with SukuPay's cross-border payment transfers system powered through stablecoin. More from the South Florida Business Journal.
Orange County commissioner endorses Orlando Dreamers' MLB bid: 'Baseball is coming soon!'
The Orlando Dreamers, a group proposing to bring Major League Baseball to Central Florida, received a significant endorsement from Orange County Commissioner Mike Scott. The group aims to build a 45,000-seat stadium on a 35.5-acre site near SeaWorld and Aquatica on International Drive. Back in April, the Dreamers announced they had secured $1.5 billion in investor commitments to help fund the acquisition of an MLB team. More from WOFL.
Meeting the demand for allied healthcare professionals
Floridians have witnessed explosive growth in our communities over the last decade. To meet the needs of so many new residents, including a large proportion of older people migrating here, Florida now has the third largest concentration of healthcare providers in the nation. But like the rest of the country, we still face significant staff shortages in our hospitals, outpatient centers, rehabilitation facilities and home health services. [Sponsored report]
Out of the Box
Glass cube Waldorf Astoria tower rising skyward
A stack of glass cubes is rising in the heart of downtown Miami. Builders of Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Residences Miami are making major strides in the creation of this unique skyscraper, according to a representative of the development partnership with PMG. The 1,049-foot tower will feature nine spiraling, offset glass cubes that distinguish the property’s architecture from anything else on the East Coast, say the developers.
» More from Miami Today.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Luxury & security
Toronto-based Inkas will build a factory to make armored vehicles in Fort Pierce. The company refits vehicles with tech and ballistic materials for global markets including the corporate, executive, luxury, cash-moving and law enforcement arena under the tagline “where luxury meets security.”
» Read more from Florida Trend.